A: White Oaks SS is presently witnessing significant enrolment pressures, and has already reached its maximum portable capacity on site. The school is also projected to have a student population of well over 2,000 in the coming years. Given the pressures and the size of the school, and to ensure the best possible programming is offered to students, a redirection is being implemented to offset pressures and have a sustainably sized school.
A: The delay in opening Oakville NE #1 HS has caused the need to offset the above noted pressures to an alternate site, until it is ready to open.
North Oakville Secondary School Temporary Enrolment Redirection
Suspended Redirection (Until Further Notice)
As a result of ongoing enrolment growth at White Oaks Secondary School, driven primarily by the North Oakville Secondary Plan area north of Dundas Street, a temporary redirection of secondary school students to T.A. Blakelock High School has been implemented. This redirection will be phased over two years, starting in Sept. 2022, and will remain in place until the new Oakville NE #1 HS is open.
Board Report 21143 was presented to the Board of Trustees on November 17, 2021 outlining the temporary redirection.
Update - October 30, 2024
The redirection of new English and French Immersion student registrations from the White Oaks SS to T.A. Blakelock HS is temporarily suspended until further notice as of Oct 30, 2024. Note that students that are currently redirected to TA. Blakelock HS will complete the 2024/25 school year at T.A. Blakelock HS.
Note that if White Oaks SS sees significant growth and experiences enrolment pressures as determined by Board staff, the redirection may be reinstated and new English and French Immersion student registrations may be redirected to T.A. Blakelock HS.
What does this mean for the students and families north of Dundas Street in Oakville?
The affected school communities are strictly located north of Dundas Street, and are identified in the attached map and listed below:
- English Program: River Oaks PS, Falgarwood PS, Palermo PS
- French Immersion Program: Munn’s PS, Sunningdale PS, and Palermo PS
Students currently in Grades 5-7:
New and existing students who reside north of Dundas Street, will be redirected to T.A. Blakelock H.S. until the new Oakville NE #1 HS opens, and the completion of a boundary review process to define final attendance areas. School bus transportation will be provided.
New and existing students who reside north of Dundas Street, will be redirected to T.A. Blakelock H.S. until the new Oakville NE #1 HS opens, and the completion of a boundary review process to define final attendance areas. School bus transportation will be provided.
Students currently in Grade 8:
Students who reside north of Dundas Street from the above listed elementary schools will attend White Oaks S.S. for English and French Immersion for Sept. 2022. School bus transportation will be provided.
What about specialized program offerings?
Students located north of Dundas Street in Oakville will continue to attend the following secondary school locations listed below until the new Oakville NE #1 HS opens, and the completion of a boundary review process to define final attendance areas and programs.
- Essential Program - White Oaks SS
- Community Pathways Program (CPP) - White Oaks SS
- Secondary Gifted Placement - Iroquois Ridge HS
- Accelerated Learning Program - White Oaks SS (fall application process), for students who intend on pursuing the International Baccalaureate program in Grades 11 and 12
- I-STEM Program (fall application process):
- Aldershot HS (Burlington)
- Elsie MacGill SS (Milton)
The I-STEM program is also being implemented at T.A. Blakelock HS, effective September 2023, starting with Grade 9 students. The application process in fall 2022 will include this third location option.
2-Year Implementation of the Redirection:
The actions that are to take place over the course of the redirection are as follows:
Actions for September 2022:
- Secondary students enrolling in English or French Immersion program for September 2022 from outside HDSB (HCDSB, other boards, migration, new development) and reside within the River Oaks, Falgarwood and Palermo ENG catchments areas (as per attachment) are directed to T.A. Blakelock HS, with redirection in place until Oakville NE #1 HS opens;
- Students residing in North Oakville and attending the Community Pathways Program are directed to White Oaks SS; and,
- Grade 8 students graduating in June 2022 in North Oakville from Oodenawi PS, Dr. David R. Williams PS, River Oaks PS, Falgarwood PS, Munns PS, Sunningdale PS, and Palermo PS will continue to attend White Oaks SS for English and French Immersion.
