A new Stratford high school is opening next fall. Here’s what parents and students can expect

It's less than a year before this school is in session. Stratford High is set to open next fall, and officials with the public schools branch say there's still a few things to figure out with how it's going to work. But what is for certain is some students will need to switch schools. The new zones were passed after public consultation last June, and details went out to parents last week. Right now, students in Charlottetown, Stratford, and surrounding communities communities are attending either Colonel Gray or Charlottetown Rural but with the addition of the new school students in Stratford and Donna areas who go to Charlottetown Rural will move to Stratford High next year to make up for the loss of students at Charlottetown Rural students in these zones will move over from Colonel Gray officials say about 700 students will need to switch schools currently students at Stone Park would divide with some students going to Charlottetown Rural and some going to Colonel Gray. So the zoning was meant to keep students together through their school experience. The plan is to make the switch completely next September. That means even students going into grade 12 will have to move for their senior year. We want to be able to offer the full suite of courses, the extracurriculars like band and athletics and other clubs that students depend on. So I think most people are excited about the new school and having a fresh start with the new year allows us to offer the equal experience across the three schools. The new school was added to deal with overcrowding in the other two schools. Now, each school will have between 600 and 700 students. Officials with PEI's Home and School Federation say that's exciting news. Just in terms of even physical space, having access to, let's say, well-equipped labs or other spaces throughout the school, we know that's just going to benefit them in their own education. So it's exciting for us when we see more schools being built and more opportunities for children to thrive. The PSB is asking parents to update their home address in the database so staff can start working out what bus routes will look like. As for things like courses or staffing at the school next year, officials say that will depend on the courses that students are interested in. Course registration opens next month. Cameron Farquharson, CBC News, Stratford.