5 Brampton schools with highest absence rates may suggest contrast with neighbouring Mississauga

Brampton is smaller and thus has fewer schools than Mississauga — but more of its schools marked at least 20 per cent of their population absent on Wednesday.

Under the provincial’s return-to-school plan, schools report to the Ontario Ministry of Education each afternoon on school closures, and students and staff absences. The data is uploaded around 10:30 a.m. the following day.

Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore stated last month that this change from case-by-case reporting, and closing classrooms and cohorts when there is a confirmed case of COVID-19, would “empower” parents and schoolchildren to make decisions.

At the time that was announced, a 30 per cent absence rate is considered the threshold to consider closing a school.

Based on the schools’ reports, which may include children who are in online learning but have COVID-19 being marked as present, seven elementary schools marked between 20 and 23 per cent of staff and students absent on Feb. 2. In Mississauga, only three schools reported a 20 per cent absence rate, although a fourth reported 19.9.

Burnt Elm Public School reported a 23 per cent absence rate, followed by Fallingdale Public School at 22.2. Lorenville reported 21.7 per cent (elementary students only), with similar percentages reported by Clark Boulevard (21.5) and Springdale (21.4). All five schools are part of Peel District School Board (PDSB).

Within the Dufferin-Peel Catholic Board, St. Anthony School reported a 20.4 per cent absence rate.

Aylesbury Public School reported 20.1 per cent. It is also a Peel District school.