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John Howitt Elementary
About
John Howitt Elementary is located at 3867 Marpole St, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 6Y3. The school emphasizes that students are at the heart of daily choices and decisions, with a focus on ensuring students are safe, respected, and happy members of the school community. Its mission is to create a caring, joyful environment that inspires respectful interactions, recognizes individual strengths and needs, and encourages lifelong learning.
At a Glance
School type: Public School (Pacific Rim)
Education language: English
Religious affiliation: None / Secular
Grades: K-7
Phone: 250 723-7521
Email: sbrown@sd70.bc.ca
Principal: Steven Brown
Programs and Services
Student leadership, citizenship, and behaviour expectations John Howitt Elementary uses the H.E.R.O.E.S. code (Honest, Encouraging, Respectful, On Time & Ready, Empathic, Safe) to guide student behaviour at school and at school-sponsored activities. The Code of Conduct describes an educative, preventative, and restorative approach to supporting students, including restorative practices such as circles, face-to-face meetings, reflection and restitution. Music / Band The principal’s message notes opportunities for families to attend musical events. Athletics and extracurricular sports The principal’s message notes opportunities for families to attend sporting events. Student support / special education The Code of Conduct states that special consideration may apply for students with unique learning needs when students are unable to comply due to intellectual, physical, sensory, emotional, or behavioural challenges. It also notes the school’s commitment to meeting unique student needs in a supportive, caring environment.
School Culture and Expectations
The school promotes a “Howitt H.E.R.O.E.S.” culture, emphasizing honesty, encouragement, respect, being on time and ready, empathy, and safety. The Code of Conduct frames John Howitt as a friendly, safe place to learn and outlines expectations such as being courteous, accepting different ideas, participating positively, and collaborating with others. The Code of Conduct is guided by BC Human Rights principles and states a commitment to a safe, caring, inclusive environment, with restorative practices used to repair harm and strengthen belonging.
Transportation, Parking, and Getting Here
The school notes that supervision starts at 8:20 am and that the school bus normally arrives by that time. It also states that the school bus normally departs by 2:30 pm each day.
Enrollment
John Howitt Elementary is a catchment-only school. Families are directed to use the School Catchment Locator to confirm they are in the school neighbourhood, and to complete the School District #70 Registration Form and documentation requirements.
Location
John Howitt Elementary Reviews
Reviews load after the page becomes interactive.
Academic Learning of John Howitt Elementary
43.58
Academic Performance
Academic Performance Score
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades overall score: 44 - above the province public school average of 42, ahead by 2 points.
Literacy: 40
Numeracy: 47
Numeracy is a clear strength; literacy is the area with the most room to grow.
66.89
Student Commitment to Learning
Student Commitment
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 67 - well above the province public school average of 50, ahead by 17 points.
Students report stronger engagement, effort, and investment in learning than comparable schools, pointing to solid day-to-day learning habits.
64.88
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.
79.07
College and Career Readiness
Readiness for Future
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 79 - well above the province public school average of 52, ahead by 27 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 47, and overall is 44.
Compared with 2019-2020, the overall score improved by 6 points.
In the latest year, numeracy is the strongest of the three measures at 47, while literacy is lowest at 40.
Across the available years, literacy was broadly stable since 2019-2020, while numeracy improved by 11 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 44, student commitment to learning is 67, critical thinking is 65, and college and career readiness is 79.
The strongest current area is College and Career Readiness at 79, while Academic Performance is lowest at 44.
College and Career Readiness shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 14 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
50.00
Artistic and Creative Traits
Artistic and Creative Traits
Showing latest available year: 2019-2020. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 50 - well below the province public school average of 58, trailing by 8 points.
Students report weaker creativity, imagination, and artistic thinking than comparable schools, suggesting room to strengthen this area.
64.90
Civic Engagement
Civic Engagement
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 65 - 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.
67.51
Health
Health
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 68 - 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.
73.48
Work Ethic
Work Ethic
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 73 - in line with the province public school average of 75, within 1 point.
Students report effort, persistence, and responsibility at levels broadly similar to comparable schools.
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 68, and Work Ethic is 73.
The strongest current area is Work Ethic at 73, while Civic Engagement is lowest at 65.
Health shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 6 points since 2019/2020.
Resources
58.00
Community Support
Community Support
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 58 - well below the district public school average of 69, trailing by 11 points.
Parents and the wider community appear to provide weaker support for student learning than in comparable schools, suggesting room to strengthen community connection and involvement.
70.00
Facilities and Personnel
Facilities and Personnel
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 70 - below the district public school average of 72, trailing by 2 points.
Staffing, spaces, and school infrastructure are rated less positively than in comparable schools, making this a resource area to strengthen.
48.19
Learning Resources
Learning Resources
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 48 - well below the comparison cohort average of 58, trailing by 10 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 58, Facilities and Personnel is 70, and Learning Resources is 48.
The strongest current area is Facilities and Personnel at 70, while Learning Resources is lowest at 48.
Community Support shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 8 points since 2019/2020.
School Culture
63.84
Academic Orientation
Academic Orientation
Showing latest available year: 2019-2020. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 64 - above the province public school average of 61, ahead by 3 points.
Students report a stronger academic orientation than in comparable schools, suggesting learning goals and achievement are more strongly valued.
79.25
Relationships
Relationships
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 79 - in line with the province public school average of 78, within 1 point.
Students report relationships among peers, staff, and the school community at levels broadly similar to comparable schools.
63.75
Safety
Safety
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 64 - below the province public school average of 66, trailing by 3 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 79 and Safety is 64.
The strongest current area is Relationships at 79, while Safety is lowest at 64.
Safety shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 9 points since 2019/2020.
Teachers and Teaching Environment
76.33
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 76 - above the province public school average of 72, ahead by 5 points.
Teachers are rated more positively for instructional quality, knowledge, and professional practice than in comparable schools, suggesting a relative strength.
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 76.
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 14 points since 2019/2020.