Toronto's Africentric Alternative School has enough students to proceed this fall, the Toronto District School Board says.

In a news release issued Tuesday, the board said 56 students have registered so far, with more expected to register in the next few weeks. The deadline is March 27.

The school, the first in Toronto, needed at least 40 students to open.

"Since enrolment will continue in the spring and summer, these enrolment figures are conservative estimates," said James Pasternak, Trustee for Ward 5 (York Centre). 

However, they certainly point in a positive direction. It is a refection of the importance for the TDSB to introduce relevant and creative curriculum delivery methods that meet the needs of our diverse students and their communities."

The new program is to start up in September and will operate at the Sheppard Public School site near Keele Street.

It will accept students from junior kindergarten to Grade 5.

The program will "integrate African-centered content into the mandated Ministry of Education curriculum," the board said.

Lloyd McKell, the board's executive officer of student and community equity, said in the release that the board can now get on with developing the curriculum, appointing the principal and hiring teachers.

The board will hold several registration sessions on March 25-27:

  • Wednesday March 25, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Thursday March 26, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
  • Thursday March 26, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Friday March 27, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.