Boundary Reviews

The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board establishes school catchment areas for students and families within specific boundaries. These boundaries are determined following a consultation process with key stakeholders in the school’s geographic area.

Occasionally, it is necessary to review school boundaries in order to establish a new school or to alleviate accommodation pressures in an existing area.

With the construction of a new Catholic elementary school in Bradford and Tottenham, the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board has initiated a boundary review process for the areas.

Please click on the buttons below for more information on the boundary review in that area, and see answers to frequently asked questions at the bottom of this page.


Active Boundary Reviews

bradford boundary review icon
tottenham boundary review icon

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we need to do a boundary review?

When populations grow and enrolment increases or new schools are opening, boundary reviews are necessary in order to better balance enrolment and relieve capacity pressures within the affected schools.

Which schools are affected by the current boundary review?

The following schools in Bradford are currently involved in a boundary review process:

Bradford
  • St. Charles Catholic School
  • St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic School
  • St. Marie of the Incarnation Catholic School
The following schools in the New Tecumseth and Adjala-Tosorontio areas are currently involved in a boundary review process:
Tottenham
  • Holy Family Catholic School
  • Father F.X. O'Reilly Catholic School
  • Monsignor J.E. Ronan Catholic School
  • St. James Catholic School

What is the boundary review process?

The SMCDSB planning department routinely considers enrolment/capacity or other issues that may require further discussion or consideration for a boundary review.

If it is determined that a boundary review is necessary, the process will be initiated by the Board's planning department in consultation with the area's Superintendent of Student Engagement and Learning. A Board Staff Committee is also established to determine the best ways to alleviate accommodation pressures in the affected area.

Establishment of Board Staff Committee to be comprised of:

- School Superintendent (Chair)
- Planning Department
- Principal(s)
- Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC)
- Other staff as needed, ie. Student Support and Program Services, Capital Projects, Facilities Services

The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board will host a public input session to consult with affected families and gather input.

Final recommendations will be presented to the Education Leadership Council (ELC) for approval.

What information is available at the open house?

- Review background information
- Review proposed boundary option(s)
- Opportunity for public input

How can communities participate and provide comments?

Parents, guardians, and other stakeholders will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the option. Written comments can also be sent through the input form on the boundary review website. A Public Input Session will be taking place in February. Comments will be compiled and shared with the Board Staff Committee.

Have any boundary change decisions already been made?

No. It is anticipated that the Education Leadership Council will decide on any changes to school boundaries on March 2, 2026.

When will boundary changes take effect?

Boundary changes will take effect September 2026.

Will boundary exemptions be considered once the new boundaries are implemented?

When considering boundary exemptions, the Board will follow Policy GP-15 School Boundaries and Boundary Exemptions.

Accommodation for pupils within the defined boundary of a school must be given first priority.  Therefore, a school experiencing overcrowding or anticipating significant growth must be restrictive in the number of students permitted from outside the school boundary.

Can families request to stay at their current school instead of moving to a different school?

When a decision to change a school boundary occurs, students are expected to transfer to the school designated to their location, subject to any specific provisions that may be determined through the boundary review.

Where do new families to the area register?

As no decisions have been made on changes to school boundaries yet, please register your child at the school in your current boundary. Should school boundaries change after you register your child, you will be notified of the change and any necessary information for your new school will be provided.

How will this impact transportation?

The Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC) will conduct a complete on-site review to confirm walk zones for each school following SMCDSB Policy GP-13 - Transportation, which is estimated to be complete in the Spring of 2026.

Walking Students: All students within the walk zone to the affected schools will be notified in early June 2026.

Transported Students: All student outside the walk zone to the affected schools will be provided anticipated busing information in early June 2026.

Will my child qualify for transportation?

As per the SMCDSB’s Transportation Policy, GP-13, students in Kindergarten through Grade 8 are eligible for busing if they reside in the school boundary and reside further than 1.6 km from the school. 

Will the new schools have child care?

Yes. A new child care centre will be opening at both the new Bradford and Tottenham Catholic Elementary Schools. The before and after school program and the child care centre at the new schools will be operated by Upper Canada Child Care Centres.

What are the bell times at the boundary review area schools?

Tottenham
Holy Family - 8:55 am - 3:25 pm
Father F.X. O'Reilly  - 9:20 am - 3:40 pm
Monsignor J.E. Ronan - 8:30 am - 2:50 pm
St. James - 9:15 am - 3:40 pm

Bradford
St. Charles - 8:45 am - 3:05 pm
St. Jean de Brebeuf - 8:45 am - 3:05 pm
St. Marie of the Incarnation - 8:50 am - 3:10 pm

How are enrolment projections created?

Enrolment projections are created by utilizing existing enrolment, housing development, student retention rates and demographic data.

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought an additional dimension to historical trends related to movement within the province and increasing housing prices. 

Projections are also informed by municipal planning processes such as official and secondary plans, internal analysis, experiences of other school boards and county population forecasts.

How are study areas determined?

Study areas are determined by reviewing natural separations such as collector roads or highways, railways, environmental features, walk zones and population growth areas, along with analyzing the number of students both current and projected to create feasible option scenarios while minimizing the impact to existing students as much as possible.

What does capacity (Cap in the projection tables) refer to?

On the Ground Capacity (OTG) is the rated capacity for all elementary and secondary facilities of a school board (number of students the permanent structure can accommodate). 

Why does the recommended option include opening the new school with portables?

Recommended options seek to satisfy the boundary review objectives as much as possible.  This includes balancing enrolment and capacity while having consideration for site restrictions of affected schools, maximizing walk zones and following logical divides where possible, and incorporating future enrolment and projected development.  Recommended options review the objectives over a multi-year horizon.  Consideration is given to new school sites being designed to current standards and to maximize traffic flow with separated bus and parent drop-off areas.

New Tecumseth is one of the fastest growing areas within the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board, and keeping up with the pace of enrolment change requires temporary accommodation (portables) to be utilized on school sites.   Once the enrolment peak for the area has been reached, the need for temporary accommodation will be reduced.  This is common in growth areas throughout the province.

With the anticipated continued growth in the boundary review area, additional elementary schools have been identified as required through the SMCDSB Long-Term Accommodation Plan over the next ten years and beyond.