We are excited to announce the relocation and expansion of Claren Academy, marking a significant milestone 8 years after we opened our doors as a new, progressive independent school in Vancouver.

Our new campus will be located at 2665 Renfrew Street, in Vancouver. This permanent home for Claren Academy will span 80,000 square feet of incredible facilities to support our growing student body and allow us to enhance our Kindergarten to Grade 7 educational programs and extracurricular offerings.


Claren Academy has always had big goals and optimism, and with this move we’ll have the facilities and space to meet them, and go beyond. We will continue to operate in our beautiful Yaletown campus for the rest of the 2024-25 year and next, and open at 2665 Renfrew in September 2026.

We are so excited to make this announcement, and provide our community with clarity and certainty that Claren Academy will continue on our path to building and growing a school that provides students with strong academic foundations, and the tools to be creative, competent, and happy in a changing world.

A message from our Co-Founder and Principal

We have enjoyed significant success and growth as a downtown school, and every family and educator who has joined us along the way has contributed to our vibrant, cohesive community. We are so grateful to be able to share this success with our early supporters, some of whom have  been with us since our first campus, and first ideas. The relocation to our new, permanent home is a huge step that we are proud to take together in September 2026.

Campus Location

The new Claren Academy campus will be located at 2665 Renfrew Street in Vancouver.

Strategically situated with access to three major arterials—Broadway, Renfrew, and Grandview Hwy—our campus is well-connected and easily reachable from every direction. It is conveniently located just 100 meters from Renfrew Skytrain Station and features direct access from the Central Valley Greenway bike path. 

Nearby amenities include Brentwood Mall, Renfrew Community Centre, Trout Lake, and Broadway Tech Centre, along with various restaurants and retail stores. Ground floor access ensures effortless entry, making daily drop off and pick up smooth and hassle-free.

 

New Campus Features

Our new campus will be 8 times larger than our current school. Spanning 80,000 square feet, it will provide a full suite of spaces, experiences, and facilities designed to enhance educational opportunities and inspire learning. The building is state of the art, featuring high, exposed ceilings, an impressive atrium and a bright, spacious interior. We will be conducting full, custom renovations to fully transform the campus into a cutting edge school, with the warmth and welcome that we are known for at Claren Academy.  

Campus highlights will include: 

  • 4,000 square foot gymnasium, complete with a stage, provides ample space for sports and events

  • Increased classrooms, designed for specific ages and grades

  • A beautiful atrium space for gathering 

  • Dedicated music and art classrooms equipped for specialized instruction

  • Multiple multipurpose rooms that can be adapted to various needs

  • A ‘Learning Commons’ environment for study and collaboration

  • On-site play space 

  • Lunch room and a more robust hot lunch program

  • Improved drop-off and pick-up areas for smoother transitions

  • Dedicated end-of-trip facilities with secure bike lockers for those who cycle to campus.

Our Commitment to the Mission and Vision

The relocation of our campus to East Vancouver reflects our commitment to continuing on our mission to grow and demonstrate a new model for future-focused education. The decision to move the school was undertaken after an extensive, multi-year search, research and consultation. Our decision to relocate was based on several key factors, including:

  • While our original downtown location provided us with a wonderful foundation, we recognized the limitations of our space and sought out a building that will allow us to expand our student body, programs, and extracurricular activities. Our new campus is large enough to serve as a permanent location with plenty of space for us to grow into.

  • Our space will allow Claren Academy to provide a complete, well-rounded school experience for students and families, with no compromises. It is important that as our school grows, our students have all of the benefits of the unique Claren curriculum and approach to learning, along with the spaces and experiences that we know parents prioritize in their child’s education, including a gym, lunch room, and extracurricular activity spaces. Our final campus will be our third time designing and building out a school, and our first time with a whole building, and an existing educational institution as the frame. With what we’ve learned and what we have to work with, the results will be exceptional.

  • For stability and consistency is it is important for us to have a permanent home. The Claren Academy Foundation is purchasing this building for Claren Academy to occupy.

  • The new campus is situated in a safe, growing neighborhood, prioritizing the well-being of our students and staff.

Visions and Plans for Growth

In the new campus we plan to enhance our academic programs, introduce new extracurricular opportunities, and continue to develop a vibrant school community. Our goal is to provide a flexible and innovative space that evolves with the needs of our students and supports their growth both academically and personally.

Our new campus will provide plenty of room for us to grow, with capacity to accommodate 378 students and 2 to 3 classes per grade. Demand and interest in Claren Academy has rapidly increased and new facilities will allow us to harness this demand, without compromising on our commitment to student-to-teacher ratios that foster personalized attention and meaningful learning experiences.

The Claren Academy Experience

Claren Academy's educational program is second to none, with hands on learning, strong academics, a focus on kindness, and attention to all of the skills that will help our students thrive, help, and be happy in their future. This new campus will allow us to level up those offerings, and hit our true potential.

  • Claren Students will learn and grow in a beautiful, brand new school with a complete suite of classrooms, facilities and unique spaces. Claren Academy will deliver on a well-rounded educational experience, fully realized within the new campus.

  • The campus will also feature dedicated space for before and after school care, providing a convenient and supportive environment for families. We envision multi-use of the space, including the potential for community programming after school and on weekends. By expanding our presence within the community, we aim to foster stronger connections and offer valuable resources and activities for all.

  • The Claren Academy Foundation is purchasing our new campus, providing a stable, permanent place for the school community to flourish, without uncertainty about future moves or disruptions.

  • With the new campus's capacity to accommodate 2 to 3 classes per grade, we can maintain smaller class sizes in grades K-4 and larger class sizes in grades 5-7. Our students will have the best of both worlds, with individualized attention in the earlier years, and more peers, responsibilities, and growth in grades 5-7 as they prepare to transition to high school.

  • The space for over 370 students provides the opportunity to grow our school community. This expansion supports a diverse range of programs and extracurricular activities, enriching the educational experience and encouraging student development.

  • Claren Academy has been on an upward trajectory for the past 8 years. The new campus will solidify the school as one of the most sought after, leading independent schools in the Lower Mainland.