If you are like me, starting high school in the 1990's (okay, okay it was the '80's ;).....you had one choice - you went to the local high school with all your other friends - no options, no discussions. This is SO not the case any longer!Navigating through this process with my grade 8 daughter, I couldn't believe the multitude of choices and the confusion that ensued. We travelled from open house to open house in the hopes of finding some clarity, but ended up in a bit of a mom vs. teenager power struggle over which school we each thought was 'the one'. There are A LOT of high school options in the west end of Toronto, depending on where your child's interests lie. This is a great thing, but for the unprepared (me), it can also be a little daunting.This is my attempt to simplify this process a little bit, in the hopes that you have an easier time of this than I did!
Specialty Programs & Key Dates
Bishop Allen Academy (Catholic)
Congregated Advanced Placement Program - an internationally recognized program that fosters success in higher education by encouraging students to develop critical thinking skills at the highest level
application & strong academic performance in grades 7 & 8 required - applications are due October 26th and notification of acceptance is on December 10th, 2018
Bloor Collegiate - Open house November 7th, 5:30-8:30pm
Talented Offerings in the Programmes of Sciences (TOPS) on Bloor program
application and exam required - application available November 8th, which is to be brought to the exam, held December 7, 2018. Notification of acceptance will take place January 2019.
Etobicoke School of the Arts - Parent open house November 6th, 6-8:30pm
arts focus in dance, drama, music & film
applications available October 31st and are due November 26, 2018
acceptance dependent on audition - auditions are being held January 18, 2019. Offers of admission e-mailed on February 1, 2019.
Father John Redmond (Catholic)
Congregated Advanced Placement Program (CAP) - applications due October 25th and acceptance letters mailed out early December 2018
Regional Arts Program (RAP) - applications due October 25th. Visual Arts and Drama workshops will be held November 3rd and Regional Arts Program auditions will be November 21st. Acceptance letters will be mailed out early December 2018.
Humberside Collegiate - Open house January 22nd, 6-8pm
extended french & french immersion programs for students coming from feeder schools
students in the english program must live within the school's catchment to attend
Parkdale Collegiate - Open house December 5th at 7-9pm
applications coming soon and due January 2019
IB Entrance Assessment also required
Runnymede Collegiate - Open house November 14th at 7-9pm
Masters of Math, Science & Technology Program
application and exam required - applications available on-line and should be brought to the exam, held December 1, 2018
Ursula Franklin Academy - Open house November 6th at 7-9pm
Integrated technology & academics for the real world with a focus on 5 core values: spirit of inquiry, democracy, social justice, community of learners, and connected knowledge
application and admissions assessment required - assessment must be scheduled on-line (link accessible as of November 6th) and held either November 28th at 4pm or December 1st at 10am (300 spaces available per session)
applications due December 10, 2018
if the number of eligible students exceeds the number of spaces available, a lottery will be held on January 18, 2019. Acceptance letters will be sent out January 21st.
Western Technical-Commercial School - Open house November 13th at 6:30-9pm
Specialized High Skills Majors (SHSM) in leadership, design studio, engineering robotics & hospitality studies
applications are available on-line and are due by January 11, 2019
Please click here, for a list of open houses at all TDSB schools. Happy open housing and the best of luck to all of you.....high school is a whole other post ;).