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Eric J Dunn Elementary
About
Eric J Dunn Elementary is located at 3500 Argyle St, Port Alberni, BC V9Y 3A8. The school describes itself as a friendly and safe place to learn, welcoming students, staff, parents/guardians, and invited guests as part of “OUR school.” It is grounded in the First Peoples Principles of Learning, with a commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and to increasing awareness, understanding, and integration of nuučaan̓uł history and language. The school emphasizes connection to community and land, social-emotional learning, and regular outdoor learning with the nearby forest as an extension of the classroom.
At a Glance
School type: Public School (Pacific Rim)
Education language: The school states a commitment to integrating nuučaan̓uł history and language in the school community as part of its Truth and Reconciliation work. The sources provided do not specify the core language(s) of instruction or describe an immersion/bilingual program or English Language Learning (ELL) supports.
Religious affiliation: None / Secular
Grades: K-7
Phone: 250 723-7522
Email: dolson@sd70.bc.ca
Principal: Darrin Olson
Education Languages
The school states a commitment to integrating nuučaan̓uł history and language in the school community as part of its Truth and Reconciliation work. The sources provided do not specify the core language(s) of instruction or describe an immersion/bilingual program or English Language Learning (ELL) supports.
Programs and Services
Student support / well-being The school highlights social-emotional learning as central to its approach, intentionally taught in classrooms and modeled by staff. It also describes a school support team that helps staff recognize and respond to student needs “quickly and compassionately,” working in partnership with families using a trauma-informed approach. Outdoor learning The school describes its proximity to the forest as an integral part of its identity and notes that students regularly participate in outdoor learning rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems and local cultural practices.
School Culture and Expectations
The school describes a culture rooted in connection to one another and the land, guided by the First Peoples Principles of Learning. Weekly community gatherings (Monday Morning Meetings) include a welcoming circle and drum circle to honour the district song “našuk ʔa ƛin” (“We are strong”). The school also references the teachings of “isaaks naas” (“Walking with respect”) and “našuk ʔa ƛin” as shared language supporting resilience, respect, self-awareness, belonging, and inner strength.
Transportation, Parking, and Getting Here
Pacific Rim School District is exploring a before/after-school transportation option for children who attend (or are waitlisted for) licensed school-age care programs operated by non-profit partners on school grounds. The proposed model would involve families dropping children at a school-age care site in the morning, bussing to their catchment school, then bussing back to the care site after school for end-of-day pickup. No school-specific drop-off, pickup, parking, or walking/biking guidance was included in the provided sources.
Enrollment
The school’s registration page links families to SD70 Registration Policies and Forms and a School Catchment Locator. For district kindergarten registration, families are asked to register at their neighbourhood catchment school and can obtain forms online or in person; completed forms can be emailed or dropped off with required documentation (such as proof of age and address). The district also accepts electronic registration packages by emailing completed forms and required documents directly to the school; registrations are prioritized once complete, based on date and time received.
Location
Eric J Dunn Elementary Reviews
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Academic Learning of Eric J Dunn Elementary
32.06
Academic Performance
Academic Performance Score
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades overall score: 32 - well below the province public school average of 42, trailing by 10 points.
Literacy: 31
Numeracy: 33
Literacy and numeracy are closely matched.
66.47
Student Commitment to Learning
Student Commitment
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 66 - 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.
68.93
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 69 - well above the province public school average of 50, ahead by 19 points.
Students report stronger problem solving, analysis, and independent thinking than comparable schools, suggesting this is a relative strength.
78.21
College and Career Readiness
Readiness for Future
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 78 - well above the province public school average of 52, ahead by 26 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 31, numeracy is 33, and overall is 32.
Compared with 2019-2020, the overall score improved by 5 points.
In the latest year, numeracy is the strongest of the three measures at 33, while literacy is lowest at 31.
Across the available years, literacy was broadly stable since 2019-2020, while numeracy improved by 9 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 32, student commitment to learning is 66, critical thinking is 69, and college and career readiness is 78.
The strongest current area is College and Career Readiness at 78, while Academic Performance is lowest at 32.
Critical Thinking shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 40 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
72.08
Civic Engagement
Civic Engagement
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 72 - above the province public school average of 70, ahead by 2 points.
Students report stronger participation in school and community life than comparable schools, suggesting a healthy sense of involvement and contribution.
63.24
Health
Health
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 63 - below the province public school average of 67, trailing by 3 points.
Students report weaker physical and emotional well-being than comparable schools, making health and well-being an area to watch closely.
72.01
Work Ethic
Work Ethic
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 72 - below the province public school average of 75, trailing by 3 points.
Students report weaker effort, persistence, and responsibility than comparable schools, suggesting work habits are an area to strengthen.
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 72, Health is 63, and Work Ethic is 72.
The strongest current area is Civic Engagement at 72, while Health is lowest at 63.
Work Ethic shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 18 points since 2021/2022.
Resources
80.30
Community Support
Community Support
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 80 - well above the district public school average of 69, ahead by 11 points.
Parents and the wider community appear to provide stronger support for student learning than in comparable schools, making this a relative strength.
86.36
Facilities and Personnel
Facilities and Personnel
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 86 - well above the district public school average of 72, ahead by 14 points.
Staffing, spaces, and school infrastructure are rated more positively than in comparable schools, suggesting a stronger resource base.
58.23
Learning Resources
Learning Resources
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 58 - in line with the comparison cohort average of 58, within 0 points.
Instructional resources are rated at levels broadly similar to comparable schools.
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 80, Facilities and Personnel is 86, and Learning Resources is 58.
The strongest current area is Facilities and Personnel at 86, while Learning Resources is lowest at 58.
Community Support shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 30 points since 2021/2022.
School Culture
76.16
Relationships
Relationships
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 76 - below the province public school average of 78, trailing by 2 points.
Students report weaker relationships among peers, staff, and the school community than in comparable schools, suggesting connection and trust are areas to strengthen.
60.70
Safety
Safety
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 61 - well below the province public school average of 66, trailing by 6 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 76 and Safety is 61.
The strongest current area is Relationships at 76, while Safety is lowest at 61.
Safety shows the largest shift across the available period, improved by 11 points since 2020/2021.
Teachers and Teaching Environment
67.19
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 67 - above the province public school average of 65, ahead by 2 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 67.
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers shows the largest shift across the available period, declined by 6 points since 2022/2023.