16 Best Catholic Schools in Toronto-Admission & Registration

The Toronto Catholic District School Board has 165 elementary schools (junior kindergarten to grade 8), 29 secondary schools (grades 9-12) and 2 combined (elementary and secondary) schools. Each of the schools offers a well-rounded, Christian curriculum.

In addition, some schools offer comprehensive programs for students with special talents.

The Programs offered by the Toronto Catholic District School Board are as varied as the students who attend these schools.

Catering to students with diverse learning needs, they provide a broad spectrum of academic courses, including programs focusing on the arts, technology and languages.

Special programs include those for the learning disabled, the deaf and hard of hearing and the visually impaired.

They also provide education in both official languages with a range of French Immersion and French as a Second Language programs, and we provide international languages at most schools. 

Toronto Catholic schools have a fine practice of student accomplishment and Christian development that is established in Faith and that has been upheld from one age to another by families, wards, and school networks.

Toronto worked to make an extraordinary school system based on Catholic Christian practice. That custom is a legacy and serves today as an establishment.

The List of Best Catholic Schools In Toronto

This list of the best catholic schools in Toronto is compiled according to The Toronto Catholic Schools District.

# St. Francis Of Assisi Catholic School

St. Francis Of Assisi Catholic school is one of the original six parochial schools in the Greater Toronto Area. 

The original school was at 250 Manning Avenue from 1895 until the turn of the new Millenium.  In 2000, the school moved to its current location at 80 Clinton Street. 

St. Francis of Assisi is now the home of a new congregated gifted program for students in grades 6-8. ​

In addition to regular class settings, the school services a wide range of student abilities, from a class for students with Learning Disabilities, to Mild Intellectual Disabilities.

They also offer Co-curricular activities. View Admissions and Registration details.

Contact  Information:

  • Address: St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School,80 Clinton, Street, Toronto, ON, M6G 2Y3
  • Phone: 416-393-5206
  • Fax: 416-393-5782
  • Visit The Website.

# St. Josaphat Catholic School

St. Josaphat Catholic School is the first of three Eastern-Rite schools to have been established in Toronto. (See also St. Demetrius and Josyf Cardinal Slipyj).

Through the strong beliefs of Bishop Isidore Borecky that a need existed within the community to educate its children on a sound spiritual base, plans got underway to raise funds for a private parochial school.

Much effort was devoted by the community to raising funds, and in 1961 the first six-classroom school was built. 

St. Josaphat Catholic School now serves students and parents from all over the Toronto area, who want the opportunity of an education that fosters academic and spiritual development within the Eastern-Rite tradition. They also offer  Co-curricular activities.

View Admissions and Registration details.

Contact Information:

  • Address: St. Josaphat Catholic School.110 Tenth Street, Toronto, ON, M8V 3G1.
  • Phone: 416-393-5291
  • Fax: 416-397-6296
  • Visit The Website.

# St. Paul Catholic School 

St. Paul Catholic School is synonymous with the concept of Catholic education.

In existence for 170 years, its mandate is to live Christ’s message through the activities of everyone involved in the community.

The school began in 1842 when two classes, separated by a screen, were opened in St. Paul’s Basilica. 

Its mission is to ensure that all of our students are valued equally and that their unique strengths and needs are recognized and met.

They meet the diverse needs of students in a myriad of ways:

Which includes social activities, training and programs, and also access to 

  • Special Education Programs

  • Enrichment/Gifted Programs

  • Technology

  • Instrumental Music Program (steel drum band)

  • Computer Literacy Programs-21st Century Learning 

  • Access to French As A Second Language–beginning in grade 1

  • English As A Second Language Instruction

  • Yearly Overnight Excursions For Grade 8 Class

  • Field Trips And Experiential Learning Opportunities From JK To Grade 8

  • Enriched And Varied Extra Curricular Activities

  • Competitive Sports Teams And Intramural Opportunities

And also, head start programs or preschool literacy programs for pre-junior kindergarten students started in January 1996.

This is a pioneer program and will utilize the services of a retired teacher and a family resource drop-in center.

View Admissions and Registration Details.

Contact Information:

  • Address: St. Paul Catholic School. 80 Sackville Street, Toronto, ON, M5A 3E5.
  • Phone: 416-393-5204
  • Fax: 416-397-6586
  • Visit The Website.

# Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School

Our Lady of The Assumption School fosters students’ excellence in academics, facilitates students’ faith development and makes every effort to provide a safe learning environment for all of its members. 

On September 4, 1956, Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School opened its doors to the children of its parish community.

Every attempt was made to locate the elementary school close to the church rather than in its present northerly location.

The school first opened with a staff of three teachers and an enrollment of 162 pupils. Lay people were first employed to teach the students, one of the three being a parishioner.

