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Merritt Bench Elementary
About
Merritt Bench Elementary is located at 3341 Grimmet St, Merritt, BC V1K 1M3. The school describes itself as a small (about 150 students), caring community where students learn, grow, and play together. Staff, families, and students work together to create a positive environment focused on respect, supporting one another in learning, and doing their best each day, while acknowledging the school is on the traditional and unceded territories of the Nlaka'pamux (Nɬeʔkepmx) and Syilx peoples.
At a Glance
School type: Public School (Nicola-Similkameen)
Education language: English
Religious affiliation: None / Secular
Grades: K-7
Phone: 250 378-2528
Email: kmcgifford@365.sd58.bc.ca
Principal: Kevin Mcgifford
Programs and Services
Learning resources (online programs) Mathletics is used to support math skill-building through interactive lessons, games, and challenges. Raz-Kids provides leveled reading books with listening/reading options and short quizzes for comprehension. The school also provides access to the school library. Food programs / hot lunch Hot lunch is offered Tuesday through Friday, with a Monday pizza order fundraiser for Grade 7. Families order through an online hot lunch ordering system.
School Culture and Expectations
The school emphasizes a positive, caring community where students are known, valued, and supported. It describes a focus on inclusion and belonging, respect for diversity, and educating the whole child (academic, social/emotional, and physical development), along with social responsibility. Families are asked to review the student handbook and code of conduct (available on the school website).
Transportation, Parking, and Getting Here
The school asks families to call the office before 1:30 p.m. if they have a message about pick-up time. Students are dismissed at outside doors, and parents/guardians are asked to wait outside to avoid hallway congestion. The district notes that bus route cancellations may occur due to transportation staffing shortages; if a route is cancelled, families will be notified by about 6:30 a.m.
Enrollment
Registration information is available through the school’s “Registration” page on the website.
Location
Merritt Bench Elementary Reviews
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Academic Learning of Merritt Bench Elementary
42.60
Academic Performance
Academic Performance Score
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades overall score: 43 - in line with the province public school average of 42, within 1 point.
Literacy: 40
Numeracy: 45
Numeracy is a relative strength; literacy has more room to grow.
61.38
Student Commitment to Learning
Student Commitment
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 61 - well above the province public school average of 50, ahead by 12 points.
Students report stronger engagement, effort, and investment in learning than comparable schools, pointing to solid day-to-day learning habits.
65.00
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 65 - well above the province public school average of 50, ahead by 15 points.
Students report stronger problem solving, analysis, and independent thinking than comparable schools, suggesting this is a relative strength.
91.88
College and Career Readiness
Readiness for Future
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 92 - well above the province public school average of 52, ahead by 40 points.
Students report stronger preparation for future learning, transitions, and career pathways than comparable schools, which points to a solid readiness profile.
Academic Scores by School Year
Clustered Academic Score Trends
School year trend view: All Grades (combined Grade 4 and Grade 7 averages where available). In 2024-2025, literacy is 40, numeracy is 45, and overall is 43.
Compared with 2019-2020, the overall score was broadly stable.
In the latest year, numeracy is the strongest of the three measures at 45, while literacy is lowest at 40.
Across the available years, literacy declined by 2 points since 2019-2020, while numeracy improved by 4 points since 2019-2020.
Academic Performance Score Change Over Years
Academic Performance Score Change Over Years
All Grades trend view combines Grade 4 and Grade 7 averages where both are available. In 2024-2025, academic performance is 43, student commitment to learning is 61, critical thinking is 65, and college and career readiness is 92.
The strongest current area is College and Career Readiness at 92, while Academic Performance is lowest at 43.
College and Career Readiness shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 11 points since 2021-2022.
Additional Information
Data is regularly updated to reflect the latest available academic scores and assessments from official school records.
Character and Wellbeing
67.86
Artistic and Creative Traits
Artistic and Creative Traits
Showing latest available year: 2019-2020. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 68 - well above the province public school average of 58, ahead by 10 points.
Students report stronger creativity, imagination, and artistic thinking than comparable schools, which makes this a relative strength.
64.58
Civic Engagement
Civic Engagement
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 65 - well below the province public school average of 70, trailing by 5 points.
Students report weaker participation in school and community life than comparable schools, suggesting room to strengthen voice, involvement, and connection.
65.83
Health
Health
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 66 - in line with the province public school average of 67, within 1 point.
Students report physical and emotional well-being at levels broadly similar to comparable schools.
79.22
Work Ethic
Work Ethic
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 79 - above the province public school average of 75, ahead by 5 points.
Students report stronger effort, persistence, and responsibility than comparable schools, suggesting productive day-to-day learning habits.
Character and Wellbeing Score Change Over Years
Character and Wellbeing Score Change Over Years
All Grades trend view combines Grade 4 and Grade 7 averages where both are available. In 2024/2025, Civic Engagement is 65, Health is 66, and Work Ethic is 79.
The strongest current area is Work Ethic at 79, while Civic Engagement is lowest at 65.
Work Ethic shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 5 points since 2019/2020.
Resources
77.50
Community Support
Community Support
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 78 - well above the province public school average of 61, ahead by 16 points.
Parents and the wider community appear to provide stronger support for student learning than in comparable schools, making this a relative strength.
88.75
Facilities and Personnel
Facilities and Personnel
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 89 - well above the province public school average of 64, ahead by 25 points.
Staffing, spaces, and school infrastructure are rated more positively than in comparable schools, suggesting a stronger resource base.
41.87
Learning Resources
Learning Resources
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 42 - well below the province public school average of 53, trailing by 11 points.
Instructional resources are rated less positively than in comparable schools, suggesting room to strengthen access or quality.
Resources Score Change Over Years
Resources Score Change Over Years
All Grades trend view combines Grade 4 and Grade 7 averages where both are available. In 2024/2025, Community Support is 78, Facilities and Personnel is 89, and Learning Resources is 42.
The strongest current area is Facilities and Personnel at 89, while Learning Resources is lowest at 42.
Community Support shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 28 points since 2020/2021.
School Culture
65.62
Academic Orientation
Academic Orientation
Showing latest available year: 2020-2021. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 66 - in line with the province public school average of 66, within 1 point.
Students report an academic orientation broadly similar to comparable schools.
88.92
Relationships
Relationships
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 89 - well above the province public school average of 78, ahead by 11 points.
Students report stronger relationships among peers, staff, and the school community than in comparable schools, making this a relative strength.
62.41
Safety
Safety
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 62 - below the province public school average of 66, trailing by 4 points.
Students report a weaker sense of physical and emotional safety than in comparable schools, making this an area that deserves close attention.
School Culture Score Change Over Years
School Culture Score Change Over Years
All Grades trend view combines Grade 4 and Grade 7 averages where both are available. In 2024/2025, Relationships is 89 and Safety is 62.
The strongest current area is Relationships at 89, while Safety is lowest at 62.
Relationships shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 5 points since 2019/2020.
Teachers and Teaching Environment
67.08
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 67 - below the province public school average of 72, trailing by 4 points.
Teachers are rated less positively for instructional quality, knowledge, and professional practice than in comparable schools, suggesting room to strengthen this area.
Teachers and Teaching Environment Score Change Over Years
Teachers and Teaching Environment Score Change Over Years
All Grades trend view combines Grade 4 and Grade 7 averages where both are available. In 2024/2025, Knowledge and Skills of Teachers is 67.
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers shows the largest shift across the available period, declined by 4 points since 2019/2020.