Students attend first day at Simcoe County’s newest public school

Thousands of students return to school across the region, including those attending Simcoe County’s newest school.

It was a milestone morning in Oro-Medonte as students stepped into their classrooms at Horseshoe Heights Public School for the very first time.

The $23.8 million school, on Horseshoe Valley Road near Line 4 north, is the only new school to open in Simcoe County this year. The name for the school was approved in the spring following a community consultation that drew more than 100 suggestions from families, students and locals.

The school that doubles as the Simcoe Woods Community Centre will serve students from kindergarten to Grade 9 and is designed to accommodate 570 kids, helping ease enrolment pressure at nearby elementary schools.

“Students are coming from five different schools,” said principal Dianna Wright-Drzazga.

The first day jitters played out at schools across the region Tuesday as the public board’s 89 elementary and 16 secondary schools opened their doors for another year.

More builds are on the horizon across Simcoe County. The Catholic board says its next schools will open in Bradford and Tottenham next year. While five more public schools are scheduled to open in Angus and Wasaga Beach in 2027, along with a major expansion at Nantyr Shores.