Nearly 400 people came out to show their support for Colonel By Secondary School Wednesday night. (Courtesy of Adam Hill)

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board said a decline in enrolment in Ottawa's east end could force it to close schools.

The board said it's considering closing Colonel By, Rideau and Gloucester high schools.

Nearly 400 people attended a public meeting at Colonel By Secondary School in Gloucester Wednesday evening to discuss the possible closure.

Some of them arrived with yellow signs that read, "Colonel By counts, don't mess with success."

"This school has a record of generating successful graduates," said Dan Burke, whose children attended the school several years ago. "It doesn't make any sense at all to let that go to waste."

Paula Brant said her son was hoping to attend the school in a few years.

"It's a very well-run school … good reputation … good teachers," she said. "It draws people to our neighbourhood."

Paul Tessier, the head boy at Colonel By, agreed.

"I was speaking to a man before the meeting had started and I asked him what his connection to Colonel By was," said Tessier. "He said, 'None.' He said he moved into the community five years ago, but he feels like still he's a part of Colonel By."

Tessier said his community hopes to encourage that feeling as they fight to keep their school open.

A public meeting to discuss all of the school board's closure options is to be held in three weeks at Rideau High School.

The school board is expected to make a final decision by January.