Actions for September 2023 onward:
- New students students enrolling for September 2022 in the English and French Immersion programs from outside HDSB (HCDSB, other boards, migration, new development) and reside within the River Oaks PS, Falgarwood PS and Palermo PS ENG catchments areas (as per attachment) are directed to T.A. Blakelock HS, with redirection in place until Oakville NE #1 HS opens;
- Students residing in North Oakville attending the Community Pathways Program are directed to White Oaks SS;
- Graduating Grade 8 students in North Oakville from River Oaks PS, Falgarwood PS, Munn's PS, Sunningdale PS, and Palermo PS will attend T.A. Blakelock HS for English and French Immersion; and,
- Graduating Grade 8 students in North Oakville from Oodenawi PS and Dr. David R. Williams PS will attend White Oaks SS for English and French Immersion.
Frequently Asked Questions
To supplement the above information the below Frequently Asked Questions on this redirection have been added to address situations that may be more specific to you and your family.
If you have further questions, please contact Planning Services by email at plan@hdsb.ca or by phone at 905-335-3663 if you have any questions with regard to this temporary redirection.
Why is a redirection necessary?
Will this be a permanent solution?
A: This is a temporary response to address ongoing enrolment pressures at White Oaks SS. As the new Oakville NE #1 HS has been delayed, the Board needs to redirect pressures to another facility that has space, namely T.A. Blakelock HS. This redirection will remain in place until such a time Oakville NE #1 HS opens, and that the new boundaries are defined as part of a future Oakville Secondary School Boundary Review Process.
A: Yes. If your child(ren) reside(s) in the affected redirection area and is/are presently attending White Oaks SS as of the 2021/2022 school year, they can continue their studies until graduation, with transportation.
A: If your child is currently attending White Oaks SS, and moves to the affected area or changes addresses, there is a possibility that they may be redirected to T.A. Blakelock HS.
My child(ren) has a sibling already attending White Oaks SS; are they still being redirected?
A: If your child(ren) has a sibling that will be attending White Oaks SS at the same time your child(ren) is entering into Grade 9, the Board will allow both to remain at the same school, and will have the ability to graduate at White Oaks SS. Note, if they chose to go to T.A. Blakelock HS, that is also an option.
When will Oakville NE #1 HS open, and is there an update on progress?
A: At this time, there is no definitive date as to when Oakville NE #1 HS will open. Although funding for the school has been acquired, the Board was required to identify a new site given deficiencies with the original property. Staff is working alongside the landowners and municipal agencies to advance the preparation of the site and to ensure the construction of the new school as expeditiously as possible.
A: Grade 9 to 12 English and French Immersion students entering the system for the 2022/2023 school year can begin to register at T.A. Blakelock HS in January 2023. Registration steps and forms can be found on our website (link).
WIll transportation be provided to T.A. Blakelock HS?
A: Transportation is provided for students identified for redirection in the identified areas north of Dundas Street (as per Transportation Eligibility guidelines for secondary schools).
If I’m interested in Out of Area Transfer, can I apply to T.A. Blakelock HS immediately?
A: If there is interest in applying for Out of Area Transfer, please submit your requests per the timelines indicated. At this time transportation has not been confirmed, but is an option being reviewed by the Board.
How do I determine if I am affected?
A: Refer to the Map of North Oakville.
A: Tools such as Find My Local School (link) and Transportation Eligibility (as of April 2022) can assist in helping you determine if you are impacted.
A: It is advisable that you contact Planning Services if you have any questions (905-335-3663, plan@hdsb.ca).
How do students apply for the I-STEM program proposed for T.A. Blakelock HS in Sept. 2023?
A: The Oakville I-STEM program will be open fall 2022 for applications for the 2023/2024 school year. This information will be posted in Fall 2022 here.
A: Students receiving transportation for T.A. Blakelock HS from these areas, and who are accepted in I-STEM, will be able to use transportation as it is their home school (as per Transportation Eligibility guidelines for secondary schools)
