
Greater Essex County District School Board – Schools, Leadership & Contacts
The Greater Essex County District School Board (GECDSB) operates as the largest K-12 public school district in Ontario’s Windsor and Essex County region. Serving approximately 36,000 students across 68 facilities, the board emerged in 1998 from the amalgamation of the Windsor Board of Education and the Essex County Board of Education, creating a unified system for families throughout southwestern Ontario.
Headquartered at 451 Park Street West in Windsor, the organization manages an annual revenue of $799.1 million while employing between 1,000 and 5,000 staff members. The district encompasses both urban centers and rural communities across nine municipalities, offering specialized programming including French Immersion, International Baccalaureate, and technical education tracks aligned with local automotive and manufacturing sectors.
For families relocating to the Best Indian Restaurant Toronto vicinity or settling throughout Windsor-Essex, understanding the board’s geographic reach, school locations, and administrative contacts remains essential for enrollment and community participation.
What is the Greater Essex County District School Board?
68 facilities
~36,000
Windsor-Essex County
$799.1 million
- Largest public school district in the Windsor-Essex region
- Serves grades JK-12 with specialized arts and technical programs
- Hosts 175 international students from 20 countries
- Maintains four ESL programs in small, sheltered classes
- Offers IB Diploma and Primary Years programmes
- Founded 1998 through municipal amalgamation
- Annual operating budget of $799.1 million
| Attribute | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Total Schools | 68 (14 secondary, 54 elementary) | Wikipedia |
| Student Enrollment | ~36,000 | CAPS-I |
| Annual Revenue | $799.1 million | ZoomInfo |
| Director | Vicki Houston | Public Board |
| Headquarters | 451 Park Street West, Windsor, ON N9A 6K1 | Public Board |
| International Students | 175 from 20 countries | OASDI |
| Founded | 1998 | Wikipedia |
Which Schools Serve the Greater Essex County District?
The board administers 68 schools total: 14 secondary schools serving grades 9-12 and 54 elementary schools serving junior kindergarten through grade 8. These facilities distribute across nine urban, suburban, and rural municipalities including Amherstburg, Belle River, Colchester, Harrow, and Leamington.
Elementary schools span diverse communities throughout the county, while secondary schools provide regional hubs for high school education. The board specifically accommodates international students at 13 secondary schools and 55 elementary schools.
Secondary Schools
The district’s 14 secondary schools include Belle River District High School, Essex District High School, Herman Academy, Honourable W.C. Kennedy Collegiate, Leamington District Secondary School, North Star High School, Riverside Secondary School, Sandwich Secondary School, Tecumseh Vista Academy, Vincent Massey Secondary School, Walkerville Collegiate Institute, Walkerville Centre for the Creative Arts, Westview Freedom Academy, and Erie Migration District School.
Elementary Schools
Fifty-four elementary schools operate across the region’s municipalities. While specific school names extend beyond available documentation, the board confirms coverage for families in all nine member communities, with particular concentration in Windsor and the surrounding townships.
Who Leads the GECDSB?
Vicki Houston serves as Director of Education, having assumed leadership of the board on September 1st. The administrative headquarters at 451 Park Street West, Windsor, coordinates operations for the district’s extensive network.
Director of Education
Houston oversees educational programming and administrative functions for the approximately 36,000-student district. The position carries responsibility for implementing provincial curriculum standards while managing local initiatives including the international student program and specialized technical education pathways.
Organizational Structure
The board maintains a workforce ranging between 1,000 and 5,000 employees across teaching, administrative, and support roles. This staffing level supports the district’s dual mandate of delivering standard Ontario curriculum while managing specialized programs in creative arts, French Immersion, and career-technical education.