Update: January 30, 2025
We want to extend our gratitude to all the families and staff who took time to participate in the Northglen Clarington Catchment Review through our online engagement project and our Town Hall meeting at St. Stephen CSS on Jan. 9, 2025.
Based on community feedback, staff will be presenting an updated proposal to Trustees for discussion and vote in February.
Please see some key changes below.
Additional St. Elizabeth CES Boundary Revisions
Based on the collective feedback we have received from the consultation process, we have made further adjustments to the St. Elizabeth CES Boundary. This decision was made to accommodate the implementation of legacy arrangements as proposed at the Town Hall meeting, which made it necessary to expand boundaries in some areas.
Residents on the south side of Concession 3 and south from Concession 3, between Bowmanville Avenue and Scugog Street South to Bons Avenue, will now fall within the new Northglen Catholic school boundary effective September 2026.
Please use the interactive mapping tool to see where your residence falls within the boundary proposal.
Legacy Considerations
Families that fall within the following three zones (see maps below for greater detail) of the new catchment area will be granted full legacy considerations for any students who have been enrolled in a PVNC Catholic School prior to Jan. 1, 2025:
- Brookhill Legacy Area
- Concession Road 3 Legacy Area: south side of Concession 3 and south from Concession 3, between Bowmanville Avenue and Scugog Street south to Bons Avenue
- Orono/Mosport Legacy Area: south to the CP Rail line and east to Gamsby Road and the junction of Moffat Road and Highway 2
This gives current families in the above zones the choice to keep their child(ren) in their existing school (regardless of what grade they are in) or attend the new Northglen school beginning in September 2026. Note: Families new to our system, enrolling students in these zones after Jan. 1, 2025, will attend their designated school as of September 2026. If a parent/guardian currently has older children who attend a particular school, their kindergarten-aged child may also attend that school; families will not be separated.
Brookhill Legacy Area
Concession Road 3 Legacy Area
Orono/Mosport Legacy Area
New Timeline for Board of Trustee Decision
Staff presented the summary of consultation feedback to Trustees during the Jan. 13, 2025 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting.
It was decided that the final boundaries and implementation plan regarding the Northglen Clarington Catchment Review will be brought to the next Committee-of-the-Whole meeting on Feb. 10, 2025 with final approval expected to be made by our Board of Trustees on Feb. 25, 2025 at the regular Board Meeting.
Childcare Update
As previously indicated, families who are required to change schools as a result of the Clarington catchment changes will be provided with a priority registration period for Northglen daycare spots.
More information on this registration process will be provided following the Feb. 25, 2025 regular Board Meeting.
Questions?
We have reopened our Q&A tool on the online engagement project. Please take advantage of this tool if you have any questions about the details provided above prior to the Feb. 10, 2025 Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting.
Final Opportunity for Feedback
We have posted a new survey on the online engagement project so that you can provide any final feedback prior to the Feb. 10, 2025 Committee-of-the-Whole Meeting.
Thank you again for your ongoing patience and dialogue as we engage in this process. We are committed to balancing the needs of our growing school communities while creating a strong foundation for the future of Catholic education in Clarington.
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Project Overview
Architectural rendering of new Northglen Catholic elementary school.
We’re excited to plan for a new Catholic elementary school in Clarington, which is set to open in September 2026.
This state-of-the-art facility at Northglen Blvd. and Middle Rd., will accommodate up to 493 students and include a three-room childcare centre to serve infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in our growing community.
To prepare for the opening of the yet-to-be-named school, the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board is conducting a catchment area review. This process will help determine the school’s boundaries and ensure a balanced, sustainable distribution of students across our schools in Clarington.
Our planning partners have carefully analyzed enrollment data, boundary maps, and projected growth in the region to develop a proposal that addresses current and future needs. While this proposal represents the Board’s preferred option, we value the insights and perspectives of our community and invite you to provide feedback.
The proposal directly impacts the following school communities - St. Elizabeth CES, Holy Family CES and St. Francis of Asissi CES. Under the proposal, the catchment areas of these three schools will be redrawn to move some students to the new Northglen school.
We understand that decisions about school boundaries can bring mixed emotions. While some families may look forward to becoming part of a new school community, others may feel stress or uncertainty about changes to their current catchment areas. That’s why we’re committed to a transparent and inclusive consultation process.
This engagement project is your opportunity to learn about the proposed changes, provide feedback, and explore interactive tools like our catchment area mapping tool. Your input will be integral to shaping a fair and effective boundary recommendation.
Together, we’ll plan for the growth of our community while ensuring the best possible learning environment for all students. Thank you for taking the time to engage with us on this important project.
Background
Why a Catchment Area Review?
The Clarington region is experiencing rapid population growth, with projections indicating an increase from 107,000 residents today to over 221,000 by 2051. This growth has already placed significant pressures on our existing schools, as reflected in current enrollment data.
To address these challenges and prepare for continued expansion, PVNC Catholic must establish a catchment area for the new school that not only provides a community for its students but also plays a pivotal role in alleviating enrollment pressures throughout the Clarington jurisdiction.
Understanding OTG Capacity and Enrollment Pressures
On the Ground (OTG) capacity is a critical measure in determining a school’s ability to accommodate students. It represents the number of students a school is designed to hold based on Ministry of Education guidelines. Schools operating beyond their OTG capacity often require portable classrooms. The Ministry of Education measures “utilization,” which is the number of students compared to the OTG of the school, not including any portable classrooms which may be on-site.
The table below highlights the current enrollment pressures faced by our Bowmanville elementary schools and St. Francis CES in Newcastle.
School | Pupil Count | OTG | # of Portables | Total Capacity | Utilization |
Holy Family CES | 757 | 752 | 2 | 798 | 100.7% |
St. Elizabeth CES | 723 | 386 | 17 | 777 | 187.3% |
St. Francis CES | 535 | 510 | 3 | 579 | 104.9% |
St. Joseph CES | 490 | 510 | 3 | 579 | 96.1% |
As the data demonstrates, St. Elizabeth CES, in particular, is significantly overcapacity, operating at 187.3% utilization with reliance on many portable classrooms and an annex location for its Grade 8 classes located at St. Stephen CSS. Enrollment pressures are also evident at St. Francis CES and Holy Family CES.
Preparing for future growth in the area, the Board must make important catchment area decisions now to ensure the new Northglen school helps alleviate current and future enrollment pressures throughout Clarington.
