Enrolment Growth and Building New Schools
Durham Region is a great place to live, work, play and learn! Over the past four years, the Durham District School Board (DDSB) has experienced tremendous growth through new developments and families moving to existing neighbourhoods. The DDSB has grown from approximately 70,000 students in 2019 to approximately 79,000 students in 2023. This level of growth touches almost every school community across the DDSB and is expected to increase.
To build a new school, Ministry of Education approval is required. The DDSB is proactive in seeking this approval to build new schools, in some cases re-submitting the same project over multiple years if approval is not granted and following up when necessary. We also manage the enrolment pressure in many other ways, and you can learn more about what the DDSB is doing to serve you by reading the frequently asked questions.
Regardless of where in our community you live, our dedicated school teams are always eager to welcome you and support the diverse educational needs of your children.Frequently Asked Questions
| *New* Where is the DDSB seeking approval for new schools? |
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The Ministry of Education Capital Priorities Program (CPP) provides school boards with an opportunity to identify and address their most urgent pupil accommodation needs and submit requests for funding to construct new schools or complete major projects such as school additions or school replacements. For the 2023-2024 CPP, school boards were asked to:
DDSB Fall 2023 Submissions Using the eligibility criteria of the Capital Priorities Program (CPP) guidelines, staff identified areas of project need across the District. Long term enrolment data was analysed in order to develop sound business cases. The DDSB made the following submissions to the Ministry of Education in October 2023 to build new schools in our community:
While the DDSB can submit projects, there is no guarantee that projects will be approved by the Ministry of Education. We aim to submit robust projects based on real community need as we understand there is a limited amount of funds available for school boards across Ontario. We do not have a timeline on when we will hear back from the Ministry. |
| Where is the DDSB building new schools? |
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To help meet the growth in Durham Region, the DDSB has received Ministry of Education approval for five new school builds and one major addition. The DDSB also provides quarterly updates on the construction status of new schools and major projects on our website. Beaver River PS – Scheduled to open in September 2024Construction is underway and the new school will replace and consolidate Beaverton PS and Thorah Central PS on the Beaverton PS site (270 King St, Beaverton). Ministry of Education approval was initially granted in February 2018. However, the length of delay is primarily due to the Ministry approvals process and that the DDSB re-submitted the project to request a larger building that would better accommodate previously unregistered growth in Beaverton. After receiving Ministry approval to build a larger school, we experienced further Ministry delays in receiving final approval. This situation was an anomaly but contributed to the lengthy development timeline. Unnamed North Oshawa PS – Scheduled to open in September 2024Construction is underway and the school will be located at Windfields Farm Drive West and Wintergrace Avenue in Oshawa. Ministry of Education approval was initially granted in October 2020. Mary Street PS – Building addition is scheduled to open in September 2024Construction is underway at the current Mary Street PS (110 Mary St N, Oshawa) to replace the existing portapac structure. Ministry of Education approval was initially granted in July 2020. Unnamed Coughlan PS – Scheduled to open in September 2025The DDSB has proposed to build a new school at Stannardville Drive and Hurst Drive, after initially intending to build at nearby Tillings Road and Scenic Lane Drive. The new alternative site is build-ready, already owned by the DDSB, and will serve the needs of the same growing community. Project construction will begin pending approval by the Ministry of Education, with an anticipated opening date set for September 2025. Unnamed Pickering Seaton PS – Scheduled to open in September 2026Planning and development is underway for this new elementary school to be located at Burkholder Drive and Azalea Avenue in Pickering. Ministry of Education approval was initially granted in May 2022. Unnamed North Oshawa SS – Scheduled to open in September 2026Planning and development is underway for this new secondary school to be located at at Windfields Farm Drive East and Bridle Road South in Oshawa. Ministry of Education approval was initially granted in May 2022. |
| Why does it take so long to build a school? |
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The timing of school construction does not always align with the speed of residential growth as the approval, funding and construction period can be lengthy. In some cases, it could take seven to ten years after the construction of new homes in a neighbourhood for a new school to open. The DDSB purchases land for new schools in advance whenever possible but in some cases, the purchase of land takes place at the same time as the approvals process and can also experience delays. We also work with local municipalities throughout the development process to obtain the necessary planning approvals. The previous Ministry of Education approvals process (which applies to all six DDSB schools in development) required four stages of Ministry approval:
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| In what areas are new schools most needed? |
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Staff constantly analyze enrolment data and trends, while working with municipalities to anticipate where new development is expected to go, and identifying areas where the DDSB is experiencing significant accommodation pressures to inform which projects are submitted to the Ministry of Education for approval.
New to the 2023-2024 capital priorities submission process was the opportunity for school boards to provide details of their longer-term growth needs for accommodating projected enrolment due to new development. Based on municipal growth plans and Ontario initiatives, such as the Housing Supply Action Plan, details were requested for future needs and locations. As noted above, the DDSB identified future needs in Pickering, Oshawa and Whitby based on residential development growth over the short term and to 2035 and beyond. For greater detail on how the DDSB plans for accommodation pressures, please review the Pupil Accommodation Plan: Trends, Issues, Future Opportunities 2023-2027.
