Who We Are | Durham Catholic District School Board

2024-2025 Director's Annual Report

Who We Are

The Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) shares a sense of community among families, educators and parishes and is committed to integrating the teachings of the Gospel with quality educational programs that guide students in their journeys to meeting the Catholic Graduate Expectations. In the 2024-2025 school year, the board served approximately 23,163 elementary and secondary students in Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering, and the townships of Uxbridge, Scugog and Brock, in addition to thousands of adult and continuing education learners.

Strategic Priorities

Through a comprehensive consultation and engagement process our multi-year plan, Inspire 2026, was developed and launched at the start of the 2023-2024 school year. As part of this process, we listened and worked with students, staff, family, clergy, parish and community partners to obtain input and feedback on priorities for our system.

We are guided by the principles of Listening, Learning and Living in Faith, and the following three strategic priorities:

Support Faith & Well-Being
Advance Indigenous Education, Human Rights & Equity
Improve Student Learning

View the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan

2024-2025 Spiritual Theme: Living in Hope

Pope Francis has announced that 2025 will be a Jubilee Year. This has become a spiritual tradition celebrated in the Church every 25 years. Pope Francis has chosen as the motto of the Jubilee, “Pilgrims of Hope.” Inspired by this significant moment, the DCDSB community will be guided by the spiritual theme of Living in Hope during the 2024-2025 school year.

Faith, hope and charity (love) are the three theological virtues. They are gifts from God that help us to live as children of God. Hope is the virtue that leads us to desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help and the grace of the HolySpirit.

In our day-to-day language, the word “hope” is used to express when we want something to happen (e.g., I hope I do well on my assignment; I hope I get that new toy for Christmas). Sometimes these hopes are not realized. Pope Francis explains that in the Christian sense of the word, “hope does not deceive or disappoint because it is grounded in the certainty that nothing and no one may ever separate us from God’s love.” This relationship of faith and trust in God sustains us as we journey through life.

Visit Our Faith webpage to learn more.

2024-2025 Student Achievement Plan

Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB) was pleased to present the 2024-2025 Student Achievement Plan. The 2024-2025 Student Achievement Plan was developed in accordance with the Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act (2023) and aligned with the following provincial priorities and goals:

Priority 1 - Achievement of Learning Outcomes in Core Academic Skills

Goal #1(a) – Improve students’ literacy learning and achievement.
Goal #1(b) – Improve students’ math learning and achievement.

Priority 2 - Preparation of Students for Future Success

Goal #2 – Improve graduation rates and preparedness for future success.

Priority 3 - Student Engagement and Well-Being

Goal #3(a) – Improve students’ participation in class time and learning.
Goal #3(b) – Improve student well-being.

View the 2024-2025 SAP

Financials

In June 2024, the DCDSB approved a balanced budget of $328.5 million for the 2024-2025 school year. The annual budget is developed by senior staff, under the direction of the Board's Chief Financial Officer and the Board Finance committee, which was chaired by Morgan Ste. Marie, Trustee for the City of Oshawa.

The process involves stakeholder consultation and requires adherence to Ministry of Education priorities and the commitments of the DCDSB’s established multi-year plan. The Board continues to demonstrate fiscal responsibility while ensuring financial support for the mission, vision and strategic priorities of the DCDSB community.

To learn more about our financials, please see the 2024-2025 Budget and Priorities Report.