Declining enrolment in Ontario’s schools, 2008

pdf 304 kb Published 2008

People for Education, 2008.

Based on data from Statistics Canada and People for Education’s Annual School Survey, this excerpt from the Annual Report on Ontario’s Public Schools 2008, shows that across Canada, school-aged populations are on the decline. According to Statistics Canada, the number of students in Canada’s elementary and secondary schools will decline by as much as 500,000 in the next 10 years. 

Among the findings in the report:

  • Since 2002, overall enrolment in Ontario elementary and secondary schools has declined by nearly 90,000 students.
  • In four of Ontario’s northern boards, enrolment has declined more than 20% since 2002.
  • Only 9 English-language boards have had enrolment increases—all in the 905 region.
  • 31 out of Ontario’s 72 school boards have seen enrolment declines of more than 10% since 2002.
  • There are currently nearly 300 schools involved in Accommodation Reviews in the province