Elementary & Secondary Overview

Publicly funded elementary and secondary schools are administered by district school boards. Working within the framework of the Education Act and its regulations, district school boards adapt provincial education policy to local situations. Trustees, as elected members of the board, represent the local community, providing a link between electors and the education system.

In all regions of Ontario, the Ministry of Education governs both the Public School Board and the Separate (Catholic) School Board, which are run as separate entities.

In Ontario, all permanent residents between the ages of 6 and 16 must attend school. Most students continue to attend after the required period, to receive a graduation diploma in their twelfth year of school.

Elementary schools provide Junior Kindergarten and Kindergarten programs (for children aged 4 and 5) and programs for grades 1 through 8. Secondary schools currently offer programs from Grade 9 through to Grade 12. The high school program is based on a credit system. Students must earn a total of 30 credits (one for every 110-hour course successfully completed) to obtain a high school diploma. Eighteen of the credits are compulsory, earned in a specified number of courses from a list of subjects that every student must take. The remaining 12 credits are optional, earned in courses that the student may select from the full range of courses offered by the school. In Grade 9, most students will take a total of eight courses for eight credits. Students must also complete 40 hours of community involvement activities and must pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, which is taken in Grade 10.

Curriculum

In Ontario, all publicly funded schools follow The Ontario Curriculum. It describes what students are expected to know and be able to do in each subject area by the end of each grade. 

Due to the amount of detailed information on the Curriculum in Ontario schools, we were unable to provide all of it for you in this report. Detailed information can be obtained by visiting: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum

Peel District School Board

The Peel District School Board is the public board of education for the Regional Municipality of Peel serving the communities of Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon. 

Peel District School Board uses the boundary system. The school that your children would attend is based on your address. You can request to attend a school outside your boundary area, but approval is based on the availability of space. To find out which school your children would attend in your area, please contact the Planning Department at 905-890-1010 (or 1-800-668-1146) ext. 2212 or you can also find out online at Find Your School.

Registration

Students transferring from within Canada can register at their home school. If your family is new to Canada, your child may need an assessment before registering for school. Please call the ‘We Welcome the World Centre’ at 905-366-8791 to talk with staff and book an appointment if necessary.

Documentation Required for Registration

You will need to provide the following information to register your child for school (Original documents ONLY):

• Completed Student Registration Form
  
• Proof of child’s age - Birth Certificate, Passport, Citizenship card, Permanent Resident Card, Record of Landing, Confirmation of permanent residence, Work Permit, Newcomer Permit.
• Proof of address - Ontario Driver’s Licence, copy of utility bill with your name, Bank Statement (directly from financial institution), Credit Card statement, Federal government forms (e.g. Social Insurance Number, Service Canada documents), or a copy of property tax bill.
• Proof of custody – children must live with their parent(s) unless provided documentation supports an alternative living arrangement.
• Immunization Record – students registering in an Ontario public school for the first time must provide proof of immunization/vaccination according to the recommended immunization schedule in Ontario. If you do not have an immunization record for your child, please call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700.
• You are also required to bring your child/children with you when you register them for school.

Contact Information

Peel District School Board

5650 Hurontario Street 

Website

Mississauga, ON L5R 1C6 

Phone: 905-890-1010 | 1-800-668-1146

Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board

The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board is one of the largest and fastest growing school boards in Ontario with schools throughout the municipalities of Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon, and Orangeville. 

The Mission of the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, in partnership with the family and church, is to provide, in a responsible manner, a Catholic education which develops spiritual, intellectual, aesthetic, emotional, social and physical capabilities of each individual to live fully today and to meet the challenges of the future, thus enriching the community.

New to the Community

The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board (DPCDSB) operates using the boundary system. Based on your address, your children will go to a designated school within the neighborhood. You can apply to attend a school outside of the school boundaries (called Flex Boundaries) if there are special circumstances but can only attend a school of choice if there is space available. Each circumstance would have to be reviewed by the school board.

To find out which Catholic school your children would attend, please contact the Planning Department at 905-890-0708 ext. 24440 or use the GeoQuery search at: School Search

Registration

Elementary admissions are open to Catholic children and children of Catholic parents.

Secondary school admissions are under the provincially legislated Open Access and no child should be refused on religious grounds unless they are unwilling to respect the rites and practices of the Catholic school system.

You can register your child in person at your home school or create an account on the Online Application System. Please call the school in advance to confirm office hours and registration requirements. Registration forms are available online: Kindergarten, Elementary or Secondary

Documentation Required for Registration

You will need to provide the following information to register your child for school (original documents ONLY, in English):

• Proof of child’s age - Birth Certificate or Passport
• Baptismal Certificate (Elementary students only)
• Proof of address - Two of the following: property tax bill, current utility bill with your name, electronic bill, real estate document or Government of Canada issued forms.
• Proof of citizenship - Birth Certificate, Passport, Record of Landing (IMM1000), or Permanent Resident Card

• Immunization Record - proof that your child has been immunized, according to the recommended immunization schedule in Ontario. 
• Proof of English Separate School Support - May be done at the time of registration by completing an Application for the Direction of School Support and/or a Separate School Lease Agreement (Peel or Dufferin).

Contact Information

Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board

40 Matheson Boulevard West Website

Mississauga, ON L5R 1C5 Phone: 905-890-1221 | 1-800-387-9501