Catholic board expects fewer students in Sault classrooms

Fewer students are expected to be in Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board classrooms this fall. The projected drop of 52 students – from 4,676 in October 2025 to 4,624 anticipated on Oct. 31 – is driven by job cuts at Algoma Steel and the federal government’s decision to limit how many international students can study [...]

Article content Fewer students are expected to be in Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board classrooms this fall. The projected drop of 52 students – from 4,676 in October 2025 to 4,624 anticipated on Oct. 31 – is driven by job cuts at Algoma Steel and the federal government’s decision to limit how many international students can study in Canada, said director of education Fil Letteri during a committee of the whole meeting on June 24. Recommended Videos “Most of the projected decline is spread across Sault Ste.

Marie and is not concentrated in any one particular area of the city,” said communications officer Kenzie Vandenberg in an email to The Sault Star. Seven of the board’s 12 elementary schools are in the Sault. The biggest drop – from 295 in fall 2025 to 254 – will be in kindergarten classes.

“However, these numbers are still preliminary, as registration continues throughout the summer and into September,” said Vandenberg. Student numbers from junior kindergarten to Grade 8 is expected to fall by 132 from last fall to 6,647. Secondary enrolment, meanwhile, is forecast to grow by 80 to 977 driven by a large Grade 9 class, said Vandenberg.

Superintendent of business Justin Pino is “cautiously optimistic” there will be “good news” about enrolment during the summer break. Lettieri noted “there’s risk” more students could leave during July and August due to their parents losing their jobs at Algoma Steel. The steelmaker cut its workforce by about 1,000 in March due to a stepped-up move to electric arc furnace steelmaking prompted by U.S. tariffs. .

The anticipated decline follows several years of enrolment gains for HSCDSB. The board had 4,325 students in fall 2022. That number grew to 4,673 by late September 2025.

Enrolment stood at 7,181 in 2000. On X: @Saultreporter