# Peel District School Board

The Peel District School Board (PDSB; known as English-Language Public District School Board No. 19 prior to 1999) is a school district that serves approximately 153,000 kindergarten to grade 12 students at more than 259 schools in the Region of Peel (municipalities of Caledon, Brampton and Mississauga) in Ontario, also to the west of Toronto.
The board employs more than 15,000 full-time staff and is the largest employer in Peel Region. As of 2023 it is the second largest school board in Canada.

## History

In 1970, 10 local boards came together as the Peel County Board of Education. In 1969, the board served a community of a quarter million residents—20 percent of the population. The newly formed Peel County Board had 50,000 students in 114 schools and an operating budget of $41 million. (2009 annual report)
In 1973, the name changed to the "Peel Board of Education," before being changed the "Peel District School Board" in 1998.
On September 1, 2006, the school board announced that on Wednesday September 6, 2006, would launch a new website in 25 languages, all spoken in the Peel Region, to help parents who have a first language other than English.

### Directors

* John Fraser, –1988, namesake of John Fraser Secondary School
* Bob Lee, 1988–c. 1993, namesake of Robert J. Lee Public School
* Harold Brathwaite, 1994–2002, namesake of Harold M. Brathwaite Secondary School
* Jim Grieve, 2002–2009, namesake of James Grieve Public School
* Tony Pontes, 2010–2017, namesake of Tony Pontes Public School
* Peter Joshua, 2017–2020
* Colleen Russell-Rawlins, 2020-2021 (interim)
* Rashmi Swarup, 2021-present

## Peel board logo

The Peel board unveiled its current logo in September 2006. In November 2004, the board approved the creation of the Picture the Future committee—a cross section of staff and trustees—to oversee the creation of the first new logo since 1969. The committee worked with design firm Hambly and Woolly Inc, selected through a competitive RFP process, to develop a new visual identity for approval by the board. The design was based on the feedback from over 500 people including staff, students, parents, representatives of faith and culture communities and unions and federations.

## Demographics and cultural sensitivity

Among Canadian school districts, the Peel board is among the most ethnically and culturally diverse. The Peel District School Board enacted procedures and policies intended to accept and embrace various cultures and ethnic groups, and Brian Woodland, the school board's director of communications, said that the district embraces various religions. The school board alters curricula to accommodate students of different backgrounds; for instance, if students from a religious background or culture are forbidden from drawing people, the school will alter the art curriculum. Peel was among the first Canadian school boards to permit students to wear kirpans to classes. The school board does not allow religious leaders to lead prayer sessions within schools.

## Programs
### Adult and continuing education

The Peel board offers a variety of adult programs during the day, at night and on weekends. Programs include credit programs to help adults complete their secondary school diploma, adult ESL programs to help adults develop and refine their English language skills, and literacy and basic skills courses to help adults upgrade specific skills.
The board received media attention in 2011 for its Foreign-Trained Teacher course, a course designed to help new Canadians enter the teacher profession.
The Peel board also offers International Language Programs on weekends for school-aged students. At the secondary level, students can earn credits towards their secondary school diploma. Students also have access to night and summer school, literacy and math support, and online school.

### French immersion

French immersion begins in grade 1 and extended French begins in grade 7. Registration for both programs takes place in January. The Peel board provides on-line information for parents on how to decide whether French immersion is right for their child and other information about French learning.

### Regional Enhanced Program

The Peel District School Board runs the ELC Regional Enhanced Program, in grades 1 to 12, a gifted education program, for students defined as having "an unusually advanced degree of general intellectual ability that requires differentiated learning experiences of a depth and breadth beyond those normally provided in the regular school programme to satisfy the level of educational potential indicated."
The curriculum of an Enhanced program could include special tasks or projects designed to challenge gifted students. At the high school level, the course material is the same but the manner of teaching and/or the assignments given can vary based on the needs of the students.
There are two high schools designated as Peel Regional Enhanced Centres that provide the Enhanced programming and curriculum from Grade 9 to Grade 12. The precise number and variety of Enhanced courses differs from school to school, but most schools offer the core mandatory courses as Enhanced. Bussing and transportation for Enhanced students is provided by the school board.
| School | Area Served |
| The Woodlands School | North, central, and west Mississauga |
| Heart Lake Secondary School | Central Caledon Brampton, Bramalea, and northeast Mississsauga (Malton). |

## Secondary school rankings

The Peel District School Board does not officially support the Fraser ranking system and does not rank its schools. The most up-to-date Fraser rankings can be found on the Fraser website.

## Organization of the school system within the Board

The Board organizes its schools into "school families", which essentially designate the respective feeder schools into each of the secondary schools within the PDSB. The following list is the organization from the 2018-2019 school year.

