As a new parent in Toronto looking for the best high schools in Toronto for your kids, searching for which schools to enroll them in can be a bit difficult.
This is because when you take out time to search for the “best high schools in Toronto,” you will find a lot of information about these schools. So much, in fact, you become overwhelmed with all the information thrown at you – from opinions of parents to other directories.
This is not your fault at all. When you’re looking for a high school in Toronto, it can be difficult to know where to start. This is because there are so many top-ranked schools with different programs and opportunities, and some of them may not even be in your neighborhood.
To make things easier on you, we’ve done a lot of legwork over the internet and compiled a list of the 40 best high schools in Toronto. These are schools that are the best-performing high schools in Toronto for your ward.
Mind you, these schools are so excellent that any of them can pass as the best.
Overview of High Schools in Toronto
Toronto, a beautiful city in Canada, is home to some of the best high schools in Canada. This means that if you are moving to Toronto, or have children attending school here, it is important to find out which schools have a reputation for excellence. The best way to do this is by looking at rankings and reviews by independent sources such as Maclean’s magazine and Toronto Life magazine.
To help you with your search, we’ve put together a list of what we think are the top 40 high schools in Toronto based on their ranking score.
TDSB Schools in Toronto
If you’ve been looking for high schools in Toronto, it’s a good idea to learn about the TDSB. The Toronto District School Board is the largest school board in Canada, with nearly 600 schools and programs serving 247,000 students from kindergarten through grade 12; 110 of these schools are high schools in Toronto.
It’s also important to note that the TDSB is one of the largest employers in Toronto – if not the largest single employer – as it employs over 10,500 full-time teachers and administrators along with 8,500 non-teaching staff members (such as custodians).
We also took into consideration the high schools under TDSB based on their EQAO test scores and evaluation.
Factors We Considered When Ranking High Schools in Toronto
We took into account the following factors when ranking high schools in Toronto:
- School size and teacher-student ratio.
- Percentage of students who were accepted to post-secondary institutions (e.g., universities, colleges).
- Average SAT/ACT scores and average TOEFL scores for international students (if applicable).
- Percentage of students who were accepted to top universities in Canada or abroad.
Related: Best Online High Schools in Canada
EQAO Test in Toronto
EQAO, the Education Quality and Accountability Office, is an agency that measures the performance of students across Ontario. Each year, EQAO puts out a report card for each school district in Ontario with information about student achievement in reading, writing, and mathematics based on standardized tests taken across the province.
This test helps educators understand how well their students are performing against other schools in their region as well as how much progress they’ve made since previous years’ tests took place.
EQAO also conducts classroom tests at certain schools across Ontario to monitor these educational institutions’ overall assessment quality and consistency when it comes to providing students with an excellent learning experience every day.
Schools participating in this initiative are evaluated by EQAO staff members who visit classrooms during regular class hours (with parental permission). They observe teachers as they go through lesson plans while also assessing how much time each student spends on individual activities within those lessons.
List of the Best High Schools in Toronto
Now that you’ve learned about how we selected our list of the top 1 percent high schools in Toronto, we cannot wait to share this revelation with you.
Without further ado, these are the best high schools in Toronto. The following list contains a combination of public and private schools, as well as international schools.
Queen’s Elite Academy
Type: University preparatory, co-educational international high school.
Population: N/A.
Estimated Class Size: Varies.
Tuition: $20,000 CAD – $41,600 CAD (Canadian Dollars).
Special Programs: Equestrian, Fencing, Golf, Pottery, and Painting.
ESL (English as a Second Language) Courses: Yes.
Queen’s Elite Academy is an independent international school in North York, Toronto. QEA as it is known, is one of the most popular high schools in Toronto, thanks to its reputation as being the foremost university prep school in Canada.
QEA offers education to kids between grades 9 – 12 and provides them with an academically-challenging education system. Students at QEA are known for their academic prowess as well as their craft, and sporting abilities.
Although it is not part of TDSB as of 2018, Queen’s still maintains its spot as one of the best high schools in Toronto, and possibly in the whole of Canada. Enrolling your children at QEA will open them up to a world that enables them to become problem-solvers and imaginative innovators.
