Durham District School Board — Brief Overview for Parents

Durham District School Board (DDSB) is a large publicly funded school board in Ontario, Canada, serving students across Ajax, Whitby, Pickering, Oshawa, Uxbridge, Brock and Scugog. The Board has more than 76,000 regular day students across approximately 136 elementary and secondary schools and learning centres.

International Students

DDSB accepts fee-paying international students from outside Canada. International students can study from Kindergarten through Grade 12, although the secondary-school programme is particularly relevant for international students seeking an Ontario high-school education.

Students applying from outside Canada use the Board’s international student application process. The application process includes an application form, application fee, tuition payment and supporting documentation.

Secondary School

For students in Grades 9–12, DDSB offers a broad Ontario secondary-school curriculum designed to prepare students for:

• Canadian universities
• Colleges
• Skilled trades
• Apprenticeships
• Employment
• Other post-secondary education

Students can also access different academic and career pathways according to their interests and future plans.

English-Language Support

International students who need additional English support can receive English as a Second Language (ESL) assistance. High-school students are assessed for their English-language needs after registration and can be placed in an appropriate ESL course. DDSB also has ESL facilitators and coaches supporting students in its schools.

This can be particularly useful for students arriving from China, India, the Middle East, Africa and other countries where English may not be their first language.

French Programmes

DDSB also provides French Immersion and Core French opportunities. French Immersion is available at selected elementary and secondary schools, including a number of secondary schools such as Ajax High School, Pickering High School, Dunbarton High School, R.S. McLaughlin CVI, Port Perry High School, Uxbridge Secondary School and Donald A. Wilson Secondary School.

Activities and Student Life

Students can participate in a wide variety of activities outside the classroom. DDSB identifies programmes and opportunities in areas including:

• Athletics and sports
• Arts
• eLearning
• Outdoor education
• Environmental education
• Language programmes
• Summer school
• Student leadership
• Career and technical opportunities

The exact clubs, sports and activities depend on the individual secondary school.

For an international student, participation in school activities can be especially valuable because it provides opportunities to make Canadian friends, practise English, develop confidence and become part of the local community.

Support for Newcomer Families

DDSB has support for families who are new to Durham Region or Canada. Its Settlement Workers in Schools programme helps connect new students and families with services and resources and can assist families when they first arrive in Canada. The Board also provides information and support for newcomer families in multiple languages, including simplified Chinese.

Tuition Fees for International Students

For reference, the DDSB international-student application documentation lists the 2025–2026 secondary-school tuition at C$16,700 per academic year, plus a C$200 non-refundable application fee. The Board notes that fees are set annually and may change. Health insurance and homestay are separate costs.

For a student coming from overseas, parents should therefore budget separately for:

• Tuition
• Application fee
• Health insurance
• Homestay or accommodation
• Custodianship, where applicable
• Transportation
• School supplies
• Personal expenses
• Flights and travel

Overall

For parents considering a Canadian high-school education, Durham District School Board offers a broad public-school environment with a strong range of academic, language, sports, arts and career opportunities.

Its location in the Durham Region also gives students access to communities such as Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax and Pickering, while remaining within the wider Greater Toronto Area.

For international families, some of the strongest features are the ESL support, international-student registration process, newcomer services, French programmes and wide range of extracurricular opportunities.

Parents should select the individual school carefully, as programmes, activities, school environment and available courses can differ from one secondary school to another.