Toronto is known as a highly livable, active city with great choices for people of all ages, including growing families. In addition to the many entertainment and restaurant options, the city also offers high-quality educational opportunities from the earliest years. Not only does the city have top-notch private schools but also many public schools highly regarded for the quality of their educational offerings. Here are some of the best schools in Toronto.
Best Elementary Schools in Toronto (Up to 8th Grade)
Avondale Elementary
Avondale earns perfect scores in the Fraser Institute's school rankings. It is part of the Toronto District School Board and is perhaps the best public school in the area. Avondale also has an Elementary Alternative School and prides itself on its level of innovation. The school claims legendary actor Keanu Reaves as one of its alumni.
Hollywood Public School
This is another Toronto District School Board that makes the list as one of the best schools in the city. Over 97% of students meet or exceed testing standards. The school also features a French immersion program, a highly desirable choice for students in a bilingual country. The school's motto is "Learning is Forever!" Hollywood lives up to the billing.
Islamic Institute of Toronto
This is another school that earned a perfect score on the Fraser Institute list because of the students' strong test scores. The IIT features small classes where its students receive individual attention, and it is particularly well-suited for Muslim parents who want to provide their children with a strong religious grounding. 22 out of the 23 sixth grade students whose test results were scored were at least at the standard.
Havergal College
Havergal College is a boarding school for girls located in midtown Toronto. In 2015, it was ranked second out of 749 schools in all of Ontario. Havergal offers a specialty curriculum in the Junior School and even includes ballet through Grade 3. Visual arts and music are also a part of the instruction at the school.
Ossington/Old Orchard
This public school is located in Lower Toronto and is noted for students' achievements in mathematics and other STEM subjects. Ossington/Old Orchard Junior Public School is also well-regarded when it comes to the support that the teachers provide the students. Students consistently score well above average on their standardized exams.
St. Sebastian Catholic School
St. Sebastian's achieved a perfect score in the latest Fraser Institute rankings of Canadian elementary schools. The school looks not just at test scores but to a "growth mindset" where they teach students to try to learn from their mistakes. The school looks to build the whole child as opposed to teaching them to score well on a test. This is one of the more selective Catholic schools in Toronto since it is in demand among parents.
Sathya Sai School
This is a non-denominational school that balances both academics and character development. Sathya Sai School engages the parents and encourages them to be involved. This model has worked well for the school in its 20 years of existence. The school aims to be inclusive and open to all, regardless of socio-economic background. The curriculum is focused on five human values that the school wants to impart to its students.
Northmount School
Northmount is an all-boys school that features small class sizes and a robust offering of extra-curricular activities. Northmount prides itself on its experiential learning model that engages all of the senses. The school focuses on building skills in young men as opposed to educational knowledge. Northmount aims to nurture children socially in addition to its academic offerings. Northmount is an independent Catholic school.
Seneca Hill Public School
Seneca Hill is located in a section of Toronto that has plenty of affordable housing. It tied at the top of the Fraser rankings for the title of the best public school in Toronto. The school believes in a shared vision of achievement and collaborative work and views children and parents as stakeholders in the institution. Seneca Hill is located not too far from the core of Toronto.
The Best Secondary Schools in Toronto
Earl Haig Secondary School
The dignity and safety of students comes first at Earl Haig Secondary School. It’s recognized for its academic focus, lively school spirit and commitment to the arts. One great example is its Claude Watson Arts Program, an auditioned arts program that has been integrated into its curriculum.
Leaside High School
Leaside High School offers a wide variety of programs to suit diverse interests, which includes multiple languages, forensics, digital photography and communications technology. It still continues its tradition of academic excellence today with a comfortably sized student population that allows for a caring environment.
North Toronto Collegiate Institute
At North Toronto Collegiate Institute, there are many opportunities for student leadership and extracurricular activities that helps shape the local culture of involvement, character building and caring. The school features a diverse and inclusive student body and staff that fosters creativity and critical thinking for life-long learning skills.
Best Colleges in Toronto
Seneca College
This college is recognized around the world for its career-focused programs that help students prepare for meaningful work in the real world. More than 3,500 international students from 113 countries attend the college, and at least 43% of Seneca’s full-time students have a different first language than English. This results in a richly diverse learning environment that can help students develop skills and knowledge for their future careers.
Humber College
Humber College has a community centered campus that was the first public college in Canada to adopt the Okanagan Charter. It has an ambitious goal to be the healthiest campus in the country with great athletes and sports teams, generous scholarships, and over 200+ full-time programs to help students achieve their dreams.
George Brown College
This college features facilities for hands-on learning that simulate real-world work environments while providing opportunities for experiential learning. Curriculum is informed by the industry and includes applied research so students have the opportunity to work alongside industry professionals. It also offers flexible learning and programs for students to choose from so they can tailor their education to suit their professional goals.
Find a Community Near Your Chosen School
Some of the top public schools are located in North York, but there are also schools located around the city. When looking for a neighborhood with the best schools in Toronto, your family has many choices. You can find a house with a good school in an affordable area. We can help you find a place to live in Toronto close to the best schools in the city. Call us today to get started on finding your dream home in Toronto at 1-800-411-2020.
