Newcastle Public School is currently over capacity at 109 per cent and The Pines Senior Public School is at 116 per cent. Over 240 students are being bussed to Bowmanville from Newcastle. The current growth figures presented by KPRDSB show that school age residents will grow by 645 in the next 5-10 years. Keeping in mind that both Clarke and The Pines service all of Ward 4.
The 2022-23 school year saw grade 6 from Newcastle PS move to The Pines joining grades 7 & 8. The Pines Senior Public School and Clarke High School are located directly adjacent to Highway 115 – safety has become top priority and parents want the schools moved. The question ‘why build two schools on a provincial highway?’ is one that has been asked for decades.