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Understanding Toronto’s School Options
Ontario funds four public school systems, and all four serve Toronto: English public, English Catholic, French public and French Catholic. Independent private schools and Ministry-inspected online schools add further choice. The most suitable system depends on language, faith preference, location and the programs your child needs.
The Toronto District School Board serves the English public system, while the Toronto Catholic District School Board serves the English Catholic system. French-language education is delivered through Conseil scolaire Viamonde and Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir, which operate regionally and maintain schools within Toronto.
| School system | Board serving Toronto | Important notes |
|---|---|---|
| English public | Toronto District School Board (TDSB) | Large city-wide board; address-based admission for most neighbourhood schools. |
| English Catholic | Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) | Faith-based environment; admission documents may vary by grade and available space. |
| French public | Conseil scolaire Viamonde | Regional board serving Toronto and a wider Centre-South-West catchment. |
| French Catholic | Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir | Regional French Catholic board with schools across the Greater Toronto Area. |
Two practical points
Most neighbourhood placements are tied to a home address. Central and specialized programs usually require a separate application and may use different admission rules.
Which Public High Schools Do Families Consider?
Families often explore the following TDSB schools because of their established specialty programs. These examples are not a ranking; they illustrate the range of pathways available across Toronto.
Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute
- Thorncliffe Park
- English public
Home to TOPS, a specialized math, science and language-arts program for students with strong interest in advanced academic study.
William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute
- North York
- English public
Etobicoke School of the Arts
- Etobicoke
- Specialized arts
Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts
- Scarborough
- English public
Monarch Park Collegiate
- East York
- English public
Earl Haig Secondary School
- North York
- Claude Watson
Admission rules can change
TDSB specialized-program processes have changed in recent years. Confirm the current application, residency, priority and lottery rules before making plans.
Which Catholic High Schools Stand Out?
TCDSB schools combine the Ontario curriculum with a Catholic educational environment. Some specialty programs require a separate application or audition, and admission eligibility can depend on grade, space and board policy.
Michael Power–St. Joseph
- Etobicoke
- Catholic
Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School
- North York
- All-girls
Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts
- North York
- Audition-based
St. Michael’s Choir School
- Downtown Toronto
- Choral focus
Check admission documentation
Catholic boards may request faith-related documentation in some circumstances while admitting other students where policy and space permit. Confirm requirements directly with the board or school.
Do Toronto Families Have a Right to French-Language Schooling?
Eligible rights-holders have a constitutional right to French-language public education under Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Eligibility is based on factors such as a Canadian-citizen parent’s first language, prior French-language education in Canada or a child’s attendance at a French-language school.
A French-language school is different from French immersion. French-language schools operate through French boards, while French immersion teaches French as a second language within an English-language board.
École secondaire Étienne-Brûlé
- North York
- Viamonde
École secondaire Toronto Ouest
- Toronto
- Viamonde
A French-language secondary option offering the International Baccalaureate pathway.
Parent planning tip
Ask the board to confirm rights-holder eligibility, the designated catchment, transportation and current program availability before applying.
What Specialty Programs Exist in Toronto?
International Baccalaureate
A rigorous two-year Grade 11–12 diploma pathway with six subjects, core requirements and international recognition.
Advanced Placement
French Immersion / Extended French
Arts Programs
Technology, STEM & Gifted
Enriched mathematics, science, computer science and technology programming for advanced learners.
Specialist High Skills Major
What is the IB program in Toronto?
The IB Diploma Programme is a globally recognized two-year curriculum for Grades 11 and 12. Toronto families can find it in publicly funded schools as well as private schools. Some boards or programs charge additional fees, so confirm current amounts directly.
What is SHSM?
A Specialist High Skills Major allows students to earn the OSSD while focusing on a specific economic sector. Students complete a bundle of related credits, certifications, experiential learning and co-op, and qualifying graduates receive an SHSM seal on the diploma.
Use rankings carefully
How Are Toronto Schools Ranked?
What rankings may measure
- Grade 9 provincial mathematics results
- Grade 10 literacy-test performance
- Selected achievement trends over time
- Comparable numerical indicators
What rankings may not measure
- Program breadth and specialty pathways
- School climate, belonging and well-being
- Student support and accessibility
- Equity, context and individual improvement
Parent takeaway: use rankings to generate questions, not to declare winners and losers. Program fit, support, commute and your child’s needs matter more.
Flexible Online Learning for Toronto Students
Earn a missing credit
Take summer school
Upgrade a course
Build an OSSD pathway
Ministry-inspected
BSID #882250
OSSD credits
Ontario teachers
Year-round enrolment
Flexible learning
Student perspectives
How Flexibility Can Help
Stories like these are common among applicants who use online courses strategically.
