Southwest Burlington Elementary School Boundary Review

Board Report 250122

This message was provided to parents/guardians of students at Aldershot Elem - Grades 7 & 8, Burlington Central Elem Grade 7 & 8, Central PS, King’s Road PS, Lakeshore PS, Maplehurst PS, Tom Thomson PS, Makwendam PS, Pineland PS, Tecumseh PS, Clarksdale PS, Rolling Meadows PS on November 27, 2025

SUBJECT: Notification of Boundary Review for Southwest Burlington

Dear parent/guardian,
We are writing to inform you of an upcoming boundary review for the communities of southwest Burlington. At the Nov. 4, 2025, Board meeting, Trustees of the Halton District School Board passed a motion (below) to initiate the process for a boundary review. 

Trustee motion (as presented in Board Report 25122)
For southwest Burlington (Map) 

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Board of Trustees direct staff to initiate and complete a boundary review for ERA 101 Aldershot, Parkway Belt, & Downtown Burlington (formerly ERA 100 and 101), ERA102: South QEW Between Guelph & Burloak (formerly ERA 101 and 102), ERA 103 Northwest Burlington to balance enrolments at affected schools within existing and future communities for both the English and French Immersion program.

Please note that this boundary review is primarily focused on the areas south and east of the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW) (outlined with a RED border and highlighted in orange in the image below). The surrounding area highlighted in pink in the figure below represents schools that may receive enrolment, but are not anticipated to impact current students.

This boundary review will not change the boundaries north of the QEW (Clarksdale PS, Rolling Meadows PS); however, this process may increase student enrolment at these schools. This boundary review will not change the boundaries west of the QEW (Aldershot School - Elementary, King’s Road PS, Maplehurst PS). 

What is the goal of this boundary review?
The goal of this boundary review is to balance enrolment across southwest Burlington elementary schools, ensuring that all students learn in sustainable environments with access to strong programs and resources. Currently, some schools are over capacity and rely on portables that place strain on facilities, while others have space to welcome more students and would benefit from increased enrolment, which can bring additional resources to further strengthen programming and extracurricular opportunities. By rebalancing enrolment, we can ease pressures on highly enrolled schools, make the best use of available space and staffing and enhance learning experiences for all students across the community

This boundary review aims to keep student cohorts together, minimize transitions and bring more students closer to their community schools. By seeking input from families and the community, the process will also explore how French Immersion and other program offerings can best meet local needs. 

Please note that you are receiving this message as the outcome of this boundary review may impact the school your child attends.

What are the next steps?

• A Boundary Review Steering Committee (made up of trustees, senior administration and planning staff) will be formed to confirm the consultation process, determine the schools involved and develop initial options, in accordance with the HDSB’s School Boundary Review Administrative Procedure.
•  A Boundary Review Committee, with parent/guardian representation, will be created in the winter of the 2025-2026 school year to participate and provide feedback on the options.
• The option(s) will be shared at a virtual public information session. Details will be provided once confirmed. 

This boundary review is expected to conclude by June 2026, with any changes taking
effect as early as September 2026.

Further information

More details will be shared with affected school communities as the process continues. Families can stay informed by visiting the boundary review webpage, which contains background information and updates to date. If you have questions about this boundary review, please email SWB_Review@hdsb.ca.

Sincerely,
Halton District School Board

This message was provided to parents/guardians of students at Aldershot Elem -  Grades 7 & 8, Burlington Central Elem Grade 7 & 8, Central PS, Clarksdale PS, King’s Road PS, Lakeshore PS, Makwendam PS, Maplehurst PS, Pineland PS, Rolling Meadows PS, Tecumseh PS and Tom Thomson PS on January 7, 2026

SUBJECT:  Southwest Burlington Boundary Review Update

Dear Parent/Guardian,  

We are writing to provide an update on the upcoming boundary review for the southwest Burlington communities.

You are receiving this letter because your child’s school has been identified as part of this study, and the outcome may impact the school your child attends in September 2026.

Community Consultation - Next Steps
The Boundary Review Steering Committee (BRSC) met on Dec. 19, 2025, and, following the School Boundary Review Procedure, has selected Pathway 1 for this boundary review, which prioritizes thorough community consultation through a Boundary Review Committee (BRC).

• Parent/Guardian Representatives: We are seeking one to two parent/guardian representatives from each impacted school to join the committee. Your School Council will share application details soon. 
• First Meeting: The inaugural BRC meeting will be held on Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m. The full schedule of meetings can be found on the Southwest Burlington Elementary School Boundary Review webpage. 
• The Committee: Members will include local Trustees (Robbie Brydon, Margo Horne and Amy Collard), parent/guardian volunteers, HDSB Superintendents and Planning/Transportation staff. 

Project Timeline

• Completion Goal: June 2026
• Implementation: As early as September 2026. The final option may include multi-year phasing. 