Earl Haig Secondary School
Type: Public, co-educational high school.
Population: Over 2,000 students.
Estimated Class Size: Varies.
Tuition: No information found.
Special Programs: Arts, French, and Information Technology.
ESL Courses: Yes.
Earl Haig is such a good school that our decision to place it second on this list will leave just about anyone scratching their heads.
Earl Haig Secondary School is a public high school in the North York district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is operated by the Toronto District School Board. Earl Haig opened in 1929 with an initial enrollment of 759 students and 52 staff members. The school was named after Field Marshal Earl Haig (1861–1928), who served as Commander-in-Chief of British forces on the Western Front during World War I.
Earl Haig has a student body of over 2,000 students (2,048 in 2018 according to Wikipedia) and offers a wide range of academic programs including French immersion and Applied Education (specialized trade).
Earl Haig’s athletics program consists of hockey teams for JV boys and girls as well as Varsity girls; badminton teams for JV boys and girls; volleyball teams for JV boys and girls; basketball teams for JV boys and girls; soccer teams for JV boys and girls; football team, which competes in the TDSSAA Central Division along with other schools such as the Northern Secondary School.
St. Joseph’s College School
Type: Girls’ only, Catholic high school.
Population: Just over 800.
Estimated Class Size: Small.
Tuition: No information found.
Special Programs: Gifted education, Extended French, Rhythm and Movement, Advanced Placement programs, Music, Humanities, and sports-centered programs in basketball and badminton.
ESL Courses: Yes.
St. Joseph’s College School is a Catholic secondary school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is operated by the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB).
SJCS was founded in 1854 by Roman Catholics (Sisters of St. Joseph), who were members of St. Mary’s Parish at Jarvis Street and Queen Street East and became an independent school board until 1987 when it joined the TCDSB.
St. Joseph’s College School is over 170 years old, thus it is one of the oldest high schools in Toronto. The school has been undergoing renovations since 2014 that will allow more students to attend SJCS. It has been consistently ranked as one of the top 5 percent high schools in Toronto by Fraser Institute over the years.
The school also offers gifted education for students who are considered “gifted” or “talented” – i.e. students with disabilities. Additionally, the school prides itself in its sports and music programs for which it is widely known for.
St. Mary Catholic School
Type: Catholic high school.
Population: 595.
Estimated Class Size: Very small.
Tuition: No information found.
Special Programs: Athletics, STEM, and Fine Arts.
ESL Courses: Yes.
St. Mary Catholic School is a Catholic high school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is administered by the Toronto Catholic District School Board. The school’s motto is “Truth and Love”.
The school was founded in 1982 by the Faithful Companions of Jesus to address the increasing demand for Catholic secondary education in central Toronto and provide an alternative to nearby schools such as St. Clement’s Institute or Holy Cross High School.
This school is a faith-based school that takes its Catholic roots seriously. In addition to that, SMCS also offers your child one of the best curricula in the world as far as high school education is concerned in Toronto.
Add to that, the school also offers specialty programs in sports, mathematics, and engineering crafts – these co-curricular activities ensure that your kids become all-rounders developing in other aspects of their lives than just academics.
A. Y. Jackson Secondary School
Type: High school.
Population: 1,113 (2020).
Estimated Class Size: Varies.
Tuition: No information found.
Special Programs: English and French Immersion courses.
ESL Courses: Yes.
A. Y. Jackson Secondary School is a public high school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was founded in 1970 and has been ranked as one of the best high schools in Ontario. The school is named after Canadian painter A.Y. Jackson; the namesake came from his work at Queen’s Park when it was used as a military training base during World War I.
The building itself was built on top of an old landfill site and was cleaned up by students from both AYJSS and nearby East York Collegiate Institute (EYCI) who helped clear much of the garbage from the site before construction could begin on both schools’ campuses.
A.Y. Jackson offers French and English courses suitable for both learners of diverse backgrounds to understand. EQAO ranked them as one of the best-performing high schools in Toronto in 2018.
