SUDBURY—According to official predicted enrollment for the start of the 2023-2024 school year, Rainbow District School Board (RDSB) will welcome 13,996 students in schools as classes resume today, September 6.
Bruce Bourget, director of education for the RDSB told trustees at a meeting last week that in the elementary panel, enrollment will total 9,133 students including 6,484 in the English program and 2,649 in French Immersion.
In the secondary panel, enrollment is expected to reach 4,863 students including 4,134 in the English program and 729 in French Immersion.
This fall, 1,541 children are to be enrolled in Kindergarten in Rainbow schools, a full-day program for four and five-year-olds.
A total of 1,093 students have registered for Grade 9 classes in area Rainbow schools.
Official enrollment data will be available at the end of October.
“Enrollment is based on full-time equivalent,” said Mr. Bourget. We received more applications for enrollment in our schools, so we expect to see even more enrollment when we update the board of the numbers at the end of October.”
“The focus of the board in our schools for the start of the school year will be providing welcoming environments and a sense of belonging for all our students,” said Mr. Bourget. “This will be a priority all year.”
Mr. Bourget noted some of the new programs in place in RDSB schools this year include the Dare to Care program which provides social and emotional learning for students and a Transition to Work program.
“Also new this year schools will be invited to take part in school fall fair and harvest celebrations on October 13,” continued Mr. Bourget.
RDSB is the largest school board in Northern Ontario with 29 elementary school buildings and nine secondary school buildings in Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin Island.
