Windsor Catholic Board Seeks Capital Funding as Enrolment Hits 24,000
Elementary and secondary enrolment rose sharply in the 2026-27 school year, forcing the district to plan expansions in east and west Windsor.
By Renata Mehta ·
The Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board now serves 23,987 students, a total that reflects sustained population growth in the region. The board’s final enrolment report for the 2026-27 school year shows elementary attendance increased by 126 students and secondary attendance rose by more than 300.
The current total stands at 15,149 elementary students and 8,838 secondary students. To support this population, the board hired 59 elementary teachers and 34 secondary teachers this year. CEO John Ulicny noted that the elementary growth was unexpected, given a smaller incoming kindergarten class.
“We had graduated a very large Grade 8 class. We knew that we were replacing them with a smaller JK class. And yet, when we look year over year from 2025, 2026 to 2026, 2027, we’re still up overall 126 students in our elementary panel,” Ulicny said.
Growth is most visible in east Windsor. St. Joseph Catholic High School, the board’s largest secondary school, added over 100 students. St. John Vianney Elementary School in East Riverside also continues to expand, maintaining its position as the district’s largest elementary facility.
Administrators are currently drafting plans to address space constraints at these two schools. The board is awaiting the provincial minister’s release of capital funding priorities for the 2026-27 year. In the meantime, the district recently finished an eight-classroom addition at St. Joseph Catholic High School.
The board’s data indicates that the pressure on physical infrastructure will remain a focus as the population stabilizes at these higher levels.
Source: CKLW
