Grey-Bruce School Boards See Surge in Enrolment Numbers

The Bluewater District School Board has reported a significant increase in student enrolment for the 2025-26 school year, highlighting a positive trend in the region. Preliminary figures indicate an increase of 236 students since fall 2024, bringing total enrolment to 18,900 students across 41 elementary and nine secondary schools. This marks a 14 percent increase compared to the 2020-21 school year, when enrolment was just over 16,500 students.

In a news release, Director of Education AJ Keene expressed optimism about the growth. “Families are entrusting their children with Bluewater due to the quality of education we provide,” Keene stated. He emphasized that the board is committed to investing in future developments, including new school constructions and infrastructure upgrades to improve academic outcomes for all students.

The growth in enrolment has not been uniform across the region, with certain areas such as Dundalk, Meaford-Thornbury, and Port Elgin experiencing notable increases. To address the rising numbers, the board plans to construct new schools in these communities; however, construction has yet to commence.

In June 2024, the provincial government announced $28 million in funding for a new elementary school in Dundalk, which will serve students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 and accommodate 735 students, including 54 licensed child-care spaces. Although a site has been secured, full details regarding the location will be disclosed once the land acquisition is finalized.

To manage overcrowding at existing schools in Dundalk, the board has temporarily relocated Grade 7 and 8 students from Highpoint Community School to Grey Highlands Secondary School in Flesherton until the new school is completed. Additionally, three “holding zones” have been established in Dundalk, where students from new developments will be bused to Macphail Memorial Elementary School in Flesherton.

The board’s long-term accommodation strategy forecasts that by 2029-30, enrolment at Dundalk and Proton Community schools may reach close to 450 students, exceeding the current capacity of 265 pupil places by nearly 170 percent. Highpoint Community School is also projected to have an enrolment of approximately 550 students by that same year, significantly exceeding its capacity of 322 pupil places.

In Port Elgin, the provincial government has allocated $17.9 million for a new school designed to accommodate 409 students, aimed at alleviating crowding in Northport Elementary and Port Elgin–Saugeen Central schools. A land purchase agreement is in place, with an announcement expected once finalized. Current estimates suggest that Northport’s enrolment could rise to nearly 750 students by 2029-30, representing more than 180 percent of its capacity.

Looking ahead, the Bluewater board is also working on plans to replace Kincardine District Senior School with a new facility that will serve 881 students. The province committed over $26.4 million for this project in 2020, and a site has been selected with a purchase agreement in progress.

Meanwhile, the Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board has also reported an uptick in enrolment. As of September 30, 2024, enrolment reached 5,189 students, up from 5,135 the previous year, marking an increase of over one percent. Executive Superintendent of Business and Treasurer Alicia Lantz acknowledged the challenges that come with this growth, stating that the board is implementing temporary measures to support the increasing student population while planning long-term solutions.

One significant project for the Bruce-Grey Catholic board is the development of a new St. Mary’s High School on Owen Sound’s east side. The current school, built for 672 students, has housed around 1,000 students in recent years. The board has secured over $36 million in provincial funding for a new facility capable of accommodating 1,012 pupils, with construction anticipated to commence in 2025 and completion expected by 2028.

The ongoing enrolment increases and the subsequent demand for infrastructure improvements underscore the need for strategic planning in the education sector. As the Bluewater and Bruce-Grey Catholic boards navigate these developments, they remain focused on ensuring that all students receive a high-quality learning experience amidst the challenges of growing student populations.