Accommodation Planning Reviews

Attendance area reviews, program reviews and pupil accommodation reviews are utilized to balance enrolment within a family of schools, to ensure programming meets the needs of students and to address facility pressures. 

Attendance area reviews
An attendance area is the geographic area that each school draws enrolment from. Attendance area reviews (AAR) may result in a change to attendance area boundaries. The purpose is to help balance enrolment across schools, ensure programming meets the needs of the students and/or address facility accommodation pressures.

Program reviews
The SCDSB offers programming options such as French as a Second Language (FSL) in our elementary and secondary schools. In some circumstances, these programs draw students from a larger geographical area than their assigned attendance area. The programs are reviewed on a regular basis to help to balance enrolment across the county and to minimize impacts on home school student populations. 

Pupil accommodation reviews
A pupil accommodation review is used in situations with declining enrolment. They address enrolment, programming, and facility condition challenges. This involves reviewing two or more schools together to determine an accommodation solution, which may include closing school(s) and consolidating students. It’s a longer process that involves an Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) made up of parent, student and school representatives and various opportunities for community input.

The consolidation process can help increase program availability for students, and address buildings where the facility condition is not ideal or there is underutilized space. In July 2017, the Ministry of Education approved a school closure moratorium. When the moratorium is lifted, the board will be required to amend the current policy and procedures. Currently, due to the moratorium, there are no pupil accommodation reviews under consideration. 

Current reviews

AAR 2024:01a - Oro-Medonte attendance area and program review

The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is excited to be opening a new elementary school in Oro-Medonte in the fall of 2025. The new elementary school is located at 739 Horseshoe Valley Road.

In order to determine the attendance area for the new elementary school, and to balance the enrolment at elementary schools in the area, the SCDSB will be conducting an attendance area review (AAR) involving East Oro PS, Forest Hill PS, Guthrie PS, W.R. Best Memorial PS, Terry Fox ES, and West Bayfield ES.

AAR 2023:01a - Central Severn attendance area review

Completed attendance area reviews

AAR 2018:01 - New Wasaga Beach elementary school

The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is excited to be opening a new elementary school in Wasaga Beach in the fall of 2024. The new elementary school is located at 42 Union Boulevard, Wasaga Beach.

In order to determine the attendance area for the new elementary school, and to balance the enrolment at elementary schools in Wasaga Beach, the SCDSB will be conducting an attendance area review (AAR) for Birchview Dunes ES, Connaught PS, Huronia Centennial ES, Worsley ES, and Elmvale District HS.