While some English school boards are seeing steady or slightly higher enrolment numbers so far compared to last year, their French-language counterparts are seeing a big jump again. And they're looking for extra space at English schools.
"It's going to be a record year again," said Diane Lamarche-Vennes, chairperson for the Commission Scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys (CSMB).
She said their enrolment numbers are exploding, thanks to the influx of new immigrants, asylum seekers and more people moving to the West Island and off the western tip of the island.
The CSMB has been getting as many as 200-230 new students registering every week since July, 25 more a week compared to last year.
That means setting up more temporary classrooms and seeking agreements with the Lester B. Pearson School which she said has offered up six or seven possible buildings to share space.
The Lester B. Pearson board said they are in negotiations and that so far, they are talking about Lindsay Place in Pointe Claire, Springdale Elementary in Dollard-des-Ormeaux and Riverdale in Pierrefonds.
The Pearson board also said they are still pushing the Quebec government to allow children of refugees and asylum seekers to attend their schools - which teach french as a second language - via a humanitarian clause. It pointed out that many asylum seekers are from countries such as Nigeria where English is spoken a great deal.
Lester B. said it is seeing an uptick in kindergarten registrations thanks to more families moving west of the island.
The English Montreal School Board said they expect to see an increase in registrations this year and that many of their schools are also bursting at the seams.
The Riverside School Board said they also have an increase in the number of registrations this year - just over 100 more registrations than in September 2017.
The Sir Wilfred Laurier School Board said enrolment is stable and about the same as last year.