With a steadily growing number of students who have been enrolled, Our Lady of The Assumption School is a welcoming place that reflects values and beliefs.

They provide students with many extracurricular opportunities and exciting educational opportunities. Moreover, it is a school focused on improving student learning and achievement. 

The following are examples of Our Lady of The Assumption’s commitment to student success:

SIT; School Improvement Team  Divisional Teams, HAT; Health Action Team, Safe Schools Team, Parenting and Family Literacy Center.

They also offer Co-curricular activities. View Admissions and Registrations details.

Contact Information:

  • Address: Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School. 125 Glenmount Avenue, Toronto, ON, M6B 3C2.
  • Phone: 416-393-5265
  • Fax: 416-393-5754
  • Visit The Website.

# James Culnan Catholic School

James Culnan Catholic School offers excellent Christian modeling that helps nurture the spiritual lives of the members of the community.

They have a safe and welcoming school environment to foster the academic needs of students to excellence.

The school’s objectives are implemented through a safe arrival program as well as through revised discipline policies.

The staff is focused on improving student achievements, particularly in the area of literacy.

This is achieved by working within their divisions and attending meetings with other staff members to review strategies and assessments.

They also offer Co-curricular activities to students.

Contact Information:

  • Address: James Culnan Catholic School. 605 Willard Avenue, Toronto, ON, M6S 3S1.
  • Phone: 416-393-5325
  • Fax: 416-393-5065
  • Visit The Website.

# St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School

St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) Catholic school is a catholic school in Toronto Serving families in Roney since 1914. It is an engaged and supportive elementary school community, and a faith-filled, challenging, and exciting place to learn

They strive to provide an exceptional education within a nurturing learning environment for all students. One that fosters faith development, and a passion for learning, creativity, and independent thinking.

Activities in the classroom and beyond help students uncover their talents, develop the desire to use their gifts in service to the Common Good, and have the self-confidence to pursue their dreams. On this strong foundation,  SVDP prepares its students to embrace the future!

They also offer Extra-Curriculars, which is an important part of the curriculum offered through outdoor learning, field trips to outdoor education centers, provincial destinations, and city day trips. STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) is a school-wide focus – Waterloo math contests, STEAM Days, music festivals, ballroom dancing and drama presentations.

School teams and clubs include W5H, chess team, math and coding clubs, choir, and a wide range of athletics from cross-country and track-and-field to soccer, volleyball and basketball. 

View Registration details.

Contact Information:

  • Address: 116 Fermanagh Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M6R 1M3, Canada.
  • Phone: 416-393-5227 
  • Email: laura.dimanno@tcdsb.org
  • Visit The Website.

# Saint Cecilia Catholic Elementary School

St Cecilia Catholic Elementary School endeavors to promote a welcoming community based on trust and mutual respect, where all individuals feel that they are valued.

They develop spirituality through prayer, reflection and celebration whilst living out in faith. 

They encourage students to open their hearts to God, their minds to learning, and their service talents.

As a community of learners, they strive for excellence, unlocking the full potential of each individual, leading to their development into confident and independent learners who value and live their faith. 

The school is growing by leaps and bounds and pridpridesself itself as being a neighborhood school where parents have a choice between two dynamic programs:  English and French Immersion.  

The school’s Eco work focuses on taking care of the environment and has achieved Gold status for the past three years.

Staff and students work in four key areas to achieve this status: energy conservation, waste minimization, ecological literacy, and school ground greening.

Contact Information 

  • Address: St. Cecilia Catholic School. 355 Annette Street, Toronto,  ON, M6P 1R3.
  • Phone: 416-393-5218
  • Fax: 416-397-6045
  • Visit The Website.

# St. Joseph Catholic School

​St. Joseph Catholic School is a community-based school that works closely with the Church and Parent Community. Students come from all walks of life.

This is because St. Joseph offers programs in Learning Disabilities, Multiple Exceptionalities, and Language Instruction, many of the students in these programs are bused to the school from surrounding communities.  

They provide a safe and welcoming environment in the school community. Health and safety issues are presented by staff, the public health nurse, and the police.

A code of behavior has been developed with input from parents, staff and students.  

Curriculum objectives include peace education, computer literacy and technology literacy and numeracy. 

The provincial standards in mathematics and language further assist in the programming and assessment of students’ learning. 

Since not all students learn in the same way, modifications have been made to academic programs in areas of language, learning styles, and social considerations.

These needs are addressed in both the regular program and through special education, language impairment, learning disabilities and behavior classes. 

They also offer Co-curricular and extracurricular programs in this school. Some of these are house leagues, soccer, volleyball, cross-country, track, and field, softball, choir, drama and computers.

Peer tutoring, involving older students working with younger students, is an excellent vehicle for enhancing self-esteem.

