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Border Crossing

This page provides details for parents/guardians about border crossing applications and subsequent renewals. 

What is border crossing? 

  • A family may request border crossing when they would like their child/children to attend a school that is not their “home school”. 
  • A student’s “home school” is defined as the school to which the student has the right to attend based on their primary residence within the designated catchment area.
  • Border cross applications are guided by AMDSB Administrative Procedure 302: Student Enrolment.

What is the process to apply for border crossing? 

  • The process begins at the student’s “home school”. 
  • The family can request the border cross form from the school office. 
  • Applications for the following year must be received by February 1 of the current year. 
  • Forms submitted after February 1 may not be considered prior to late spring.

Will my application be approved? 

  • Siblings of current border crossers will not be automatically approved. 
  • A school colour coding system provides families with additional information about the likelihood of their border cross application and subsequent renewal being approved. Here is a summary:

Schools coloured as Green:

  • Very likely have space to accommodate additional students.
  • RENEWAL and NEW applications are very likely to be approved.
  • These requests would be reviewed and families will receive communication regarding the status of their request by March.

Schools coloured as Yellow:

  • May have space to accommodate additional students.
  • RENEWAL requests are likely to be approved. 
  • NEW border cross requests are less likely to be approved.
  • All requests into these schools would be approved later in the spring after the school organization has been established and would only be accommodated in the school if space permits. Families will receive communication regarding the status of their request in May. 

Schools coloured as Red:

  • Do not have space to accommodate additional students.
  • RENEWAL requests are unlikely and these families will receive communication regarding the status of their request in June.
  • NEW border cross requests are very unlikely and will not be approved until after the first week of school in September. These students would NOT be included in the school organization and would only be accommodated if space permits. 

Please see the chart below to see the 2025/2026 school year colour-coding:

Green Schools

Yellow Schools

Red Schools
All schools not listed as yellow or red Brookside PS 
Exeter ES
Huron Centennial PS
Stratford District SS
Avon PS
Bedford PS 
North Perth Westfield ES
 
 
Please keep this information in mind when you are submitting your border cross application and subsequent renewal. As a reminder, applications must be submitted annually before the February 1 deadline. If a request is submitted after this date, the application will be considered after the initial review process, and families will be notified later in the spring or early fall (depending on the colour code of the particular school).

If you have any questions, please contact your “home school” office directly.