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École Herbert Spencer Elementary School

605 Second St, New Westminster, BC V3L 5R9 · New Westminster

Rating

6.4

5-year avg

6.5

Rank

392/1032

2026 report · 2024-2025 school year

Quick take

School review information

École Herbert Spencer Elementary is a well-established, community-focused school that benefits from its picturesque location in the Queen's Park neighbourhood. While its Fraser Institute academic ratings are moderate and have fluctuated slightly, the school provides a robust educational experience through its dual-track French Immersion and English programs. The strong involvement of the Parent Advisory Council and the availability of diverse after-school activities create a supportive and engaging environment. It is an excellent choice for families seeking a culturally diverse school with a strong sense of community and a focus on core values like respect and responsibility.

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Editorial review summary

Publicly available parent reviews and discussions for École Herbert Spencer Elementary are somewhat limited, but community signals indicate a highly engaged parent body. The school benefits from an active Parent Advisory Council (PAC) that organizes community events like the annual Christmas Craft Fair and advocates strongly for student safety. For instance, parents have actively campaigned for improved traffic safety measures at the nearby intersection of 2nd Street and 6th Avenue. Families appreciate the school's historic charm in the Queen's Park neighbourhood, the dual-track French Immersion option, and the variety of after-school programs such as basketball, soccer, and leadership clubs. The district has also recently completed accessibility upgrades at the school, which has been positively received by the community.

Common positives

  • Offers an Early French Immersion program alongside the standard English track.
  • Highly engaged Parent Advisory Council (PAC) that organizes events and advocates for students.
  • Located in the historic and family-friendly Queen's Park neighbourhood.
  • Provides a variety of after-school enrichment and sports programs (e.g., basketball, soccer, leadership).
  • Recent district-led accessibility upgrades, including improved signage and door hardware.

Common concerns

  • Academic ratings have shown some fluctuation in recent years, currently sitting slightly above average at 6.4/10.
  • Traffic safety concerns have been raised by parents regarding the nearby intersection of 2nd Street and 6th Avenue.
  • As one of the oldest schools in New Westminster (opened in 1911), the aging infrastructure requires ongoing maintenance, despite recent upgrades.

Who this school may fit

Recommended for families living in or moving to the New Westminster area who value a strong community atmosphere and are interested in Early French Immersion. Parents should be prepared to engage with the active PAC and may want to review the safe walking routes to school given local traffic concerns.

Ratings and data

Academic information

École Herbert Spencer Elementary School is a dual-track school offering both English and Early French Immersion programs for students in Kindergarten to Grade 5. According to the Fraser Institute data, the school has an overall rating of 6.4 out of 10, placing it at a provincial rank of 392 out of 1032 schools in British Columbia. The school's rating history over the past few years shows some fluctuation, moving from 6.7 to 7.2, dipping to 6.0 and 6.1, and recently recovering to 6.4. The previous 5-year average rating stands at 6.5. The school focuses on student achievement while intentionally infusing its core values of Respect, Responsibility, and Relationships into the learning environment.

Sources include Fraser Institute data and InsideVan School Guide summaries. Ratings do not represent the full quality of a school.

School-run details

Special programs

Early French Immersion (K-5)English Track (K-5)Winter Afterschool Programs (e.g., Sports of All Sorts, Seeds of Leadership)Extracurricular Sports Training (Basketball, Soccer)

Common questions

Where is École Herbert Spencer Elementary School located?+

École Herbert Spencer Elementary School is located at 605 Second St, New Westminster, BC V3L 5R9 in New Westminster.

Does École Herbert Spencer Elementary School have after-school pickup options?+

InsideVan currently tracks 3 programs that explicitly serve this school and 3 nearby after-school options.

Are there tutors near École Herbert Spencer Elementary School?+

InsideVan currently lists 19 nearby tutor or academic enrichment options that may work for families around this school.

Are there kids classes near École Herbert Spencer Elementary School?+

InsideVan currently lists 16 nearby kids class or activity options.

After school

6

pickup or nearby

Nearby tutors

19

nearby options

Nearby classes

16

nearby options

After-school pickup

See pickup and nearby options first

3 explicitly serve this school, plus 3 nearby within 3km.

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What this page covers

École Herbert Spencer Elementary School school information

École Herbert Spencer Elementary School is a elementary school in New Westminster. This page brings together school ratings and rankings, school programs, 6 after-school options, nearby tutors, and kids classes so families can compare the school and after-school fit in one place.

Sources & data context

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Check programs, admission requirements, and day-to-day arrangements with the school.

Fraser Institute · 2026 report
The rating dataset used here covers 2024-2025. The five-year average belongs to that historical report, not the five years ending today.

Academic ratings do not capture the whole school experience, including belonging, support, or fit for your child. A nearby care provider does not necessarily offer school pickup; confirm with the provider.