View Admission and Registration details.

Contact Information:

  • Address: St. Joseph Catholic School. 176 Leslie Street, Toronto, ON, M4M 3C7.
  • Phone: 416-393-5209
  • Fax: 416-393-5871
  • Visit The Website.

# St. Luigi Catholic School

St. Luigi Catholic School is a community formed by Catholic beliefs and traditions. Its mission is to educate young people to their full potential by integrating Catholic beliefs, and academic, and technical instruction into the total learning experience. 

They strive to provide a safe and welcoming learning environment through the safe arrival program and the student code of behavior.

Programs are modified to provide for the diversity of language, social and learning needs.

These are addressed in the regular program as well as through special education and the  English as a second language program.

Co-curricular and extra-curricular activities include chess club, mini tennis, soccer, volleyball, basketball, cross-country, track and field, baseball, choir, instrumental music, talent show, W5H, and other joint parents/school activities.

 View Admission details. 

Contact Information:

  • Address: St. Luigi Catholic School. 2 Ruskin Avenue Toronto on, O N, M6P 3P8.
  • Phone: 416-393-5370
  • Fax: 416-393-5480
  • Visit The Website.

# Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School

The history of Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School lies deep in the history of Toronto.

The Institute, which has a long tradition in education, was founded early in the 17th century by an English woman, Mary Ward.

Students are encouraged to participate in the extensive co-curricular programs including music, drama productions, numerous clubs and a variety of athletic programs at the intramural and extramural levels. 

Opportunities to enter the business, English, mathematical and biology competitions and school science fairs are available to motivate students to reach greater heights. 

The entire program at Loretto Abbey is designed to challenge all students to learn and equip themselves with the knowledge, skills, and values needed to take an active role as Christian leaders in the modern Canadian society of the 21st century.​ They also offer Special Programs.

View Admission and Registration details.

Contact Information:

  • Address: Loretto Abbey Catholic Secondary School. 101 Mason Boulevard, Toronto, ON, M5M 3E2.
  • Phone: 416-393-5510
  • Fax: 416-397-6137
  • Visit The Website.

# Our Lady of Lourdes School

The learning community of Our Lady of Lourdes thoughtfully maintains a safe and caring environment wherein all students develop their learning potential.

Literacy and numeracy skills are a central focus of our faith development, the arts, social justice and athletics.

Together, all of these aid in developing the character attributes that are the hallmark of caring and creative citizens.

They meet the diverse needs of students through; Rich Math and Literacy, The Arts, Athletics, Clubs, Technology and even more.

Within the framework of an integrated curriculum, Our Lady of Lourdes School is committed to providing the necessary opportunities, support and resources to help students further their comprehension, vocabulary and problem-solving skills across the curriculum.

They also offer Co-curricular Activities. View Admission and Registration details.

Contact Information:  

  • Address: Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School. 444 Sherbourne Street, Toronto, ON, M4X 1K2.
  • Phone: 416-393-5221
  • Fax: 416-393-5806
  • Visit The Website.

# St. Margaret Catholic School

St. Margaret Catholic School is committed to providing all its students with an education rooted in Cathol faith and values, sensitive to social and emotional needs and focused on academic excellence. 

In attempting to meet this goal, they recognized that appropriate accommodation may be required for students to succeed.  

St. Margaret Catholic School offers a great curriculum and also a middle Extended French program, beginning in grade 5 and continuing to grade 8. 

As well as French-language arts, the following subjects are taught in French:  social studies/history/geography, physical education/health and visual arts.

View Admission details.

Contact Information:

  • Address: St. Margaret Catholic School. 85 Carmichael Avenue, Toronto, ON, M5M 2X1.
  • Phone: 416-393-5249
  • Fax: 416-393-5111
  • Visit The Website.

# St. Martin Catholic School

St. Martin Catholic School (St. Martin & Our Lady of Lourdes Campuses) offers an academic program tailored to the student’s learning profile, pathway and credit accumulation.

Goals are established upon admission and are based on the unique strengths and needs of each student. 

The academic program is tailored to the student’s learning profile, pathway and credit accumulation. 

The non-academic program allows students to build pro-social skills and access support to address personal circumstances.

Programs are staffed by a multidisciplinary team made up of classroom teachers, guidance and special education teachers, social workers, child and youth workers, a part-time psychologist, a principal and vice principals. View Admission and Registration details.

Visit The Website.

# St. Joseph’s College School

St. Joseph’s College School has reflected a long tradition of educating young women by focusing on their intellectual, physical, social and creative abilities in a loving, Catholic, faith-filled environment.  

The school is organized on a two-semester system and courses are offered at the Academic, Applied, Locally Developed, and Pre-Advanced Placement levels in grades 9 and 10, and at the University, College, Workplace, and Advanced Placement levels in grades 11 and 12.