### Caledon

| School family | Secondary school (9-12) | Intermediate (Middle) School (6/7-8) | Elementary school (K-5/6) | K-8 school (K-8) |
| Humberview | Humberview Secondary School | Allan Drive Middle School | Ellwood Memorial Public School James Bolton Public School | Caledon East Public School Macville Public School Palgrave Public School |
| Mayfield | Mayfield Secondary School | | Alton Public School Belfountain Public School | Alloa Public School Caledon Central Public School Herb Campbell Public School James Grieve Public School Southfields Village Public School Tony Pontes Public School |

### Brampton

| School family | Secondary school (9-12) | Intermediate (Middle) School (6/7-8) | Elementary school (K-5/6) | K-8 school (K-8) |
| Bramalea | Bramalea Secondary School | Balmoral Drive Senior Public School Earnscliffe Sr. Public School | Aloma Crescent Public School Birchbank Public School Clark Boulevard Public School Dorset Drive Public School Eastbourne Drive Public School Fallingdale Public School Folkstone Public School | |
| Brampton Centennial | Brampton Centennial Secondary School | Centennial Sr. Public School Sir William Gage Middle School | Copeland Public School McHugh Public School Morton Way Public School Queen Street Public School Ray Lawson Public School Ridgeview Public School | Churchville Public School Roberta Bondar Public School |
| Castlebrooke | Castlebrooke Secondary School | Calderstone Middle School | Claireville Public School Red Willow Public School | Beryl Ford Public School Castle Oaks Public School Castlemore Public School Sir Isaac Brock Public School Thorndale Public School Walnut Grove Public School |
| Central Peel | Central Peel Secondary School | Gordon Graydon Sr. Public School Nibi Emoosawdang Public School | Agnes Taylor Public School Arnott Charlton Public School Harold F. Loughin Public School Kingswood Drive Public School Madoc Drive Public School | Sir Winston Churchill Public School |
| Chinguacousy | Chinguacousy Secondary School | Greenbriar Sr. Public School Calderstone Middle School | Goldcrest Public School Grenoble Public School Jefferson Public School Red Willow Public School |
| David Suzuki | David Suzuki Secondary School | Beatty-Fleming Sr. Public School Royal Orchard Middle School | Glendale Public School James Potter Public School Homestead Public School Northwood Public School Westervelts Corners Public School | Springbrook Public School McClure Public School |
| Fletcher's Meadow | Fletcher's Meadow Secondary School Parkholme School | Cheyne Middle School McCrimmon Middle School | Brisdale Public School Burnt Elm Public School Edenbrook Hill Public School Nelson Mandela Public School Rowntree Public School Worthington Public School | Aylesbury Public School Dolson Public School Mount Pleasant Village Public School Tribune Drive Public School |
| Harold Brathwaite | Harold M. Brathwaite Secondary School | | Fernforest Public School | Great Lakes Public School Ross Drive Public School |
| Heart Lake | Heart Lake Secondary School | Robert H. Lagerquist Sr. Public School | Conestoga Public School Esker Lake Public School Somerset Drive Public School Terry Fox Public School |
| Jean Augustine | Jean Augustine Secondary School | | | Ingleborough Public School Lorenville Public School Huttonville Public School Eldorado Public School Whaley's Corners Public school |
| Louise Arbour | Louise Arbour Secondary School | Lougheed Middle School Sunny View Middle School | Carberry Public School Hewson Public School Larkspur Public School Springdale Middle School Stanley Mills Public School | Countryside Village Public School Mount Royal Public School |
| North Park | North Park Secondary School Judith Nyman Secondary School | Williams Parkway Sr. Public School | Hanover Public School Hilldale Public School Massey Street Public School Russell D. Barber Public School |
| Sandalwood Heights | Sandalwood Heights Secondary School | | | Eagle Plains Public School Fairlawn Public School Mountain Ash Middle School Robert J. Lee Public School Shaw Public School Treeline Public School |
| Turner Fenton | Turner Fenton Secondary School Peel Alternative School North | Fletcher's Creek Sr. Public School William G. Davis Sr. Public School | Cherrytree Public School Helen Wilson Public School Hickory Wood Public School Parkway Public School Sir Wilfrid Laurier Public School |

