Education and Childcare
Toronto offers a range of options for and schools. Elementary schools offer education from junior kindergarten up to grade 8. Secondary/high schools offer education from grades 9 to 12. Children can commence junior kindergarten and senior kindergarten in the calendar year that they turn four and five years of age, respectively. Registration begins in February. Specific registration dates are available through the .
Toronto District School Board (TDSB): is the largest and one of the most diverse school boards in Canada with close to 600 schools throughout Toronto.
Toronto Catholic District School Board: provides publicly-funded Catholic education through nearly 200 schools across the city.
Enrolment Process for Newcomers
Public schools are free of charge for Canadians and for children who are accompanying parents on a work permit.
Students who reside within the City of Toronto have the right to attend a school which is designated to serve their residential address. The section of the TDSB website identifies the designated schools for each residential address. Students also have the opportunity to access schools outside of the school that is designated to serve their residential address by applying under optional attendance. Acceptance at these schools is subject to space availability and program suitability. The procedures, conditions and timelines relating to optional attendance are described in the and the .
Parents can register their children by visiting the school and providing the following documentation:
- Appropriate legal documentation, e.g. work permit of the parent or a study permit for the child if one is available.
- Two pieces of proof of current Toronto address (rental agreement, telephone bill, bank statement, driver’s license, or government document with current Toronto address)
- School documents from the student’s previous school, if available.
- Proof of immunization, if available
For children who will be attending secondary/high school
A visit to one of the TDSB must first occur for an assessment of the student’s English and Math skills. Note, that this includes those that are Canadians relocating from other parts of the country.
In addition to publicly-funded educational institutions, Toronto has many that offer elementary and secondary school programs. Information on private school rankings can be found on the website. Generally private schools have year to year tuition fees and many will also have an initial one-time registration fee; some also offer financial assistance. For a quick comparison of private schools based on tuition, grades offered and more, see the .
- Toronto District School Board (TDSB) offers a variety of in elementary and secondary schools at the following levels:
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- Core French – students learn French as a subject
- Extended French – students learn French as a subject and it is the language of instruction in at least one other subject
- French Immersion – students learn French as a subject and it is the language of instruction in two or more subjects
- to begin these programs is open to all students not already enrolled in an FSL program. Application to these programs is made online the year the student is in JK (FI) or Grade 3 (EF). Please note:
- You must apply by the .
- You must have a Toronto address.
- All communication about the program will continue through the original email address provided as part of the online application.
- While admission to a TDSB French Immersion/Extended French program is guaranteed to on-time applicants, admission to a specific school is not guaranteed if the school reaches capacity.
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- The Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) offers french language programs (core and french immersion at the elementary and secondary levels).
- The Government of Ontario provides a that will assist in your search by program levels and whether it is catholic or public.
- The province of Ontario has geared towards Francophone students. Each will identify the admissions criteria.
- Private schools also offer as follows:
- French Language School - At a French language school, your child will be completely immersed in a francophone environment—from education to socializing. These schools are recommended for children who have experience with the French language as all courses are taught in French, except for English arts.
- French Immersion School - A French immersion school is meant to provide a completely supported French education experience to children whose first language is not French. Following the same curriculum set out by the provincial government, a French immersion school offers all courses in French, except for English arts, in an environment customized for French-second-language students.
- French Language School - At a French language school, your child will be completely immersed in a francophone environment—from education to socializing. These schools are recommended for children who have experience with the French language as all courses are taught in French, except for English arts.
The is an international organization present in over 150 countries, providing that is dedicated to developing challenging of international education and rigorous assessment.
Selected and schools in Toronto offer IB programs.
See to find a more comprehensive list of schools in and around the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) that offer IB programs.
Applications are normally accepted between November and December and due to limited spots, it is highly recommended that individual school boards and schools be consulted early regarding precise timelines.
Fees
At TDSB, there are no fees for the pre-IB program in grades 9 and 10. For fees in grades 11 and 12, see .
Specialized Programs at the TDSB
The TDSB also consists of selected schools that offer specialized programs for and students depending on the child’s area of interest and strengths.
Home Schooling
If you are considering home-schooling, consult the of the website as well as the as parents who decide to home-school their children will need to provide a written intent.
Trades
Students in secondary/high school considering trades, can find further information here:
Special Needs
Parents looking for support and options for children with special needs can refer to the following:
Upon successful completion of grade 12, students receive an Ontario Secondary School Diploma, which allows them to pursue further education. Options for universities and colleges within Ontario can be found here: and .
Dependent children of ³ÉÈË´óÆ¬ employees who are granted admission into an undergraduate program at ³ÉÈË´óÆ¬ may be eligible for a tuition waiver.