Agincourt Collegiate Institute
Type: Co-educational high school.
Population: Over 1,300.
Estimated Class Size: Varies.
Tuition: No information found.
Special Programs: French Immersion and Extended French.
ESL Courses: Yes.
Agincourt Collegiate Institute is a public secondary school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at the intersection of Midland Avenue and Millwood Road, in the former City of Scarborough. It opened in 1915 as Scarborough’s first secondary school.
In 2017, U.S. News and World Report ranked Agincourt Collegiate Institute 7th out of all Toronto high schools against other high schools in Ontario.
Royal St. George’s College
Type: Independent high school for boys.
Population: Approximately 520.
Estimated Class Size: Very small.
Tuition: $35,880 CAD.
Special Programs: Advanced Placement courses and AP Capstone.
ESL Courses: Yes.
Royal St. George’s College is a private high school located in Toronto. The school was founded in 1961 and has an average of 520 students, making it one of the largest secondary schools in the city.
It is the only pre-university school authorized to use the “Royal” title proclaimed by the Duchess of Kent on behalf of Queen Elizabeth II in 1989. The Royal St. George’s college is not part of the TDSB schools; it is one of the historic high schools in Toronto as it houses the Chapel of St. Alban-the-Martyr as its main chapel.
In terms of performance, RSGC is Canada’s leading high school in Toronto for boys. You can just ask around. The school contains a faculty of 115 with a student population of just over 500; which means that the estimated class size will be about 4.5:1 – an extremely small number.
EQAO also ranks it as one of the best high schools in Toronto.
The Linden School
Type: Girls’ only, independent high school.
Population: 102.
Estimated Class Size: 11:1.
Tuition: $27,700 CAD.
Special Programs:
ESL Courses: Yes.
The Linden School is a private high school for girls located in the central area of Toronto, Ontario. The school’s mission is to develop confident, socially responsible citizens who are self-aware and life-long learners.
It has been ranked as one of the top 40 high schools in Toronto by the Fraser Institute for academic achievement, student participation in extracurricular activities, and overall quality of education.
The Linden School offers students a range of programs including English classes like creative writing workshops as well as French immersion courses that can be taken up during either grade 9 or 10. Students who graduate from this program will receive both an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and an International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB).
In 2018, The Linden School was granted funding from the government organization Canadian Parents for French (CPF) so students could attend international conferences on bilingualism held at Mascouche High School in Quebec City and Saint-Lambert High School outside Montreal.
In addition to these trips abroad where participants learned about different aspects of bilingualism such as cultural diversity, and tolerance between language groups.
St. Michael Catholic School
Type: Independent, Catholic high school for boys.
Population: 900.
Estimated Class Size: Fairly small.
Tuition: $22,250 CAD.
Special Programs: Music, Athletics, Arts, Clubs & Activities, and Summer camping.
ESL Courses: Yes.
St. Michael Catholic School is a Catholic school in the Scarborough neighborhood of Toronto. The school was founded in 1852 and is currently one of the oldest surviving high schools in Toronto. It offers its students an education rooted in the traditions and values of the Roman Catholic faith.
St. Michael has an enrollment of about 900 students, who are taught by 83 faculty members. The school has a reputation for academic excellence as well as music, arts and athletics programs that have earned it many honors over the years.
St. Michael’s Choir School
Type: Semi-private Catholic music high school for boys.
Population: Just over 800.
Estimated Class Size: Small.
Tuition: $7,650 CAD
Special Programs: Entirely music.
ESL Courses: No.
St. Michael’s Choir School is a private, Roman Catholic elementary and secondary school in Toronto, Ontario. The school was founded by the Basilian Fathers and Brothers of St. Michael’s Cathedral.
True to its name, SMCS offers education in music and musical studies only. And it is the best musical high school in Toronto.
So, if you have observed that your child has a big heart for music, then this is where you should enroll them. In addition, SMCS is one of the cheapest high schools to attend in Toronto. Add to the financial assistance they offer to qualified candidates.