What is the purpose of this review?
The primary goals of this review are to ensure a stable and accessible learning environment for all students through:

• Green Space: To ensure students regain essential green space currently occupied by portables.
• Balance Enrolment: Address overpopulation at schools while making better use of available space at underpopulated schools.
• Keep Communities Together: Reduce "split cohorts" to ensure more students can transition from elementary to middle school with their peers.
• Planning for the Future: Identify alternative uses for surplus space to support healthy, sustainable school populations.

Impacted Schools
While the study area is broad, the review will specifically look at integrating communities and balancing programs for:

• Central PS
• King’s Road PS (students residing east of the QEW)
• Lakeshore PS
• Maplehurst PS (students in the French Immersion program residing east of the QEW)
• Tom Thomson PS
• Tecumseh PS

We understand that boundary changes can have significant impacts on families, and we are committed to providing information and support throughout this process. We encourage you to stay informed by visiting our boundary review webpage for the most up-to-date information, meeting minutes, data scenarios, and FAQs.

If you have questions about this boundary review, please email SWB_Review@hdsb.ca

Sincerely, 

Halton District School Board

Generally, yes. Students residing within the newly defined boundaries will transition to their assigned schools. 

We recognize the importance of continuity in a student's education. To ensure a smooth transition, the HDSB is evaluating several phasing options within the proposed plans, which may include:

• Legacy Exemptions: Allowing students in specific milestone grades (e.g., students entering Grade 6, 7 or 8, depending on the grade structure of the school) to remain at their current school until graduation.
• Staggered Transitions: Implementing the new boundaries over a multi-year period to reduce the immediate impact on families.

Specific details regarding the transition plan will be finalized once a preferred boundary option is selected.

The following schools may see an increase in enrolment. Students currently residing in the current catchments will not be required to relocate:

• Aldershot Elem
• Clarksdale PS
• King’s Road PS (west of the QEW)
• Makwendam PS
• Maplehurst PS (west of the QEW)
• Pineland PS
• Rolling Meadows PS

Your feedback is very important to us. To ensure your questions and comments are addressed:

• Submit via Email: Please email any questions or comments directly to SWB_Review@hdsb.ca
• Committee Review: All feedback is shared with the Boundary Review Committee and the Steering Committee to inform their ongoing work.

There will also be a dedicated Public Information Meeting on March 11, 2026. This meeting provides an opportunity  for the community to review the committee's proposals, ask questions and provide direct feedback before any final decisions are made.

The Boundary Review Committee meetings are working sessions for the group. These sessions are for committee members to analyze data and develop potential options. While these meetings are not open to public participation, we maintain transparency by posting the meeting materials and recordings on our website for your review.

This update was sent to all residents within the area to ensure everyone is informed of the ongoing boundary review.  These schools are included in the review because there is potential to increase the school's student population. Students currently living within the catchment area will not be moved to a different school.

This update was sent to all residents within the area to ensure everyone is informed of the ongoing boundary review. The impact on your child depends on your residential location relative to the QEW:

• West of the QEW: Students residing west of the QEW will not be moved to a different school. Enrolment numbers at these schools may change modestly  as a result of the review.
  
• East of the QEW: Students residing east of the QEW may be required to transition to a different school depending on the final boundary decision.

We encourage all families to review the webpage to remain informed of the boundary review progress.

R. John T. Tuck PS has been excluded from the current review because its boundaries and student pathways remain stable. While the school is currently operating at 120% capacity, the HDSB has determined that a boundary adjustment is not necessary for the following reasons:

• Predictable Pathways: The school maintains a well-established and consistent student transition pattern.
• Capacity Management: While there are currently five portables on-site, the school can accommodate up to 12 if needed, providing sufficient flexibility for current enrolment while balancing available greenspace.
• Enrolment Trends: Long-term projections indicate a gradual decline in enrolment. This suggests that the current capacity pressure is temporary and will resolve naturally without requiring a permanent boundary change.

At this time, families are encouraged to proceed with kindergarten registration at their current home school, as determined by the School Locator. Registering now ensures your child is accounted for in planning, regardless of any future boundary adjustments. Should boundary changes be approved that affect your address for September 2026, the HDSB will communicate

Out of Area Transfer is a process that allows students to apply to attend a school other than their designated "home school" (the school assigned to their residential address). 

While the district aims to accommodate these requests, please keep in mind the following:

• Space Availability: Applications are only considered if the requested school has sufficient space and resources to accommodate additional students.
• Transportation: Families are responsible for providing transportation to and from the school if the Out of Area Transfer request is approved.
• Status During Boundary Reviews: During a boundary review process, Out of Area Transfer may be restricted or paused at specific schools to ensure there is enough space for local students.

For detailed application steps and deadlines, please review the Transfer Schools within HDSB webpage.