Boundaries

To determine which school a student is eligible to attend, please contact a school in your neighbourhood or use our handy online School Locator tool. A student’s designated school (or “home” school) is determined by their home address and grade level. You can get a geographical overview of the area served by your home school by looking at the detailed maps below. You can also view General Boundary Maps, and a map which shows the location of ALL of our current and potential future Ottawa Catholic schools. Questions regarding specific addresses should first be directed to local schools.

School boundary maps

Upcoming Boundary Changes

We have a number of new schools being built in various communities throughout Ottawa. The opening of a new school usually results in changes to the boundaries of other schools within the area. The following table shows the newest area in which a school is being built and more information regarding boundary changes.

General attendance area maps

One of the responsibilities of the Planning & Facilities Department is to maintain school attendance boundaries on an annual basis. A student’s designated school (or “home” school) is determined upon their home address and grade level. The following general attendance area maps provide an overview of the area served by each school. Questions regarding specific addresses should first be directed to local schools. For more detailed information, please view the individual school boundary maps (to the left).

• Inside greenbelt Grades 7-12
• Outside Greenbelt Grades 7-12
• Inside Greenbelt JK to Grade 6
• Outside Greenbelt JK to Grade 6 

The Greenbelt is a approximately 204 square kilometres of land in Ottawa in which real estate development is strictly controlled. It begins at Shirleys Bay in the west and extends to Green’s Creek in the east. More than half of the land is protected by the National Capital Commission (NCC). The Greenbelt forms an arc (or crescent) through the inside of the city. If you live inside the Greenbelt, you live inside of the arc. If you live outside of the Greenbelt, you live in the larger area surrounding the arc.

Map of all OCSB schools

Take a moment to look at our City of Ottawa map which clearly highlights the locations of all of our Board schools. The map also shows the locations of upcoming new school constructions, and potential future schools sites. Please note that this map displays the general locations only, and does not show attendance boundaries.

Elementary Option Areas (JK to Grade 6)

• The northern part of the St. Anne School boundary has the option to attend St. James School.
• The Barrhaven-on-the-Green area can attend their home school, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School, or have the one-time option to attend St. Patrick Elementary School. Both schools are directed to St. Joseph High School for grades 7-12.
• The Convent Glen South area can attend their home school, Divine Infant Catholic School, or have the one-time option (based on space availability) to attend Convent Glen Catholic School. Both schools directed to St. Matthew High School for grades 7-12.
• The Kilborn/Smyth area can attend their home school, St. Luke Ottawa School, or have the one-time option to attend St. Gemma School. Both schools are directed to St. Patrick’s Intermediate School (grade 7-8) and St. Patrick’s High School (grade 7-12). There is also a one-time option to attend Immaculata High School for grades 7-12.
• The north part of the Davidson Heights area can attend their home school, St. Andrew School, or have the one-time option to attend Monsignor Paul Baxter Catholic School. Both schools are directed to Mother Teresa High School for grades 7-12.

Intermediate/Secondary Option Areas (Grades 7 to 12)

• The St. Daniel School feeder school area can attend their home school, Notre Dame Catholic High School (grade 7-12), or have the one-time option to attend either St. Paul Catholic High School (grade 7-12) or Frank Ryan Catholic Senior Elementary School (grade 7-8) and St. Pius X High School (grade 7-12).
• The St. Gemma School feeder school area can attend their home schools, St. Patrick’s Intermediate (grade 7-8) and St. Patrick’s High School (grade 9-12), or have the one-time option to attend Immaculata High School (grade 7-12).
• The St. John XXIII School feeder school area can attend their home schools, Frank Ryan Catholic Senior Elementary School (grade 7-8) and St. Pius X High School (grade 9-12), or have the one time option to attend St. Paul High School (grade 7-12).

Cross-boundary transfers

A cross-boundary transfer allows a student to attend an OCSB school that is outside their “home” school boundary. These transfers are not guaranteed and are conditional on space availability.

Reasons for requesting a cross-boundary transfer

Although these reasons do not guarantee the approval of a cross-boundary transfer, here are some reasons a transfer between schools may be approved:

• Childcare for an elementary student (JK-6) is outside their “home” school boundary
• A course is offered at one school but not at another
• A medical professional recommends in writing that it is in the best interests of the student to attend a different school
• A student attended their elementary school on a cross-boundary transfer and wants to remain in that family of schools as they enter high school
• A student is in their final years of high school and moves outside their “home” school boundary and would like to stay at their school
• Other compassionate grounds which are determined on an individual basis

Unacceptable reasons for a cross-boundary transfer

• Extra-curricular activities are offered at one school but not another
• A student’s group of friends is at another school
• A student participates in after-school community-based activities outside their “home” school boundary
• Dissatisfaction with school policies, procedures or facilities such as: split classes, uniforms, portables, music or drama rooms, etc.
• Requesting a cross-boundary transfer

How to request a cross-boundary transfer

Contact your child’s “home” school and work with them to complete and sign the appropriate form (see link below) unless your reason for the transfer is related to childcare (JK-6). If your reason for requesting a transfer is childcare-related (JK-6), contact the “receiving” school and work with them to complete your request. You can use our school locator to find your “home” school.

Once you’ve completed the form, your request will need to be recommended by your “home” school Principal, the “receiving” school Principal and approved by the “receiving” school’s Superintendent. If the reason for your request is childcare-related (JK-6), it will only need to be recommended by the “receiving” school’s Principal and approved by the Superintendent. For more information, consult the Cross-Boundary Transfer Requests Administrative Procedures.