Al-Risala Academy
Type: Islamic high school.
Population: Unknown.
Estimated Class Size: N/A.
Tuition: Between $2,000 – $5,000 CAD.
Special Programs: Islamic and Montessori education value principles.
ESL Courses: Yes.
Al-Risala Academy is a private Islamic school in Toronto. It is a high school located in the Etobicoke area of Toronto.
The school prides itself in being one of the foremost Islamic schools and the cheapest high school in Toronto. It is run on a credit system. Parents from over the world invested in their kid’s dream are implored to donate to the school through their donation portal.
The school also practices the Montessori education pattern, where students are encouraged to learn concepts through hands-on learning and real-world approach, rather than just formal teaching.
If you have been searching for the best Islamic high schools in Toronto, here’s your chance.
People Also Read: Best Islamic High Schools in London
Avenue Road Arts School
Type: Arts specialty school.
Population: Unknown.
Estimated Class Size: Small.
Tuition: No information found.
Special Programs: Painting, Calligraphy.
ESL Courses: No.
Avenue Road Arts School is the only public school in Toronto to offer arts programs. It has an excellent reputation within the arts community and offers a wide range of programs, including visual arts, dance and drama.
It was founded in 1993 and is also an approved program provider by the Toronto District School Board.
AVRO Academy
Type: Alternative high school.
Population: Just over 800.
Estimated Class Size: Small.
Tuition: $17,175 CAD.
Special Programs: Therapeutic counseling, dynamic IEP, rapport-based teaching pattern.
ESL Courses: Yes.
AVRO Academy is a public high school located in Toronto, Ontario and is one of the best alternative high schools in Toronto. AVRO Academy is an International Baccalaureate World School and has a student population of approximately 1,300 students.
This school is an alternative high school for students who struggle academically in traditional high schools. AVRO provides an individualized teaching approach to its students; thus, helping unlock their abilities through self-discovery, counseling, and therapy.
The school’s unique teaching approach as an alternative school has helped it earn its reputation as one of the best high schools in Toronto. Some programs they offer grades 9 to 12 students are:
- Mathematics,
- Civic & Careers,
- Functions and Applications,
- Advanced Functions,
- Chemistry,
- Photography, etc.
Havergal College
Type: Independent private day and boarding school for girls only.
Population: 1,000.
Estimated Class Size: Small.
Tuition: $36,950 (Day students); $67,560 (Canadian boarding students; tuition and residence fees); $68,540 (International boarding students; tuition and residence fees). All in Canadian Dollars.
Special Programs: Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
ESL Courses: Yes.
Havergal College is a private school for girls in JK (Junior Kindergarten) to grade 12. It’s located in the Rosedale neighborhood of Toronto, and has been educating bright young women since 1894. The school has a reputation for academic excellence and high standards, with an emphasis on the development of each student as an individual.
The Havergal College mission statement reads: “We develop girls who think critically, communicate effectively, value diversity and inclusion and act responsibly; who will contribute their unique talents to a prosperous Canada.”
Hudson College
Type: Co-educational private high school.
Population: 410.
Estimated Class Size: Small.
Tuition: $18,240 CAD.
Special Programs: Arts and IB programs.
ESL Courses: Yes.
Hudson College is a private high school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Situated on the edge of High Park, Hudson College has been educating students from Jk to grade 12 for over 19 years.
Hudson College offers a range of courses taught by experienced faculty members who are knowledgeable about their subjects and dedicated to helping students reach their full potential.
The curriculum covers many subjects including: English; math; business; science; history; geography; religious studies; art (visual arts, drama); music (vocal music or instrumental music) as well as physical education classes like dance or yoga.
Students can choose between three different programs at Hudson College: Business & Technology Studies Program (BTSP), Fine Arts Program (FAP) and International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).
Bishop Strachan School
Type: Anglican day and boarding school for girls.
Population: 900.
Estimated Class Size: Small.
Tuition: $35,800 CAD (Day students); $69,145 CAD (International Boarders).
Special Programs: Media Art and Design Technology; Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
ESL Courses: Yes.