“I took a Grade 12 course through CVS to free up space in my school timetable while preparing university applications. The flexibility helped me stay organized.”
Grade 12 student · Toronto
“Between school, sports and extracurricular activities, my schedule was packed. CVS allowed me to complete an online course at my own pace.”
“Taking an online course helped me stay on track academically while managing other commitments. I enjoyed learning on my own schedule.”
A practical parent checklist
How to Choose the Right School for Your Child
Programs
Check for IB, AP, arts, STEM, French, gifted or an SHSM sector that matches the student’s goals.
Language and faith
Choose between English or French-language education and secular or Catholic environments.
Commute
Balance the benefit of a central or specialized program against daily travel time.
Learning style
Consider whether the student thrives in a large school, focused academy or self-paced online setting.
Flexibility
Determine whether the student needs to add, recover or upgrade a credit outside the day-school calendar.
Admissions
Confirm catchment, lottery, application, audition, documentation and deadline requirements.
Student support
Ask how the school supports academic planning, accessibility, mental well-being and transitions.
Common parent questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best high schools in Toronto?
There is no single best high school in Toronto. The city has strong public (TDSB), Catholic (TCDSB), and French-language options, each with different specialties — STEM, arts, IB, AP, and French immersion. The “best” school is the one whose programs, location, language, and culture fit your child. Use rankings only as a starting point, not a verdict.
What is the difference between public and Catholic schools in Toronto?
Both the TDSB and TCDSB are publicly funded and free, follow the Ontario curriculum, and grant the OSSD. The key difference is that Catholic schools include faith-based instruction and a Catholic ethos and may request a baptismal certificate for admission at certain grade levels. Academic programs like IB, AP, and SHSM exist in both systems.
Which Toronto schools offer French immersion, IB, or AP?
All three are available. IB is offered at Monarch Park CI (TDSB), Michael Power–St. Joseph (TCDSB) et École secondaire Toronto Ouest (Viamonde). AP is offered at schools including Loretto Abbey, Woburn, Bloor, and Martingrove. French immersion and Extended French are offered at TDSB and TCDSB secondary schools. Confirm current offerings with each board.
What is SHSM?
SHSM stands for Specialist High Skills Major. Per ontario.ca, it is a Ministry-approved program that lets students earn the OSSD while focusing on one of 19 economic sectors, completing a bundle of related credits, sector certifications, experiential learning, and co-op. The SHSM seal appears on the student’s diploma and supports transitions to college, apprenticeship, university, or work.
Can students in Toronto take high school courses online?
Yes. Canadian Virtual School (CVS) is a Ministry-inspected online high school (BSID #882250) that has granted OSSD credits since 2008. Toronto students use it to earn a missing credit, take summer school, upgrade or retake a course, or — for homeschoolers — earn recognized Ontario credits. Its credits count the same as any day-school credit.
How are students admitted to specialized TDSB programs?
Since May 2022, the TDSB has used a centralized lottery rather than auditions or grades for most specialized programs, with priority given to underrepresented students and Toronto residents. Applications open in the fall for Grade 8 students. Because rules change, verify the current process on the TDSB’s central student interest programs site.
Do I need to live in a school’s catchment to attend?
For most TDSB and TCDSB schools, yes — your home address determines your default school. Specialized and “central” programs admit students from across the city through a separate application or lottery, independent of address. French-language school admissions are governed by Charter rights-holder rules rather than by catchment alone.
Do universities recognize private or online credits?
Yes, provided the school is inspected by the Ontario Ministry of Education and authorized to grant OSSD credits. Inspected schools issue official credits transmitted through OUAC/OCAS, and universities treat online or private OSSD credits the same as day-school credits. Always confirm a school’s BSID and inspection status before enrolling.
Toronto’s Greatest Strength Is Choice
Toronto families can choose among four publicly funded systems, specialized academic and arts programs, French-language pathways, independent schools and flexible online credit options. Read rankings cautiously, prioritize the student’s learning needs and confirm all admission details directly with the relevant board or school.
When a timetable conflict, missing prerequisite, course upgrade or homeschool pathway requires flexibility, a Ministry-inspected online option can help a student stay on track toward the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
Find the Right Learning Path for Your Child
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Canadian Virtual School
- Ontario Ministry-inspected private high school
- BSID #882250
- Recognized OSSD credit courses
- Year-round enrolment
Need help choosing a course?
Speak with an advisor about prerequisites, upgrading or an OSSD pathway.
Contact an Advisor