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 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.

Completed attendance area reviews

AAR 2020:01 – Cundles Heights Public School and Maple Grove Public School

Approved recommendations to be implemented in September 2022

The SCDSB Board of Trustees has approved an attendance area review (AAR) for Maple Grove PS and Cundles Heights PS. Schools in the northeast portion of the City of Barrie have had varying degrees of low enrolment, except for Maple Grove PS, which has seen a small increase in enrolment. The Maple Grove PS school site is unable to accommodate further portables, resulting in the need for an attendance area review to balance enrolment.

The goals of the attendance area review are to: 

  • maximize walk zones

  • minimize busing

  • reduce enrolment among area schools

  • align secondary feeder schools

Notification letter for families - Dec. 2021
Background information and proposed changes (video) - Dec. 2021
Background information and proposed changes (pdf) - Dec. 2021
Questions and answers regarding the Cundles Heights PS and Maple Grove PS review - Dec. 2021
Letter to families regarding attendance area recommendations
Report presented to the Business and Facilities Committee in February 2022
Letter to families regarding approved attendance area changes

AAR 2020:02 – Townships of Essa and Springwater Attendance Area Review

Approved recommendations to be implemented in September 2023

The SCDSB Board of Trustees has approved an attendance area review (AAR) for the northeast portion of Essa Township and the southwest portion of Springwater Township. Baxter Central Public School in the Township of Essa has experienced varying degrees of low enrolment, while Portage View Public School is over capacity and the City of Barrie is currently seeing further residential intensification and growth pressures, impacting the enrolment pressures. This attendance area review is proposing to transfer rural elementary students from Portage View PS to Baxter Central PS. 

The goals of the attendance area review are to: 

  • align the rural portions of Essa Township and Springwater Township to attend Baxter Central PS
  • families within this area have requested out of area permission to attend Baxter Central PS 
  • balance enrolment among the two schools 
  • align the secondary feeder schools
  • minimize busing

Notification letter for families - April 2022
Background information and proposed changes (video) -April 2022
Background information and proposed changes (pdf) -April 2022
Questions and answers regarding the Essa- Springwater review -April 2022
Letter to families regarding attendance area recommendations
Report presented to the Business and Facilities Committee
Letter to families regarding approved attendance area changes

Completed program reviews

PR 2020:01 – Southeast Area of the City of Barrie - French Immersion Program Review

Approved recommendations to be implemented in September 2023

The SCDSB Board of Trustees has approved a program review (PR) for the French Immersion (FI) feeder schools of Allandale Heights PS and Assikinack PS from Hillcrest PS, Portage View PS to Warnica ES.

The goal of the new boundaries will be to:

  • align the FI feeder schools to the secondary FI schools 
  • support balanced enrolment in the FI programs

Notification letter for families - April 2022
Background information and proposed changes (video) - April 2022
Background information and proposed changes (pdf) - April 2022
Questions and answers regarding the Allandale Heights PS and Assikinack PS review - April 2022
Letter to families regarding program review recommendations
Report presented to the Business and Facilities Committee
Letter to families regarding approved program changes

PR 2020:02 – French Immersion Feeder Schools

The SCDSB Board of Trustees has approved a program review (PR) for the French Immersion (FI) elementary feeder schools to commence in the fall of 2022. 

The goal of the new boundaries will be to:

  • align the FI feeder schools to the secondary FI schools 
  • support balanced enrolment in the FI programs