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| What else is the DDSB doing to manage this growth? |
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The DDSB manages enrolment pressures in many different ways including through permanent boundary reviews to balance enrolment, using existing buildings to their fullest potential, the use of portables, and sustained investment in school renewal projects (renovating space). In some cases, only the construction of a new school or an expansion of an existing school can appropriately address enrolment pressures. Boundary ReviewsThe DDSB completed a boundary review in 2023 for Clara Hughes Public School in Oshawa and in 2024 for Vincent Massey Public School in Oshawa. We have also established a new boundary for the Unnamed North Oshawa Public School (Windfields Farm Dr. W/Wintergrace Ave.) that is scheduled to open in September 2024. We communicate directly with school communities about the boundary review process. It is important to note that a permanent boundary review is one of the last options the DDSB uses as it may mean that some students will have to attend a different school. Any permanent boundary changes to a school are approved by the DDSB Board of Trustees and there is a robust consultation process. As boundary and program reviews take place, detailed information about proposed changes and consultation processes can be found on the Boundary and Program Review page. PortablesPortables are utilized as a temporary measure when there is no available classroom space within a facility and typically help to manage enrolment pressures that are anticipated to decline over time as a neighbourhood stabilizes. The addition of portables to a school site can give the impression that a school is “over-capacity”, but that number is based on what is called the Ministry Rated Capacity (MRC). This is the Ministry of Education’s formula for the number of students to be accommodated within a school in permanent classrooms. While MRC utilizations may exceed 100%, schools are designed to accommodate portable use and the DDSB ensures that all Ontario Building Code requirements are followed to ensure sufficient washrooms exist in the school building to safely accommodate the number of staff and students on site. In addition, the DDSB is required to follow all Ministry class size maximums, regardless of portable use. Partner SchoolsPartner schools are used to accommodate students from new development areas until a new school can be built. The DDSB currently has 33 schools designated as partner schools, 27 elementary and 6 secondary, across Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa.
Every student attending a partner school will continue to be supported by a high-quality team of educators and administrators and in some cases, attending a partner school means more extracurricular opportunities and supports. |
Partner Schools
Durham Region is currently experiencing a rapid increase in population due to new developments being built. The DDSB’s enrollment has increased from 70,000 in 2019 to 79,000 in 2023. The Durham District School Board (DDSB) has been proactive in making submissions to the Ministry of Education to seek approval for the creation of new schools to meet this pressure, but the timing of school construction does not always align with speed of residential growth.
What this means is that as new communities are developed and families move into their new home, the school designated for that neighbourhood is often not yet built as the approval, funding, and construction period can be lengthy. In some cases, it could take seven to ten years after the construction of new homes for a new school to open. As a result, several schools are designated as partner schools throughout the Region, accommodating new students from areas experiencing new development until a new school can be built in that community.
Frequently Asked Questions regarding Partner Schools
| Does the DDSB undertake consultation when deciding to designate a school as a partner school? |
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The DDSB is required by law to ensure that every student who lives in our boundary area has a place to go to school. As partner schools are temporary and used until a new school can be built in an area, there is no required consultation by the DDSB with the school community when determining which schools are most appropriate to be designated as a partner school. These decisions are complex and involve many different factors. However, consultation does occur with area superintendents, principals and most importantly Durham Student Transportation Services as the availability of transportation is one key element in selecting partner schools. The process to designate a partner school is different than when the permanent boundaries of a school are changed, at which time the DDSB engages in a public consultation process for the boundary review. |
| I’m concerned about additional car and bus traffic around the school, what is the DDSB doing to plan for this? |
| As per current practice, students who live more than 1.6km from the school are encouraged to utilize school buses, rather than families driving children to school. Durham Student Transportation Services will also work to ensure the safety and flow of school buses on and off site. We know that many students attending school are within the walking distance, and it is encouraged that walking takes place. |
| Why can’t new schools be built sooner? |
| New schools are funded by the Ministry of Education and DDSB requires their approval to construct a new school. School Boards need to confirm to the Ministry that there are enough students, enrolled at DDSB to fill a new school immediately and over the longer term prior to requesting funds. All School Boards across the Province are competing for the funding available, resulting in not all projects being funded when requested. It could take years to justify and receive a capital allocation for a new school. Once an allocation is received there are Ministry approvals, municipal approvals and construction which can take an additional two to three years. |
Families Living in a New Development Community
| What is the estimated approval time from the government when a submission for a new school is submitted? |
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This can vary based upon the Ministry of Education review of all Capital Priorities across the Province. It could take a year or up to six years, based upon DDSB past experiences. If there is space available for students in nearby schools, the new school could potentially not receive funding approval until it is fully utilized. |
| How long will my child have to attend a partner school? |
| Until such time as a new school is open. If a new school cannot be justified, a boundary revision may be required to permanently accommodate the neighbourhood at an existing school. |
| What happens if partner schools change for an identified growth boundary? |
| All students who are currently attending a partner school and live within the identified growth boundary will continue to attend the same partner school until their new school is built. Their siblings will also be permitted to enroll at the same partner school as long as they remain at their current address. |
| I have a family member who attends a neighbouring school, can our children not attend that school? |
| School boundaries are based upon your address. If the neighbouring school is not your home school and if there is space you can request to attend as out of area, with no transportation provided. |
| Can we stay at a partner school after our home school is built if we choose? |
| Typically for elementary, only Grade 8 students are given the choice to graduate at their current school. New secondary schools open with students in Grade 9 – 11, so Grade 12 students would also remain at their current school. |
| Can we choose a different partner school than the one we are assigned? |
| Unfortunately, this is not an option. |
| Can my child continue with support from Special Education/Inclusive Student Services at the partner school if they are comfortable and use to the staff? |
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Inclusive Student Services supports are allocated equitably across the district and although the service professionals may be different from school to school the supports provided are similar. Access to services follow a student when they transition from one school to another. |
