One school is projected to be just 41% full by 2027, while others nearby are bursting at the seams. That imbalance is at the heart of final recommendations released Monday by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB), which aim to redraw student boundaries and shift programs for six schools in the city’s west-central area.
The long-awaited report addresses enrolment pressures at Broadview Public School, Churchill Alternative School, Elmdale Public School, Fisher Park/Summit Alternative Public School, Hilson Avenue Public School, and Woodroffe Avenue Public School. According to reports from Google News, the OCDSB releases final recommendations for boundary review at 6 west-central schools as part of a broader strategy to manage school capacity as it phases out its Alternative and Middle French Immersion programs.
The Numbers Problem: Balancing the Scales
The core issue is a mismatch between students and space. While schools like Broadview and Elmdale are over capacity, others are not. Churchill Alternative School, for instance, is projected to see its enrolment drop to 41% of its capacity in 2027 as its alternative program is phased out.
“It didn’t really make sense to us that some schools would be over capacity, when a school just down the street is struggling to fill classrooms,” Amanda Case, co-chair of the Churchill Parent Council, told CTV News earlier this year.
The board’s plan is designed to correct this. The recommendations would redraw boundaries to send future students to under-capacity schools, creating a more even distribution across the area. The changes are projected to raise Churchill’s capacity to nearly 49% by 2029, providing it with a more sustainable student population.
What’s Changing, School by School
The recommendations propose significant program shifts at two schools, set to begin in September 2027.
Churchill Alternative School would host a new Early French Immersion (EFI) program, phased in one grade per year starting with kindergarten. This move is intended to fill the building as the alternative program winds down. Similarly, Hilson Avenue Public School, which currently offers English and Middle French Immersion (MFI), would become a dual-track English and EFI school to serve more students seeking French programming from an early age.
The other four schools—Broadview, Elmdale, Fisher Park/Summit, and Woodroffe—will see their attendance boundaries realigned for various grades and programs to accommodate the shifts. No schools are slated for closure under the plan.
A ‘Gentle’ Transition for Families
For parents, the most pressing question is whether their child will have to switch schools. The board says no.
A key feature of the recommendations is that no currently enrolled students will be forced to move. The boundary and program changes will be phased in gradually, starting with the Junior and Senior Kindergarten classes of September 2027. The board has also included a “sibling legacy provision,” allowing younger siblings to attend the same school as their older brother or sister already enrolled at one of the six schools.
This approach is designed to minimize disruption. As families adjust to new school pathways, many older students are also navigating their post-secondary options, evaluating everything from program choices to financial aid. Some are asking questions like, is Nitro College Scholarship legit, while others are looking for any edge they can get. While these changes address immediate capacity issues, parents of older students are often focused on long-term goals, such as preparing for competitive post-secondary programs with specific resources like scholarship past questions and answers.
The Board’s Position
The OCDSB, which is currently under provincial supervision, has framed the recommendations as a direct response to community feedback gathered during consultations in May. The full proposal can be viewed on the Engage OCDSB website, the board’s official portal for public consultation.
“The OCDSB has successfully woven key community feedback into the final plan,” the board said in a statement. “The result is a balanced, forward-looking approach that optimizes school enrolment while successfully delivering on the community’s top priorities: student stability, family unity, and peace of mind.” The plan is a significant revision from a more chaotic, city-wide boundary review that was scrapped in late 2025 by provincial supervisor Bob Plamondon.
What Happens Next
The release of the staff report is the final major step before a decision is made. The community has a period to provide final feedback before the recommendations go to the supervisor for approval. According to coverage from the CBC, a final decision from Mr. Plamondon is expected by the end of June 2026.
If approved, the first changes would take effect in September 2027. The realignment is a long-term project; boundary changes for grades 7-8 at some schools, for example, won’t begin their phase-in until 2034 to align with the elementary school transitions.
For thousands of families in west-central Ottawa, the coming weeks will determine the educational landscape for their children for years to come. The focus now shifts to the supervisor’s office, which holds the final say on a plan that attempts to solve a decade-long puzzle of enrolment imbalance. It’s a reminder that in education, planning isn’t just about curriculum; it’s about buildings, boundaries, and providing stability for students, much like the scholarships awarded to seniors that mark the end of a stable K-12 journey.