School closings and declining enrolment in Ontario

pdf 636 kb Published 2009

People for Education, 2009

This report, based on a survey of the province’s 72 school boards, contains updates on school closings, Accomodation Reviews, and the impact of declining enrolment. At the time of the report, 172 elementary and secondary schools  were closing or recommended to close between 2009 and 2012 — up from 145 in May. A further 163 schools were under review. This represents the largest increase in school closings since the late 1990s when, between 1999 and 2004, school boards reacted to education funding cuts by closing over 250 schools across the province.

Declining enrolment

As a result of reduced birthrates, enrolment is declining in schools across Ontario and across Canada (see Statistics Canada report). Ontario will have 140,000 fewer students in 2012 than it had in 2002. While a number of adjustments have been made to education funding in Ontario over the last decade,  approximately two-thirds continues to be allotted on a per pupil basis, which makes it difficult for school boards to keep small schools open.

The report contains board-by-board data on enrolment declines, school closings and Accommodation Reviews.

Join the Discussion »

  • ARCs and school closings – what’s working and what’s not

    I live in Ottawa, two houses down from one of three high schools being considered for closure by the Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB). I have to say that I am impressed with the level of transparency observed by the Board and mandated by the province in this process. I am however utterly dismayed at the criteria for the School Valuation Report and the total lack of analysis of the data being used in the process.  View the full discussion.