New Catholic Secondary School

Welcome to the information hub for BHNCDSB’s newest Catholic secondary school!

As we prepare to welcome students and families to this exciting new learning community, this page will serve as your central source for important updates, timelines, frequently asked questions, and school information.

We encourage families to check back regularly as we share new details, celebrate milestones, and prepare for the opening of our newest Catholic secondary school.

We look forward to building our newest Catholic secondary school community together!

Begin Here…

Since we have new and adjusted school boundaries, we recommend you begin with locating next year’s school using School Locator. It has been set up to provide families with updated boundary information.

Important notes:

If you are using our Legacy (Grandfathering) provision, School Locator will provide you with the school you are scheduled to attend in accordance with the new boundaries, not the school you are selecting through the Legacy (Grandfathering) provision. This only applies to students who qualify for the Legacy provision.

When you use School Locator to determine where your child goes to school in 2027-28, you MUST follow these steps in the following order.

In the Street Number text box, enter the number (only) associated with your home.
In the Street Name text box, enter your street/road name. The Municipality drop-down list updates with possible corresponding locations.
In the Municipality drop-down list, select the area that you live in.
In the School Year drop-down list, select 2027-28 Elementary and Secondary Semester 1 OR 2027-28 Elementary and Secondary Semester 2 depending on the information you are seeking.
In the District drop-down list, select Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board.
In the Program drop-down list, select the program (if applicable). Leave blank for standard Grades JK-12.
In the Grade drop-down list, select next year’s grade.
Choose Submit.

School Locator

New Brantford Secondary School Q & A

School Opening and Attendance

Why is the new school opening in February 2028 instead of September 2027 or September 2028?

Construction of the new Catholic secondary school is expected to be completed during the 2027-28 school year. While the building will not be ready for September 2027, opening at the beginning of the second semester in February 2028 will allow some students to benefit from the new facility as soon as possible.

Opening in February will also help reduce the over capacity issues at Assumption College School (ACS) and St. John’s College (SJC).

How will I know if my child is supposed to attend the new school?

In June 2026, the Board of Trustees approved new attendance boundaries for Brantford’s three Catholic secondary schools. These boundaries will take effect in September 2027.

Your child’s home address determines which secondary school they are assigned to attend. While the boundaries generally follow elementary school attendance areas, individual home addresses are used to confirm secondary school placement.

School Locator

Which students will attend the new school when it opens in February 2028?

The new school will open in February 2028 with Grade 9 and Grade 10 students only.

Students entering Grade 9 or Grade 10 in September 2027 who live within the new school’s attendance boundary will begin the school year at ACS or SJC, as assigned, and move to the new school in February 2028.

Beginning in September 2028, the new school will offer Grades 9 through 12.

Students entering Grade 11 or Grade 12 in September 2027 will be able to remain at their current secondary school until graduation. They will also have the option to transfer to the new school in September 2028.

2025-26 / 2026-27 cohort	Student circumstance	Grade in 2027-28	Pathway/documented entitlement
Grade 8 in 2026-27	Living in new-school boundary; at a listed feeder school	Grade 9	New school designated; first semester at existing Brantford secondary site under separate transition plan
Grade 8 in 2026-27	Living in new-school boundary; attending another BHNCDSB elementary school	Grade 9	New school is designated by residence; check approved exceptions
Grade 8 in 2026-27	Living in new-school boundary; attending non-BHNCDSB school	Grade 9	New school is designated on entry to BHNCDSB, subject to admission/registration
Grade 9 in 2025-26	At SJC or ACS; living in new-school boundary	Grade 11	May remain at current SJC/ACS through graduation under legacy provision
Grade 10 in 2025-26	At SJC or ACS; living in new-school boundary	Grade 12	May remain at current SJC/ACS through graduation under legacy provision
Grade 9 in 2026-27	At SJC or ACS; living in new-school boundary	Grade 10	New-school boundary applies; legacy entitlement for students with older siblings, who choose to stay in Grades 11 and 12.
Any eligible sibling	Sibling of a legacy student; living in affected area	Varies	Legacy provision extends to siblings
Any grade	Six Nations of the Grand River or Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation	Varies	Open-boundary secondary-school choice remains unchanged

Changes to School Attendance

Will any current ACS or SJC students have to change schools in September 2027?