### Mississauga

| School family | Secondary school (9-12) | Intermediate (Middle) School (6/7-8) | Elementary school (K-4/5/6) | K-8 school (K-8) |
| Applewood Heights | Applewood Heights Secondary School | Bristol Road Middle School Fairwind Sr. Public School Tomken Road Middle School | Barondale Public School Burnhamthorpe Public School Champlain Trail Public School Cooksville Creek Public School Dixie Public School Huntington Ridge Public School Nahani Way Public School Silverthorn Public School |
| Cawthra Park | Cawthra Park Secondary School Peel Alternative School South | Allan A. Martin Sr. Public School | Clifton Public School Janet I. McDougald Public School Munden Park Public School Westacres Public School | |
| Clarkson | Clarkson Secondary School | Green Glade Senior Public School | Clarkson Public School Garthwood Park Public School Owenwood Public School | Hillside Public School |
| Erindale | Erindale Secondary School | Erin Mills Middle School Homelands Sr. Public School | Brookmede Public School Oakridge Public School Sawmill Valley Public School Sheridan Park Public School Thorn Lodge Public School | |
| Glenforest | Glenforest Secondary School Glenforest South Secondary School | Glenhaven Sr. Public School | Forest Glen Public School Brian W. Fleming Public School | |
| John Fraser | John Fraser Secondary School | Thomas Street Middle School | Castlebridge Public School Credit Valley Public School Middlebury Public School | |
| Lincoln Alexander | Lincoln M. Alexander Secondary School | Darcel Avenue Sr. Public School Morning Star Middle School | Brandon Gate Public School Corliss Public School Dunrankin Drive Public School Lancaster Public School Marvin Heights Public School Ridgewood Public School | |
| Lorne Park | Lorne Park Secondary School | Hillcrest Middle School Green Glade Senior Public School | Owenwood Public School Lorne Park Public School Whiteoaks Public School | Tecumseh Public School |
| Meadowvale | Meadowvale Secondary School | Edenwood Middle School Lisgar Middle School | Kindree Public School Maple Wood Public School Miller's Grove Public School Osprey Woods Public School Plowman's Park Public School Plum Tree Park Public School Settler's Green Public School Shelter Bay Public School Trelawny Public School | |
| Mississauga | Mississauga Secondary School | David Leeder Middle School | Britannia Public School Derry West Village Public School Levi Creek Public School Meadowvale Village Public School | |
| Port Credit | Port Credit Secondary School | Camilla Road Senior Public School Queen Elizabeth Sr. Public School | Cashmere Avenue Public School Corsair Public School Floradale Public School Forest Avenue Public School Kenollie Public School Mineola Public School | Riverside Public School |
| Rick Hansen | Rick Hansen Secondary School | Fallingbrook Middle School | Edenrose Public School Sherwood Mills Public School Whitehorn Public School | |
| Stephen Lewis | Stephen Lewis Secondary School Applewood School | Erin Centre Middle School Ruth Thompson Middle School | Artesian Drive Public School Churchill Meadows Public School McKinnon Public School Oscar Peterson Public School | |
| Streetsville | Streetsville Secondary School West Credit Secondary School | Dolphin Sr. Public School Hazel McCallion Sr. Public School | Ray Underhill Public School Vista Heights Public School Willow Way Public School | |
| TL Kennedy | Thomas L. Kennedy Secondary School | The Valleys Sr. Public School | Briarwood Public School Chris Hadfield Public School Elm Drive Public School Fairview Public School Silver Creek Public School Thornwood Public School | |
| Woodlands | The Woodlands School | The Woodlands School | Ellengale Public School McBride Avenue Public School Springfield Public School | Hawthorn Public School Queenston Drive Public School |

## Controversies

Former Vice Principal Ranjit Khatkur of South Asian background alleged that her ethnic/racial background was the reason she was overlooked for promotion to principal despite fulfilling all requirements. Khatkur launched a legal complaint at the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario alleging systematic discrimination in the Peel public board. One of many such human rights allegations made towards the board. It eventually culminated in allowing the Turner Consulting Group to release a Research Report on Hiring and Promotion at the Peel District School Board. The 111-page report led to changes in the hiring and promotion policies in the Peel Board. Previously Principals conducted interviews alone without having to demonstrate why they chose the applicants they did or document what questions they asked. The changes include having two people conducting an interview to eliminate bias, the principal is not part of the promotion process thereby eliminating their "gatekeeper" role, and begin a diversity census. The report found that it was not only ethnic or visible minorities that experienced discrimination. Tana Turner found that even some white males suspected nepotism, favoritism, or cronyism.

## Trustees

Current trustees for the Peel board are
* Chair - David Green
* Vice Chair - Satpaul Singh Johal
| Trustee | Wards | City |
| Karla Bailey | Ward 7 and 8 | Brampton |
| Susan Benjamin | Ward 5 | Mississauga |
| Stan Cameron | Wards | Caledon |
| Jill Promoli | Wards 6 and 11 | Mississauga |
| Jeff Clark | Wards 9 and 10 | Mississauga |
| Will Davies | Wards 2 and 6 | Brampton |
| David Green | Wards 1 and 5 | Brampton |
| Sue Lawton | Wards 3 and 4 | Mississauga |
| Brad MacDonald | Ward 2 and 8 | Mississauga |
| LeeAnn Cole | Wards 1 and 7 | Mississauga |
| Kathy McDonald | Wards 3 and 4 | Brampton |
| Satpaul Singh Johal | Wards 9 and 10 | Brampton |
| Pradwit Thapa | N/A - Student trustee for Peel schools north of Highway 401 | North Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon |
| Justin Ko | N/A - Student trustee for Peel schools south of Highway 401 | Mississauga |
| Kawela’tsátste/Austin Chrisjohn | Indigenous Student Trustee |