Schools & education
The schools question, answered straight
Oshawa families choose between two mainstream boards, the English public Durham District School Board and the English Catholic Durham Catholic District School Board, plus French-language options. On top of that, the city is home to two post-secondary campuses sharing one site in the north end.
The basics
Two mainstream boards, one half-hour decision
Your catchment is set by your home address, not by where you prefer to go. Every street in Oshawa falls under both a public and a Catholic elementary school, and both boards are strong, well-funded, and deeply embedded in the community.
Durham District School Board
English public · head office in Whitby
The DDSB is the English public board serving Oshawa and the rest of Durham Region, with well over a hundred elementary and secondary schools region-wide. In Oshawa it operates five mainstream secondary schools plus a flexible alternative program, and a brand-new north Oshawa secondary school is scheduled to open in 2026.
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Eastdale Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Serving the east end with a broad program and vocational pathways.
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G.L. Roberts Collegiate and Vocational Institute
A long-established central Oshawa secondary school.
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Maxwell Heights Secondary School
One of the city’s newer public high schools, in the north end.
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O'Neill Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Heritage school beside the university district with strong arts programs.
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R.S. McLaughlin Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Named after the McLaughlin family, central location.
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Durham Alternative Secondary School
Flexible, small-class programming for students who need another path.
Durham Catholic District School Board
English separate · head office in Oshawa
The DCDSB is headquartered in Oshawa on Rossland Road West and runs 39 elementary and seven secondary schools across Durham Region. Two of its seven high schools are in Oshawa, and its elementary feeder pattern runs throughout the city. Catholic boards accept students from other faith backgrounds in many cases, so it is worth one call to confirm admission for your family.
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Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School
Grades 9 to 12 on Stevenson Road North, roughly 1,200 students.
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Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School
A long-standing Catholic secondary school on Conant Street.
French-language education
Oshawa is also served by French-language boards in the region. Families interested in French-first schooling should contact the boards directly, as eligibility for French-language schools follows its own admission rules.
Post-secondary
Two institutions, one shared campus in north Oshawa
Oshawa is a true university town. Ontario Tech University (formerly UOIT) and Durham College share a modern campus at 2000 Simcoe Street North, which means students get university degrees and college diplomas on the same campus grounds, with residences, labs, and a growing innovation district nearby.
Ontario Tech University
Known for tech, engineering, health sciences, and business programs, with tech-focused campuses and research centres.
Durham College
A major applied college with skilled trades, media, health, and business programs across two campuses.
The campus also hosts the Regent Theatre's university partnership and anchors the north end's innovation economy, with the Ontario Tech-owned downtown spaces nearby.
Before you choose a house
How school catchments work for movers
Catchment boundaries shift as neighbourhoods grow, which is exactly why Oshawa's north end has a new secondary school on the way. Never assume a street feeds the school you have heard good things about.
Confirm the address, not the zone name
Use the DDSB and DCDSB find-a-school tools with the exact street address before you make an offer. Agents do this daily; ask for it in writing.
Check the bus zone
Transportation eligibility changes by distance. A home a few streets further may mean a bus ride versus a walk, which matters for young families and working parents.
New developments reset boundaries
Fast-growing north Oshawa sees boundaries reviewed frequently. If the school is the dealbreaker, buy for the current catchment and verify growth plans for the building phase.
Ask us for the rundown
On a free call, we will walk through the feeder pattern for your shortlist and flag schools that are at or near capacity, before you fall in love with a house.
FAQ
The school questions movers ask most
What school boards serve Oshawa?
Oshawa families choose between two mainstream boards: the English public Durham District School Board and the English Catholic Durham Catholic District School Board, plus French-language options in the region.
How do school catchments work in Oshawa?
Your catchment is set by your home address, not by where you prefer to go. Every street in Oshawa falls under both a public and a Catholic elementary school, and boundaries shift as neighbourhoods grow.
What post-secondary options are there in Oshawa?
Ontario Tech University and Durham College share a modern campus at 2000 Simcoe Street North, so students can earn university degrees and college diplomas on the same campus grounds.
Are there French-language schools in Oshawa?
Yes. Oshawa is also served by French-language boards in the region. Eligibility for French-language schools follows its own admission rules, so families should contact the boards directly to confirm.
Is a new high school opening in north Oshawa?
Yes. The Durham District School Board has a brand-new north Oshawa secondary school scheduled to open in 2026, part of why catchment boundaries in the fast-growing north end are reviewed frequently.
School catchments are changing fast in Oshawa
Get the current boundary rundown for your shortlist before you view a thing.