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Student Census

The Student Census Survey will be launching in February 2026. The survey will be made available to all students. Although completing the survey is voluntary; it is mandatory for educators to provide time for students to participate as the information provided helps us better understand the diverse experiences, backgrounds and needs of our students. Your time and effort completing the survey makes a difference as it will help build a more inclusive and supportive learning environment.

More details will be made available in the coming months.  

Each and every student in the Durham District School Board (DDSB) brings unique gifts and lived experiences which enrich our schools and communities. At the DDSB we are committed to ensuring the success of all our students.

The Student Census is one way we can learn more about our students’ backgrounds, experiences, and needs. The Student Census: Know Every Student, Grow Every Student provides us with valuable insight into who our students are and their lived experiences. 

Purpose:

The Student Census is 100% voluntary. It helps us gain a clearer understanding of who our students are to uphold Indigenous and human rights, student achievement, and well-being.

The Student Census findings are helping the board and schools to: 

  • Better understand student populations and school communities.
  • Open pathways and improve experiences and outcomes for students.

Why Complete the Census?

You matter. The Student Census: Know Every Student, Grow Every Student provides us with valuable insight into who our students are and their lived experiences.

This will assist us in:

  • Better understanding the needs of our students 

  • Improving the quality-of-service delivery and programs 

  • Informing where funds and resources are needed 

  • Improving programs and outcomes for students 

Your time and effort completing the survey makes a difference. Should you have any additional questions about the Student Census, please contact census@ddsb.ca

Note: The DDSB is required to ask students and families to complete the student census in accordance with the Anti-Racism Act, 2017, and the Data Standards as well as through the direction and requirements of the Ministry of Education. Collection of this information aligns with the Ontario Education Equity Action Plan. The collection of personal information is under the authority of the Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E.2 and Bill 114, Anti-Racism Act, 2017, complies with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. M.56, and aligns with the Ontario Education Equity Action Plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Survey Process

The ​Student Census​ consists of approximately eight multiple choice questions about various aspects of students’ identities such as Indigenous identity, racial and ethnic backgrounds, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation (Grade 7-12 only), disability/different abilities, and first language learned at home. Please note that questions and response options in this survey come from (or are informed by) direction, guidance and/or best practices from the Ministry of Education, the Ontario Human Rights Commission, the Anti-Racism Directorate, other Ontario school boards, and/or community organizations that reflect the diverse communities we serve.

DDSB is committed to addressing system barriers to student success. System barriers negatively affect students’ educational access, experiences, opportunities, and outcomes. To better understand our students by using gathered identity-based information through the Student Census, we can identify, prevent, and address discriminatory barriers and develop and revise programs, strategies, policies, and instructional practices, as well as allocate resources and supports to create more equitable and inclusive school environments and improve student achievement and well-being.

Each family in Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6 will receive an invitation email with a unique code to complete the online survey with their children at home. Please be advised that the unique ID code provided in the email is valid for one time submission only and it is only applicable for the student assigned to it.

Students in Grades 7 to 12 will be provided with an opportunity to complete the online survey at school with the unique code provided through their student email account. School administrators will ensure that every student has the opportunity to participate in the Student Census. Students can choose to participate in the survey either at school or at another time or location of their choosing.

For the most secure and best experience, we recommend using the newest version of the following browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Microsoft Edge. 

The DDSB is committed to meeting our responsibilities under the Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The Student Census is also available in paper format and large print.

If you require an accessible or alternative format to access or complete the survey, please email census@ddsb.ca for further assistance. 

The Census should only take 8-10  minutes to complete.

Families of students in all grades will receive a letter in February regarding the Student Census. The letter will provide information on the purpose of the student census, types of questions included in the student census, how to participate, and how the collected data will be used.  

Consent and Accessibility

Ontario legislation governing student participation in a board-initiated survey for planning and programming purposes permits the collection of survey data without a formal parental/guardian consent. Students in Grade 7-12 can choose to participate if this is their choice or an agreed upon family decision. Parents/guardians of students under the age of 16 will have the opportunity to opt out of their child’s participation in the Survey on behalf of their child.

The Ontario Human Rights Code permits the collection and analysis of identity data for the purposes of identifying and removing systemic barriers, preventing discrimination, and promoting equity and inclusivity. Ontario’s Education Equity Action Plan also encourages school boards to collect student identity-based data for the purpose of achieving these goals. The Anti-Racism Act, 2017, S.O. 2017, c 15, and section 169.1 (1)(2.1) of the Ontario Education Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. E. 2 (as amended) also permits the collection of identity-based data.

Yes. Census questions, as well as other communication documents, will be posted on the Board website for students and families to review prior to the launch date.

Participation in the student census is voluntary. Students/families may choose to skip questions if they do not wish to provide answers or choose not to participate at all. However, it is important to note that a high completion rate matters, as the richer and more reliable the information will be for school improvement and program planning.

Every student at DDSB has the opportunity to participate in the Student Census. Although students in Grades 7-12 will be provided with an opportunity to complete the census in class, students are welcome to complete the census at another time, for example at home with assistance from their parents/guardians or caregivers. 

The census will also be translated into the most frequently spoken languages at home other than English in the DDSB. Both the Kindergarten – Grade 6 and Grades 7 – 12 Census will be available in the following languages: Arabic, Dari, Farsi, Mandarin (Simplified Chinese), Tamil, and Urdu. Participants can choose their preferred language at the top of the cover page on the online survey. 

Disclaimer: We have attempted to provide an accurate translation of the original English document to support your understanding. However, due to the nuances in translating to a foreign language, slight differences may exist. The original English document is the official document and is available at the Resources section at the end of this page.

