Upper Grand District School Board
The Upper Grand District School Board (known as English-language Public District School Board No. 18 prior to 1999) is a school board in Ontario, Canada. It spans an area of 4211 km² and serves approximately 35,000 students through 65 elementary schools and 11 secondary schools in the regions of Dufferin County, Wellington County and the City of Guelph, in the region to the west and north of Toronto. Student success is the goal of over 4,000 dedicated teaching and support staff who are aided by the contributions of caring volunteers and community partners. The  board has 10 elected trustees and 2 student trustees. The 2021-22 budget (Operating only) is $426,387,256. Kindergarten and Full Day Early Learning Kindergarten. Kindergarten is a two-year program that includes Junior (year 1) and Senior (year 2) Kindergarten. In September 2010, the Board began offering the full day kindergarten program in some schools as part of a province wide implementation plan. As of the 2014-2015 school year, all elementary schools offer Full Day Kindergarten (FDK). At these schools, JK and SK children attend all day every day, Monday to Friday. French as a Second Language (FSL ). The board offers two FSL programs – Core French and French Immersion. Core French is mandatory from Grades 4 to 8 for all students in English-language elementary schools. At the secondary level, students can take French as a subject from Grades 9 - 12. It is mandatory that students take one French credit for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma. French Immersion offers students the opportunity to acquire a high level of proficiency in French while maintaining and developing English language skills. French Immersion is available in 19 elementary schools and four high schools. Secondary schools. Secondary school enrollment and Fraser Institute  provincial rankings are as follows: In January 2018, The Upper Grand District School Board announced new plans to build a secondary school northwest of the Victoria Road at Arkell Road intersection. The project is a part of Ontario's Ministry of Education's plan to build 30 new schools across the province and renovate 40 others. The new secondary school is expected to provide relief for the overpopulated Centennial C.V.I. high school, which was at a 40% overcapacity as of January 2020. it is designed to accommodate 900 students and will cost the provincial government an estimated $25.5 million . It is expected to be complete by 2022. Educational options. The district offers various alternative programs for high school students, including abroad study with MEI Academy, Community Environmental Leadership Program, and da Vinci Arts & Science Environmental Leadership Program at the University of Guelph.