École Dr. Charles Best Secondary
Public secondary school · grades 9–12 · Coquitlam · SD 43 Coquitlam
9–12Grades
1,629Students (2025/2026)
142%Of design capacity
—FSA on track (2025/2026)
Good to know before you buy
- Over capacity: 142% full. Busy schools can send new students, even from the catchment, to another school.
From Ministry of Education enrolment, capacity, seismic and facility data. Always confirm registration rules with the district.
The school from outside
Google Street View from the street in front of the school (drag to look around), or the satellite photo. Photos may be a few years old. Imagery © Google.
School facts
- Address
- 2525 Como Lake Ave, Coquitlam V3J 3R8
- City
- Coquitlam
- Type
- Public
- Phone
- 604-461-5581
- dcyr@sd43.bc.ca
- Design capacity
- 1,150 students
- Website
- sd43.bc.ca/charlesbest ↗
- Principal
- Dave Cyr
- Level
- Secondary
- Grades
- 9–12
- School district
- SD 43 Coquitlam
- Programs
- Construction ElectricianEarly French ImmersionCore French
- Ministry school number
- 04343080
- Provincial riding (MLA)
- Coquitlam-Maillardville
- School board
- SD 43 Coquitlam · chair Michael Thomas (mithomas@sd43.bc.ca) · office 604-939-9201 · trustees ↗
- English language learners
- 6% of students
- In French Immersion
- 666 students
Programs
- Construction Electrician Career grades 12 · by application
Tuition-free trades program with Camosun College leading to Level 1 construction electrician technical training and 16 Grade 12 credits. Details ↗ - Core French Language
French taught as a subject. - Early French Immersion Language
Most of the school day is taught in French from Kindergarten or Grade 1. - Suwa'lkh Alternative grades 8-10 · by application · offered district-wide
Self-paced, trauma-informed alternate program helping students who have struggled to connect at school rebuild that connection. Details ↗ - Emily Carr Headstart in Art Arts grades 12 · by application · offered district-wide
Emily Carr University foundation drawing course earning university credit, taken on Saturdays. Details ↗ - BCIT Trades Discovery Career grades 12 · by application · offered district-wide
BCIT program giving hands-on training in about 15 trades with work experience and certifications, including a Women in Trades Training stream. Details ↗ - Junior Firefighter Program Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
Short firefighter academies run with Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody fire departments, entered by application, fitness test and interview. Details ↗ - KPU Pre-Nursing Prep Program Career grades 12 · by application · offered district-wide
Grade 12 semester of four Kwantlen Polytechnic University courses worth 12 university credits toward nursing. Details ↗ - Skills Exploration 10-12 Career grades 10-12 · open to all · offered district-wide
Introductory trades course covering carpentry, plumbing, electrical and safety, offered at CABE, Dr. Charles Best, Gleneagle, Heritage Woods, Riverside and Terry Fox. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (Cat M) Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level aircraft maintenance engineer training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Appliance Service Technician Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level appliance service technician training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Auto Collision & Refinishing Technician Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level auto collision & refinishing technician training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Automotive Service Technician Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level automotive service technician training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Baker Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level baker training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: CNC Machinist Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level cnc machinist training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Cabinet Maker/Joinery Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level cabinet maker/joinery training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Carpenter Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level carpenter training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Commercial Painter Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level commercial painter training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Cook/Chef Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level cook/chef training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Electrician Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level electrician training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Hairstylist Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level hairstylist training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Heavy Duty Mechanic Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level heavy duty mechanic training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Ironworker Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level ironworker training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Landscape Horticulturist Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level landscape horticulturist training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Marine Mechanical Technician Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level marine mechanical technician training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Metal Fabricator Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level metal fabricator training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Millwright Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level millwright training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Motorcycle Mechanic Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level motorcycle mechanic training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Parts Technician Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level parts technician training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Plumber Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level plumber training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Refrigeration Mechanic/HVAC Technician Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level refrigeration mechanic/hvac technician training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Security Systems Technician Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level security systems technician training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Sheet Metal Worker Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level sheet metal worker training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - TRAIN in Trades: Welder Career grades 11-12 · by application · offered district-wide
SD43 TRAIN in Trades program giving secondary students foundation-level welder training for high school and trades credit. Details ↗ - WORK in Trades Career · by application · offered district-wide
Paid trades work counted toward an apprenticeship and high school credit. Details ↗ - SD43 Summer Learning Extended Learning grades 1-12 · open to all · offered district-wide
Tuition-free summer skill-building, academic completion and high school credit courses, including hybrid Fast Track. Details ↗ - SD43 International Education International grades K-12 · by application · offered district-wide
International student program with ten-month academic placements in regular classes plus short-term and summer programs. Details ↗ - Apex Online Learning grades K-9 · open to all · offered district-wide
Blended online and in-person K-9 program led by BC-certified teachers for families able to support home-based learning. Details ↗ - Coquitlam Open Learning Online Learning grades 10-12 · open to all · offered district-wide
Flexible online Grade 10-12 courses taken one at a time, tuition-free for most BC residents. Details ↗
From the school district's own pages and the Ministry's school list. Programs change: confirm with the school.
Where it is
Enrolment over time
Up 134 students since 2020/2021. Ministry of Education headcount, September each year.
| Grade | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students | 351 | 416 | 410 | 452 |
Capacity: 1,629 students in a building designed for 1,150.
Building, space & safety
- Design capacity
- 1,150 students
- Available seats
- none: 479 students over capacity
- Seismic safety
- Not on the Province's seismic upgrade list (no high-risk rating found)
- Seismic risk rating
- In SMP capital request 2026/27 (rating not stated, rated 2025)
| Year | 20/21 | 21/22 | 22/23 | 23/24 | 24/25 | 25/26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Use of capacity | 130% | 134% | 140% | 142% | 145% | 142% |
Students as a share of today's design capacity.
Every public school in SD 43: dots above the dashed line have more students than the building was designed for. This school is the large dot.
Seismic status: BC Ministry of Education and Child Care, Seismic Mitigation Program progress report. No building condition score is published for this school.
Test results (FSA)
No published Grade 4 or 7 Foundation Skills Assessment results for this school (secondary schools don't write it, and small groups are hidden).
Catchment
Which homes belong to this school's catchment isn't published as open data.
Schools nearby
| Ranch Park Elementary | Elementary | Public | 0.6 km |
| Baker Drive Elementary | Elementary | Public | 0.6 km |
| Hillcrest Middle School | Middle | Public | 0.9 km |
| Children of Integrity Montessori | Elementary | Independent | 1.0 km |
| Riverview Park Elementary | Elementary | Public | 1.4 km |
| Meadowbrook Elementary | Elementary | Public | 1.5 km |
What it costs to live here
$1.52MMedian asking price
12Houses for sale within 1 km of the school
$849KLowest asking price
$1.44M3 bedroom houses
$1.65M4 bedroom houses
$2.52M5+ bedroom houses
That's 27% above the typical asking price near Coquitlam schools ($1.2M).
Houses and multi-family homes listed for sale within 1 km of the school, October 29, 2026. Asking prices, not sale prices. Listing data from REALTOR.ca (CREA DDF®).
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