My youngest daughter is in grade 8 so I am doing this all over again, but as with everything, it is looking a lot different this year! Due to covid, all of the Toronto high school open houses are virtual this year, but we are still logging in and weighing our options. She will be graduating from Karen Kain School of the Arts (KKSA) so ESA is an option, as well as our home school and some of the specialty programs that are offered at other high schools, such as UFA and Western Tech. I will let you know how it goes!
Here is our annual guide to all the (virtual) open houses, programs, key dates and application deadlines for many of the West Toronto high schools.
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 available as of October 8th and are due October 29th. Notification of acceptance to specialty programs is on November 27th (wave 1) & December 4th (wave 2)
Bloor Collegiate - Open house November 16th, 6:30-8:30pm
Talented Offerings in the Programmes of Sciences (TOPS) on Bloor program
exam required - exam registration starts November 16th and closes November 26th @ 4pm. Exam to be held on December 2nd from 4-6pm
Bloor Collegiate also provides the following programs: advanced placement (AP), math & science focus (MST), pre-advanced placement (Pre-AP) and specialist high skills major (SHSM)
Etobicoke Collegiate - Open House November 26th, 7pm
they offer a specialist high skills major (SHSM)
students must live within the school's catchment to attend the regular program
Etobicoke School of the Arts - Open house November 16th, 7-9pm
arts focus in dance, drama, music & film
applications are available November 9th and the online application submission deadline is December 9th
acceptance dependent on audition - virtual auditions are being held January 15th, 2021. Offers of admission will be emailed in early February 2021
Father John Redmond (Catholic) - Virtual Open House
Regional Arts Program (RAP) - applications available as of October 8th and are due October 28th (online) or October 29th (paper). Portfolio/Audition videos must be uploaded by November 13th and auditions will be conducted from November 18-20. Notification of acceptance is on November 27th (wave 1) & December 4th (wave 2).
Update: apparently they have changed their application process and you can only apply to CAP if you have been accepted into Father Redmond through a feeder school or into the Regional Arts Program
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
Martingrove Collegiate - Open house November 24th, 6:30 & 7:45
they offer advanced placement (AP) and specialist high skills major (SHSM)
students must live within the school's catchment to attend the regular program
Parkdale Collegiate - Open house November 18th, 7pm
applications are due December 18th
IB Entrance Assessment also required
they also offer: LEAP (LP) and specialist high skills major (SHSM) programs
Richview Collegiate - Open house November 24th, 7-9pm (french) and November 25th, 7-9pm (english)
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
Runnymede Collegiate - Open house December 2nd, 6pm
Masters of Math, Science & Technology Program
application, ‘all about me’ application and exam required - applications available soon
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 required - applications due January 29th
if the number of eligible students exceeds the number of spaces available, a lottery will be held the first week of February and acceptance letters will be sent out February 12, 2021 and must be accepted by February 26th
Western Technical-Commercial School - Open house November 19th, 7pm
Specialized High Skills Majors (SHSM) in leadership, design studio, engineering robotics & hospitality studies
applications are available on-line and are due by January 29, 2021
they also offer: LEAP (LP), Cyber Arts (CA) and Cisco/Nortel Systems (C/N Sys)
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 ;).
