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Enrolment at five London-area Catholic schools is being capped in response to a rapid increase in enrolment, the London District Catholic school board said Tuesday.
Once the enrolment caps are reached at the four elementary schools and one high high school, new students will be directed to register at nearby Catholic schools that still have space available, the board said in a release. Busing will be provided if students meet eligibility requirements.
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The board warns enrolment caps at other schools are likely.
Enrolment at the London District Catholic board has jumped to 27,500 students from 18,000 over the past eight years, making it the fastest-growing Catholic board in the province.
It added about 1,500 new students for the 2024-25 school year.
“This is an exciting and challenging time for the school board,” Debbie Jordan, executive superintendent of business and corporate services, said in the release. “We are doing everything we can to welcome and provide space for new students.”
The board has added 130 portables in the past three years and likely will need another 50 portables to meet fall enrolment projections, she said.
About 1,500 employees have been hired during the past few years and the board may need to hire hundreds more over the next year, Jordan said.
Current projections show the number of students could rise from 27,000 students to 46,000 by 2051, the board said.
St. Gabriel, the Catholic board’s new elementary school in northwest London, opened in January and two more elementary schools are in the planning stages, the board said.
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A replacement high school is also under construction, it said.
“With enrolment experiencing a remarkable 20 per cent upturn over the past two years, our pupil count stands at the highest level ever recorded,” board chair Gabe Pizzuti said. “Since 2017, the board has consistently witnessed enrolment growth, a trend projected to persist for the foreseeable future.”
SCHOOLS WITH CAPPED ENROLMENT
ELEMENTARY
- St. Anne, London. Once cap is reached, new students will attend St. Mark, London.
- Blessed Sacrament, London. Once cap is reached, new students will attend Holy Family, London.
- Our Lady of Lourdes, Delaware. Once cap is reached, new students will attend St. Theresa, London.
- Sir Arthur Carty, London. Once cap is reached, new students will attend St. Jude, London.
SECONDARY
- St. Andre Bessette, London. Once cap is reached, new students will attend Mother Teresa, London.
Grade 8 pupils at Our Lady of Lourdes, Delaware have the option to enroll at Holy Cross secondary school in Strathroy or St. Andre Bessette. Once cap at St. Andre Bessette is reached, new students will attend Mother Teresa, London.
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