When moving with your family, access to quality education is likely one of your top priorities. Fantastic parks and amenities are one thing, but nothing matters more than giving your children the best start they can get in life. Fortunately, you’ll find many of Ontario’s top schools right here in Toronto. In fact, there are great options available in the East End alone.
So if you’re thinking of making one of the beautiful East End neighbourhoods your home, you and your family can truly have it all. In this post, we’ll talk about Toronto’s incredible education system and how you can find the right fit for your child.
An Overview of the System
The nice thing about Toronto is the sheer number of options you have when it comes to choosing a school for your youngster. Whether you want a religious, public, or private education, there are top-quality schools available. The tough part about living in Toronto is in weeding through these options and narrowing it down to a single school.
Your catchment area will determine what public or Catholic schools you have access to. You can start by understanding what boards serve your area. In Toronto, all public and Catholic schools fall under one of the following.
- The Toronto District School Board oversees all public elementary and secondary schools in Toronto.
- The Toronto Catholic District School Board handles all Catholic schools throughout the city.
- Do you want your child to enjoy all of the perks and advantages of growing up bilingual? The Conseil Scolaire Viamonde operates all of the French public schools in Southern Ontario.
- Lastly, the MonAvenir Conseil Scolaire Catholique oversees the French Catholic Schools for Toronto, Hamilton, and Kawartha Lakes.
Like we said, you have options! If you’re planning on sending your child to a public school, you can use the above websites to help determine your catchment area for your neighbourhood. If you’re planning a move based on your children attending a particular school, your local real estate agent can also help.
Want to know more about living in Toronto’s East End? The posts below will help you see what you have to look forward to:
- Up and Coming Neighbourhoods for Families
- Top Dog-Friendly Neighbourhoods in the West End
- Why Families Love to Call Riverdale Home
A Note About Private Schools
Though Toronto has superb public schools, many parents in Toronto prefer a private education for their child. The good news is that Toronto once again offers a wide range of options, and you are not limited by your catchment area.
If the public schools in your neighbourhood don’t fit the bill, private schools can be an excellent alternative. Well-funded private institutions often feature smaller class sizes as well as improved technology and equipment. The right fit can mean a more comfortable and enhanced learning environment that ultimately leads to greater opportunities later in life.
The bad news is that these have no official oversight, and you’ll want to do your due diligence before signing your child up. Here are a few points of investigation to ensure your child receives the best possible education.
- Does the school follow the Ontario curriculum?
- What is the student to teacher ratio? How much individual attention can you expect your child to receive?
- What are the school policies and philosophies?
- Is there an anti-bullying policy?
- What is the code of conduct for each student?
- How stringent is the admission process?
- How are students evaluated?
- What areas of academia does the school focus on? For example, is there a robust STEM program or an emphasis on physical education?
Special Considerations for Private Secondary Schools
Choosing the right secondary school comes with even more considerations. It won’t be long until your teenager heads off to college or university, and the quality of their education now is critical. Here are some questions to ask before investing in a private secondary school.
- Does the school offer credits toward the OSSD (Ontario Secondary School Diploma)?
- How many graduates are accepted into post-secondary education?
- What resources does the school offer to ensure each student reaches their full potential?
What Tuition Covers
The other major consideration of a private school is the expense. With tuition prices that can exceed $30,000 per year for each student, making the right decision is essential. You’ll also want to know about any extra costs, such as admission fees and whether any extracurricular activities are included.
Now that you have some ideas on how to evaluate a private school, what are your options in East Toronto? Local institutions like Iqra Academy, Seneca Hill Private School, The Cole Academy of Toronto, and Guidepost Academy have received high ratings. If you’re willing to commute a little further, Branksome Hall, Upper Canada College, and Bishop Strachan School all have excellent reputations.
Once again, you’ll need to do extensive background research and due diligence. And keep in mind that a school can come highly recommended but still not be the right fit for your child. Everyone is different, and it’s important to stay focused on what matters most to you.
Evaluating Toronto Public Schools
Evaluating Toronto’s public schools can be more straightforward since they are subjected to strict oversight and guidelines. That said, your child may be better suited to some schools more than others, and you have access to independent resources to help you gather information.
To start with, you can see a school’s ranking by the Fraser Institute at compareschoolrankings.org. It’s a lot like getting a grade, except it’s the school under scrutiny, not the student. Instead of a grade from A to F, the school earns a score every year from 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest.
It’s an excellent tool to get an idea of how well students are doing, but it is by no means a perfect system. For example, a school might get a score of 9 one year only to be overtaken by a different school the next. Or a school could have a lower score, which makes it seem like a poor choice, but the margin is too small to make a real difference. Plus, some smaller schools aren’t even assessed even though they may boast outstanding results.
The other issue is that the results are only based on standardized tests in Math, Reading, and Writing for Grade 3 and Grade 6 students. If your child is artistically inclined, the scores tell you nothing. That said, the Fraser rankings can be a good place to start your research.
Should you and your family decide to move to East Toronto, here are some of the highly-rated public schools that may be in your catchment area:
- Withrow Avenue Junior Public School
- Pape Avenue Junior Public School
- Frankland Community School
- Kew Beach Junior Public School
- Riverdale Collegiate Institute
- Monarch Park Collegiate Institute
- École secondaire Michelle-O’Bonsawin
Planning your next home purchase in Toronto? The posts below will help with the planning:
- Should You Buy or Sell First in a Shifting Market?
- 10 Mistakes Buyers Make and How To Avoid Them
- How the Government is Helping First-Time Buyers in Toronto
A Holistic Approach
Research, ratings, and analysis will play a role in helping you choose the ideal school. However, it’s important to take a well-rounded approach that keeps your child’s unique gifts and challenges in mind.
A supportive learning environment, available resources, and the school’s reputation can be even more important than a rating on paper. If in doubt, meeting with other parents and talking about their experiences can give you a deeper insight as to how well your child might fare at a particular school.
Are you planning a move to Toronto and wondering about the catchment areas? Our real estate team can help you choose the right neighbourhood for your family. Connect with us at 416.443.0300 or email Erica@EricaReddy.com to get started.
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