Specialty programs include: 

-Extended French

-Rhythm and Movement, 

-A Well-rounded education

-The Athletic Program

-The Arts

-Student Services

-Resource Department

-Enriched/ Gifted Programs

-Library Information Center

-Spiritual Life — Chaplaincy Program

-A sport-focused program in basketball, and 

Advanced Placement preparation in Mathematics, Science, History and English.  

Enrichment opportunities as Co-curricular activities are accessible to all students and provide experiences that are stimulating and challenging.  In addition, they also offer a Fast Forward program in Healthcare for students who are College or workplace bound.  

View Admission and Registration details.

Contact Information:

  • Address: St. Joseph’s College School, 74 Wellesley Street West, Toronto, O N, M5S 1C4.
  • Phone: 416-393-5514
  • Fax: 416-397-6190
  • Visit The Website.

# St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School

St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School serves approximately 300 students from the Kindergarten/Early Learning Program to Grade 8.

Their academic programs are designed from the Ontario Curriculum and Ontario Catholic Graduate Expectations.

As well, a wide range of co-curricular activities and athletics are offered at various times of the school year.

Links to each grade level and subject area can be found on the Ministry of Education website.

The school’s building was constructed in 1967, but since then the school has received notable improvements to its Library and Kindergarten classrooms. 

They welcome families and children from all over the world to the school community.  View Admissions details.

Contact Information:

  • Address: St. Isaac Jogues Catholic School. 1330 York Mills Road, Don Mills, ON, M3A 1Z8.
  • Phone: 416-393-5315
  • Fax: 416-393-5223
  • Visit The Website.

# St. Mary Catholic Elementary School

St. Mary Catholic Elementary School focuses on learning goals, success criteria and descriptive feedback to promote student learning.

They emphasize and model appropriate behavior including self-respect and respect for others, through the use of positive reinforcement and maintaining an affirming attitude.

Classroom teachers work in partnership with specialist teachers to create the most optimal programming for students. 

Accommodations and modifications are made for students with an Individual Education Plan (IEP) to meet specific student needs.

Student academic success at St. Mary School is promoted in the following ways:

-They encourage students to take risks

-Promote student independence and responsibility

-The use of agenda books to promote student organization

-They build routine and structure

-Use cooperative learning strategies

-They incorporate hands-on learning

-Encourage peer tutoring

-Hold conferences with students and try to dialogue with parents regularly and also invite parents to be actively involved in school activities.  View Admission details.

Contact Information:

  • Address: St. Mary Catholic School. 20 Portugal Square Toronto, ON, M6J 3P2.
  • Phone: 416-393-5205
  • Fax: 416-393-5781
  • Visit The  Website.

FAQs

Are Catholic schools free in Toronto?

For example, in the province of Ontario, the government funds Catholic schools and is thus free, as opposed to the high tuition required by private schools.

Private schools have more variety of exciting options for students than ever before. Find out more here.

Are Catholic schools better in Ontario?

Public schools far outnumber Catholic ones, yet two-thirds of the top 29 schools, adjusted for demographic variations, are Catholic.

They may be in hot water over gay-straight alliances, but Ontario Catholic schools outshine public schools in straight-up achievement. Find out more here

What are the best school districts in Toronto?

In 2019-2020, the best Toronto District School Board (TDSB) public school neighborhoods in Toronto are as follows:

  • #1: Bathurst Manor

  • #2: High Park

  • #3: Bayview Village

  • #4: Don Valley

  • #5: Bloor West

  • #6: Rosedale

  • #7: Lawrence Park

  • #8: Hillcrest Village and more

Do Catholic school students do better?

According to the U.S. Department of Education, Catholic school students consistently score higher on advanced achievement tests, and by eighth grade, they outscore their public school counterparts in mathematics by a full 13 points. Find out more here.

Why are Catholic schools cheaper?

All non-government schools receive some government funding, though the main reason Catholic school fees are lower than other Private/Independent schools is that they’re financially supported by church communities and related business organizations. Find out more here.

What is the most prestigious private school in Toronto?

Upper Canada College is acknowledged as the most prestigious private school in Toronto. Find out more here

Conclusion:  

Catholic schools in Toronto give Tools and Strategies to protect significant remote learning while at the same time giving separate guidance and backing to all students.

A Catholic environment saturates the everyday existence of these schools. Formal religious education is instructed at each grade level.

Past this, courtesy, kindness and respect for each other are encouraged. Programs are also adjusted to meet the changing necessities of every student.

The fostering of a Catholic environment is extremely important. Formal and informal prayer is an integral part of school life in classrooms, meetings and celebrations. What are your thoughts about these catholic schools in Toronto? Please leave your suggestions below.

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