Yes. Some students will be affected by the new attendance boundaries beginning in September 2027.

For students entering Grade 10 in September 2027:

ACS students whose home address is now within the SJC boundary: These students will attend SJC beginning in September 2027.

ACS students whose home address is within the new school’s boundary: These students will begin the school year at ACS and move to the new school in February 2028.

SJC students whose home address is within the new school’s boundary: These students will begin the school year at SJC and move to the new school in February 2028.

Families who have special circumstances and wish to request that their child attend a school outside their assigned boundary may apply through the Board’s out-of-boundary process. Approval is not guaranteed.

Can students who already attend ACS or SJC stay at their current school until graduation?

Yes, some students will have the option to remain at their current school. This is called a legacy provision, sometimes referred to as grandfathering.

Students entering Grade 11 or Grade 12 in September 2027 may remain at ACS or SJC until graduation, even if their home address falls within a different attendance boundary.

These students may also choose to transfer to the new school in September 2028.

Students entering Grade 9 or Grade 10 in September 2027 will follow the new attendance boundaries and transition plan.

Will siblings be allowed to attend the same secondary school during the transition?

We understand that having children attend different secondary schools can be challenging for families.

The legacy provision may allow younger siblings to attend the same school as an older sibling who qualifies to remain at ACS or SJC.

This option applies only while an eligible older sibling continues to attend that school. Once there is no longer an eligible student attending, the legacy provision ends.

Grandfathering (Legacy)	Students in Grade 9 or 10 during 2025-26 at SJC or ACS may stay at their current school through Grade 12.
Siblings	Legacy provisions extend to siblings.
Transportation	Eligible legacy students retain transportation; identified 2025-26 Grade 9/10 students in affected areas do not lose current eligibility.

Student Programs and Registration

What Special Education programs and supports will be available at the new school?

The Board is committed to supporting students with special education needs throughout the transition.

Grade 9 and 10 students who are enrolled in a secondary school self-contained special education class in 2027-28, but who live within the new secondary school’s attendance boundary, will move to the new school in September 2028 so as not to disrupt their learning environment.

During the 2027-28 school year, the Board’s Special Education Department will review student needs and determine which self-contained classes may be required at the new school.

Families will receive additional information as decisions are made.

How will current BHNCDSB students register for the new school?

Students who are scheduled to move to the new school in February 2028 will complete the regular registration and course selection through ACS or SJC, depending on where they will begin the school year in September 2027.

Families will receive information about the registration process, important dates and next steps before the transition.

How will Non-BHNCDSB students register for the new school?

Families will receive information about the registration process, important dates and next steps before the transition.

Athletics and Extracurricular Activities

Can students finish a sports season with their original school after moving to the new school?

The Board recognizes how important school sports and team commitments are to students and is working to support those who may be in the middle of a season when the new school opens.

The Board has consulted with the Central Western Ontario Secondary Schools Association (CWOSSA) about allowing students to finish their season with their original school.

We are hopeful that we will have confirmation regarding this in the near future. We will share more information with families and student-athletes as it becomes available.

School Uniforms

Will students need to purchase a new uniform when they move to the new school?

No. Families will not be required to purchase a new school uniform immediately when students transition to the new school in February 2028.

To help make the transition easier and reduce costs for families, students will be permitted to wear uniforms from ACS, SJC or the new school when it opens.

For the 2027-28 school year:

Students beginning at ACS and SJC and moving to the new school in February 2028: May wear their ACS/SJC uniforms or the new school uniform.

Additional information about the new school’s uniform options, including shirts, pants and sweaters, will be shared with families before the school opens.

Beginning in September 2028, all students will wear the new school’s uniform.

Extended French

Will Extended French be offered at the New Brantford Catholic Secondary School?

Yes, the new school will offer the same Extended French program currently offered by ACS and SJC.

More Information

We know that opening a new school is an exciting milestone and that families will have questions about what the transition means for their children.

The Board is committed to keeping families informed throughout the process. Additional information about school programs, transportation, registration, uniforms and transition activities will be shared as planning continues.

For additional information, email newschool@bhncdsb.ca