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G W Carlson Elementary
About
G.W. Carlson Elementary is located at 5617–51st Street, Box 810, Fort Nelson, BC V0C 1R0. The school serves Grades K–4 and enrolls about 130 students. The school emphasizes a friendly, welcoming, positive learning environment and a belief in the unlimited potential of students by respecting and developing their unique learning styles and interests. The principal’s message highlights a whole-school “family” approach focused on recognizing individuals, learning safely from mistakes, positive interactions, and honouring everyone’s contributions.
At a Glance
School type: Public School (Fort Nelson)
Education language: English
Religious affiliation: None / Secular
Grades: K-4
Phone: 250 774-6941
Email: skenney@sd81.bc.ca
Principal: Shirley Kenney
Programs and Services
StrongStart (early learning, ages 0–5) G.W. Carlson Elementary is a location for StrongStart, a free early learning program for children ages 0–5 accompanied by a parent/caregiver, facilitated by a qualified Early Childhood Educator. Activities include art and creative play, story time and songs, music and movement, and hands-on exploration with peers. Ready, Set, Learn (early learning events, ages 3–5) The district’s Ready, Set, Learn sessions are play-based early learning events for children ages 3–5 (not yet in Kindergarten), offering hands-on activities, songs, story time, and active play, while also helping families learn how to support early learning at home. Student support / special education (district Inclusive Education services) School District 81 provides student services to support diverse learning needs, including Learning Assistance programs in each school and counsellor access for in-town schools. The district also describes processes for identification and assessment of learning problems (with referrals to a registered psychologist as needed), hospital/homebound instruction for students unable to attend school, and access to a Speech-Language Pathologist for testing and remediation.
School Culture and Expectations
The school describes itself as building a friendly, welcoming, positive learning environment. In the principal’s message, the school community emphasizes recognizing and respecting individual learning needs, being safe to make mistakes and learn from them, focusing on positive interactions, and honouring each person’s contribution. The site also links families to a School Handbook and a Code of Conduct, and provides an anonymous online reporting tool for bullying and harassment.
Transportation, Parking, and Getting Here
School bus service is provided for in-town and out-of-town students. In winter, the district supports winter bussing for all students in the school’s catchment area. The school notes that updates on bus cancellations will be posted on the district website.
Enrollment
The school site includes a “Registration” section and directs families to “School Registration” to learn how to register a child at a Fort Nelson school (including forms, steps, and important details). For StrongStart registration, forms are available at G.W. Carlson Elementary (or J.S. Clark Elementary), and families are asked to bring the child’s birth certificate when registering.
Location
G W Carlson Elementary Reviews
Reviews load after the page becomes interactive.
Academic Learning of G W Carlson Elementary
54.59
Academic Performance
Academic Performance Score
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
Grade 4 overall score: 55 - well above the province public school average of 42, ahead by 12 points.
Literacy: 54
Numeracy: 55
Literacy and numeracy are closely matched.
62.05
Student Commitment to Learning
Student Commitment
Showing latest available year: 2023-2024. Scores out of 100.
Grade 4 score: 62 - well above the province public school average of 51, ahead by 11 points.
Students report stronger engagement, effort, and investment in learning than comparable schools, pointing to solid day-to-day learning habits.
68.42
Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
Grade 4 score: 68 - well above the province public school average of 50, ahead by 18 points.
Students report stronger problem solving, analysis, and independent thinking than comparable schools, suggesting this is a relative strength.
80.26
College and Career Readiness
Readiness for Future
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
Grade 4 score: 80 - well above the province public school average of 53, 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: Grade 4. In 2024-2025, literacy is 54, numeracy is 55, and overall is 55.
Compared with 2019-2020, the overall score declined by 8 points.
In the latest year, numeracy is the strongest of the three measures at 55, while literacy is lowest at 54.
Across the available years, literacy declined by 7 points since 2019-2020, while numeracy declined by 8 points since 2019-2020.
Academic Performance Score Change Over Years
Academic Performance Score Change Over Years
Grade 4 trend view. In 2024-2025, academic performance is 55, critical thinking is 68, and college and career readiness is 80.
The strongest current area is College and Career Readiness at 80, while Academic Performance is lowest at 55.
Student Commitment to Learning shows the largest shift across the available period, declined by 12 points since 2020-2021.
Additional Information
Data is regularly updated to reflect the latest available academic scores and assessments from official school records.
Character and Wellbeing
59.47
Civic Engagement
Civic Engagement
Showing latest available year: 2023-2024. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 59 - well below the province public school average of 69, trailing by 9 points.
Students report weaker participation in school and community life than comparable schools, suggesting room to strengthen voice, involvement, and connection.
46.84
Health
Health
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 47 - well below the province public school average of 65, trailing by 18 points.
Students report weaker physical and emotional well-being than comparable schools, making health and well-being an area to watch closely.
62.50
Work Ethic
Work Ethic
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 62 - well below the province public school average of 74, trailing by 12 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
Grade 4 trend view. In 2024/2025, Health is 47 and Work Ethic is 62.
The strongest current area is Work Ethic at 62, while Health is lowest at 47.
Health shows the largest shift across the available period, declined by 19 points since 2020/2021.
Resources
48.15
Learning Resources
Learning Resources
Showing latest available year: 2023-2024. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 48 - below the province public school average of 52, trailing by 4 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
Grade 4 trend view. In 2023/2024, Learning Resources is 48.
Learning Resources shows the largest shift across the available period, was broadly stable since 2020/2021.
School Culture
75.00
Academic Orientation
Academic Orientation
Showing latest available year: 2020-2021. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 75 - well above the province public school average of 53, ahead by 22 points.
Students report a stronger academic orientation than in comparable schools, suggesting learning goals and achievement are more strongly valued.
74.67
Relationships
Relationships
School year: 2024-2025. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 75 - below the province public school average of 77, trailing by 3 points.
Students report weaker relationships among peers, staff, and the school community than in comparable schools, suggesting connection and trust are areas to strengthen.
53.98
Safety
Safety
Showing latest available year: 2023-2024. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 54 - well below the province public school average of 60, 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
Grade 4 trend view. In 2024/2025, Relationships is 75.
Relationships shows the largest shift across the available period, declined by 12 points since 2020/2021.
Teachers and Teaching Environment
50.00
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers
Showing latest available year: 2022-2023. Scores out of 100.
All Grades score: 50 - well below the province public school average of 56, trailing by 6 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
Grade 4 trend view. In 2022/2023, Knowledge and Skills of Teachers is 50.
Knowledge and Skills of Teachers shows the largest shift across the available period, declined by 29 points since 2020/2021.