If you require an accessible or alternative format, please email census@ddsb.ca. 

Confidentiality, Security and Data Use

The Student Census is confidential but not anonymous. To ensure confidentiality of the data, no identifying information such as student name or student ID number will be asked in the survey. To protect students' privacy, no personal identification will be shared or released. However, the Student Census is not anonymous because students/parents are required to enter a unique ID code to participate.

A confidential and secure database will hold the responses. All responses can only be accessed by a small team within the Research Department, strictly for analysis and research purposes. These steps comply with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA).

The online survey uses an encrypted survey code and a forced encrypted questionnaire with secure methodology (HTTP / SSL over TLS). This electronic database is housed at the secured DDSB server. Paper surveys returned to the DDSB Research Department will be data-entered into a secure database.

Once responses are processed and analyzed, the DDSB Research Department will produce a series of aggregated (grouped data only) reports. Identity-based questions (e.g., race, gender) will be used to explore differences in the educational experiences of various student groups. Understanding the identities of our students is critical to identifying and removing barriers to student achievement and well-being. These will help to inform and positively influence decision-making for programs and instruction, made at both the board and school levels. This data will not be used to identify and/or single out individual students, and the data is kept confidential.

Students who do not complete the census will not be denied access to any programs or initiatives.

2026 Results and Resources

...

Language Resources:

  • Arabic - K-6
  • Arabic - 7-12
  • Dari - K-6
  • Dari - 7-12
  • English - K-6
  • English - 7-12
  • Farsi - K-6
  • Farsi - 7-12
  • French - K-6
  • French - 7-12
  • Simplified Chinese - K-6
  • Simplified Chinese - 7-12
  • Tamil - K-6
  • Tamil - 7-12
  • Urdu - K-6
  • Urdu - 7-12

2023 Results and Resources

Overall, 23% of all Kindergarten to Grade 12 students in the DDSB participated in the Student Census (18,883 respondents).

Below is a summary of the results:

  • Indigenous Identity: 3% shared an Indigenous identity
  • Ethnic/Cultural Origins: The 10 largest responses for the self-identified ethnic/cultural origins were Canadian (41%), Indian (14%), English (10%), Pakistani (8%), Muslim (8%), Scottish (6%), Irish (6%), Jamaican (6%), Tamil (6%), British (5%), and Sri Lankan (5%).
  • Racial Background: The 5 largest responses for the self-identified racial background were White (42%), South Asian (33%), Black (11%), Middle Eastern (7%), and East Asian (5%).
  • Religion, Creed, Spiritual Affiliation or Belief: The 5 largest responses for the self-identified religious, creed or spiritual beliefs were: Christian (24%), Muslim (20%), Hindu (16%), “No Religion” (15%), and Agnostic (7%).
  • Gender Identity: “Girl/Woman” and “Boy/Man” were equally selected (48%) as the most self-identified gender identities and about 2% selected a gender diverse identity.
  • Sexual Orientation (Grade 7 to 12 students only):  Among the 7,158 respondents, 74% selected Straight/Heterosexual and 17% selected an 2SLGBTQ sexual orientation.
  • Different Abilities:  About 8% (1,246) of students self-identified as a disabled person, or a person with a disability. Furthermore, of those 4,496 students who responded to the different abilities question, the most frequently selected categories were: Mental Health Challenges (43%), ADHD (33%), Learning Disability (20%), Autism (17%) and Neurodiverse (12%).
  • First Language(s) Learned: Almost three-quarters (74%) selected English as one of the first languages they learned to speak at home. The 3 largest responses for languages other than English were Urdu (8%), Tamil (7%) and Hindi (3%).

*Please note that percentage on each identity may not sum to 100% as respondents may select more than one category/option as appropriate. 

  1. Read the full report on the 2023 Student Census
  2. View the Board and Municipal Student Census infographics
  3. Access the public data set of the Student Census 

Video: To view a version of the video with closed captions, please visit the DDSB YouTube channel.

Language Resources:

2019 Results and Resources

A summary report on student identities was presented by Superintendent Hamid at the January 20 Board meeting.

Key findings from the student census report include:

  • Three percent of students reported having an Indigenous identity.

  • Ethnic/cultural identities shared by students included: Canadian (52%), English (16%), Irish (11%), Scottish (11%), Jamaican (7%), Pakistani (6%), German (5%), Indian (5%), French (5%), Sri Lankan (5%).

  • Racial backgrounds shared by students included: White (57%), South Asian (20%) and Black (12%).

  • Religions, creeds, spiritual affiliations or beliefs shared by students included: Christian (33%), No religion (24%), Muslim (14%), Hindu (9%), Buddhist (1%), Jewish (1%), Sikh (1%) and Indigenous Spirituality (<0.5%).

  • Forty-nine percent of students reported having a gender identity of “Boy or Man”, 49 percent of “Girl or Woman” and 1 percent of a gender diverse identity.

  • Of the Grade 7 to 12 students who shared their sexual orientation, 85 percent identified as Straight and 11 percent identified as LGBTQ2S+.

  • Nine percent of students identified as having a disability.

  • Languages students reported learning as a first language included: English (85%), Urdu (6%), French (5%) and Tamil (4%).

  1. Read the full report on the 2019 Student Census

  2. View the Board and Municipal Student Census infographics

  3. Access the public data set of the Student Census 

The following resources were designed to help families understand aspects of the 2019 Student Census in greater detail:

Contact Us

Durham District School Board
400 Taunton Road East, Whitby, ON
L1R 2K6 Canada 

Email Us

Phone: 905-666-5500
Fax: 905-666-6474
Toll Free: 1-800-265-3968