How to Choose the Right West End Toronto High School in 2022

There are a number of high schools in Toronto’s west end, each offering different programs and catering to a variety of interests & proficiencies. I have helped both my daughters navigate through this maze of grade 9 options, they each attended different high schools, but I am happy to report that they both made the right choice and ended up at the school that was the best fit for them.

To add to the confusion, the TDSB has changed their application process for specialized programs, so they are offering a virtual ‘Student Interest Programs Information Session’ on November 3rd, from 7-8:30pm. To further support students and families with the application process, central TDSB staff will be hosting three Centralized Program Admissions Support Sessions to answer any questions that students or families may have when completing the Centralized Program Application.  Live, online support will be available on the following dates: November 8 – 4-5:30pm (LINK), November 15 – 7- 8:30pm (LINK), November 24 – 4-5:30pm (LINK).

We have had an overwhelming response to this blog, which we originally posted in 2017 when I was going through this process the first time, so this year we have expanded it to include a few more west end schools.  We hope that you will find it to be a helpful guide to the varied (and sometimes overwhelming) choices available for secondary school education in Toronto's west end!

Specialty Programs & Key Dates

Bishop Allen Academy (Catholic)

• 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

• the school also offers French Immersion & French Extended, a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program in Justice, Community Safety and Emergency Services and a Gifted Program called SAGE (service, awareness, giftedness, experience)

• applications are available as of September 26th and are due November 1st. Notification of acceptance to specialty programs is on December 2nd (wave 1) & December 9th (wave 2).

Bloor Collegiate

Virtual open house November 10th, 6:30-8:30pm

• Talented Offerings in the Programs of Sciences (TOPS) on Bloor program

• the TDSB has changed their application process for specialized programs, students wishing to apply to Math, Science and Technology at Bloor Collegiate must now do so by applying to these Centralized Student Interest Programs through an online application that will be available from November 7-25.

Etobicoke Collegiate

Virtual open house December 1st, 7-9pm

• they offer two Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSM) programs in Engineering Technologies and Digital Design and a Leadership (local) Program

• students must live within the school's catchment to attend the regular program or apply for Out-of-Area Admissions. Applications must be submitted to the TDSB between January 9-27, 2023 and families will be informed of the status of their application on February 8th (round 1) or February 15th (round 2).

Etobicoke School of the Arts

In-person open house November 8th, 6-8pm

• arts focus in dance, drama, music & film

• the TDSB has changed their application process for specialized programs, students wishing to apply to the arts program at ESA must now do so by applying to these Centralized Student Interest Programs through an online application that will be available from November 7-25.

Father John Redmond (Catholic)

In-person open house October 13th, 6:30pm

• Congregated Advanced Placement Program which enables willing and academically prepared students to pursue university-level courses while attending secondary school

• Regional Arts Program in dance, drama, music & visual arts

• applications are available as of September 26th and are due November 1st. Notification of acceptance to specialty programs is on December 2nd (wave 1) & December 9th (wave 2).

• the school also offers a Gifted Program

Humberside Collegiate

Virtual open house December 15th,  6:30-8:30pm

• 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

Humberside Collegiate

Martingrove Collegiate

Virtual open house December 6th, 6:30-8:30pm

• they offer Advanced Placement (AP) and a Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) in Health and Wellness

• students must live within the school's catchment to attend the regular program

Michael Power - St. Joseph High School (Catholic)

• International Baccalaureate (IB) Program

• the school also offers two Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs in Health & Wellness and Sports

• applications are available as of September 26th and are due November 1st. Notification of acceptance to specialty programs is on December 2nd (wave 1) & December 9th (wave 2).

Parkdale Collegiate

Virtual open house November 22nd, 6:30-8:30pm

• International Baccalaureate (IB) Program

• they also offer a SHSM program in Green Industries

• the TDSB has changed their application process for specialized programs, students wishing to apply to the IB program at Parkdale must now do so by applying to these Centralized Student Interest Programs through an online application that will be available from November 7-25.

Richview Collegiate

Virtual open house December 8th, 6:30-8:30pm

• 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

Virtual open house November 23rd, 6:30-8:30pm

• Masters of Math, Science & Technology Program is an enriched program designed for students who excel in the areas of Mathematics, Science and Computer Studies

• they also offer four SHSM programs in Digital Urban Arts, Computer Technology, Engineering, and Software Design, Social Justice & Law and Health and Public Services

• the TDSB has changed their application process for specialized programs, students wishing to apply to Math, Science and Technology at Runnymede Collegiate must now do so by applying to these Centralized Student Interest Programs through an online application that will be available from November 7-25.

Silverthorn Collegiate

Virtual open house November 10th, 7-9pm

• High Performer Program which is is an academic program for students who are elite athletes involved in regional, provincial, national or international competitions. It offers students with intense training schedules, and the opportunity for a more flexible timetable in order to balance their out-of-school commitments so that they can strive for both academic and athletic excellence.

• they also offer a SHSM program in Arts & Culture (visual arts, performing arts, music and/or dance)

• the TDSB has changed their application process for specialized programs, students wishing to apply to the Elite/Exceptional Athlete program at Silverthorn must now do so by applying to these Centralized Student Interest Programs through an online application that will be available from November 7-25.

Ursula Franklin Academy

In-person open house November 15th, 6-9pm

• UFA is a small specialized school which has a focus or specialization in the following areas: Wednesday Enrichment Program, Math and Science Programming, Social Justice & Integrated Technology

• the TDSB has changed their application process for specialized programs, students wishing to apply to the Integrated Technology program at UFA must now do so by applying to these Centralized Student Interest Programs through an online application that will be available from November 7-25.

• UFA has a two-step admission process, in addition to completing the Secondary Centralized Programs Online Application, all students must then select one date on which they will attend an in-person admissions session. In-person sessions will take place on November 18th from 10am-12pm or on November 26th from 10am-12pm

• if the number of students who are eligible to attend UFA exceeds the number of spaces available in any given year, all eligible students will be placed in a pool for a random draw (lottery)

Western Technical-Commercial School and Ursula Franklin Academy

Western Technical-Commercial School

Virtual open house November 17th, 6:30-8:30pm

• they offer four Specialized High Skills Major (SHSM) programs in culinary arts, design studio (a CyberARTS program), engineering robotics & leadership

• they also offer a Gifted Program and courses in eight strands of Technology

• the TDSB has changed their application process for specialized programs, students wishing to apply to CyberARTS program at Western Tech must now do so by applying to these Centralized Student Interest Programs through an online application that will be available from November 7-25.
  
  

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 ;).

navigating the west Toronto high school options for your grade 8 student

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

• Congregated Advanced Placement Program (CAP)

• 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).

• Gifted & Enrichment Program

• 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

Humberside Collegiate

• 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

• International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme

• 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

Ursula Franklin Academy

• 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 ;).