Bishop Strachan School is an Anglican day and boarding school for girls in grades 9-12. Founded in 1867, it is one of the oldest girls’ boarding schools in North America.
The school is named after John Strachan, the first Anglican bishop of Toronto. The school’s aim is to educate and empower girls to become competent world leaders. Their curriculum heavily features leadership education.
BSS is also known to be the alma mater of some prominent women figures who have dominated in entertainment, journalism, and politics. Some notable alumni from this school include Margaret Bannerman, Caroline Cameron, Margaret Wente, and Ann Southam, to mention a few.
Branksome Hall
Type: Independent day and boarding school for girls. Also IB World School.
Population: Just over 900.
Estimated Class Size: Small.
Tuition: $37,130 CAD.
Special Programs: Primary Years Program (PYP); Middle Years Program (MYP); and IB Diploma Program (DP).
ESL Courses: Yes.
Branksome Hall is an independent day and boarding school for girls in grades 9-12. Founded in 1903, it is one of the oldest schools in North America.
The current headmaster is Karen Jurjevic. It’s affiliated with the Anglican Church of Canada, one of the oldest private schools in Toronto.
William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute
Type: Semestered high school.
Population: 1,345.
Estimated Class Size: Small.
Tuition: No information found.
Special Programs: Gifted education, Advanced Placement (AP) program,and FIT Program for students to earn industry-standard certifications in programming and engineering, and in media and communication arts.
ESL Courses: Yes.
William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate Institute is a public secondary school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at 2290 Bayview Avenue, in the Rosedale Heights neighborhood of North York. The school was named after William Lyon Mackenzie (1795–1861), a journalist and political reformer who led the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837.
MAC, as it is fondly called, is a top-rated high school in Toronto.
Ursula Franklin Academy
Population: 500.
Tuition: No information found.
Special Programs: Math and Science, Social Justice, and IT.
ESL Courses: Yes.
Ursula Franklin Academy is a public high school in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at the former site of the Metropolitan Separate School Board’s Willowdale Secondary School.
The TDSB operates Ursula Franklin Academy as part of its continuing initiative to create an inclusive community of learning for all students regardless of their religious beliefs or gender identity.
Gaining admission into UFA (pronounced as ooo-fa) is a bit competitive as it uses a centralized admissions process where successful applicants are selected through a lottery.
In terms of its teaching style, UFA bases on the teaching methods of Dr. Ursula Franklin (whom it is named after).
Other Notable High Schools in Toronto
Some great options for high schools in Toronto include the following schools:
Popular FAQs About High Schools in Toronto
If you’re a parent of a child entering grade 9, you might be worried about where to send them to high school. We’ve compiled this list of top high schools in Toronto based on their reputation as well as their academic rankings.
Also do well to do more research on your own to find the schools that really fit your description in terms of affordability and other benefits.
Here are some popular questions parents ask about high schools in Toronto.
What is the best high school in Toronto?
From our research, it has to be Queen’s Elite Academy. Earl Haig Secondary School comes close, too.
What are the best high schools in Toronto?
Review our list in this article to learn more about high schools in Toronto to find out what school is best for your kid.
Also keep in mind that the first thing you have to decide on is whether your child will go to a public or private school, a French or English school, or a boarding or day school.
If you have a gifted child, there are high schools in Toronto that offer gifted education. Equally, alternative high schools in Toronto offer unique teaching approaches for children that are struggling academically.
People Also Read: Special Needs Schools in Canada
Final Thoughts
The best way to find a great school for your child is by visiting the schools in person and seeing what each one has to offer.
You’ll also want to look into the rating systems used by independent groups like Fraser Institute and EQAO (Educational Quality Assurance).
They provide valuable information about student performance and curriculum quality that can help guide your decision-making process when choosing between schools in Toronto’s public system or private school options.
Also Read: Best Art Schools in Toronto
Wrapping It Up
We hope that this guide will help you to find the right high school for your child.
If you have any questions or concerns about high schools in Toronto, please feel free to comment your thoughts below. We wish you good luck in your search.