Boarding schools in Province of Ontario

To obtain an Ontario High School Diploma (OSSD), you must meet the minimum requirements, work 40 hours as a volunteer, and pass the Ontario High School Literacy Test (OSSLT) or an equivalent exam.

In 2021, more than 2 million children were enrolled in Ontario. The school is divided into primary (kindergarten and grades 1-8) and secondary (grades 9-12). Unlike a number of other provinces, children can attend kindergarten from the age of 4, but education becomes compulsory from the age of 6.

After the 10th grade, schoolchildren are divided into a profile, of which there are two: exact sciences and humanities. The choice of such a profile is not final - this decision is made by schoolchildren in the 12th grade, when they are preparing to enter the university.

In 90% of independent schools, exact and natural sciences are taught according to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) model, an integral course that combines science, technology, engineering sciences, and mathematics. There are, however, schools with a strong humanitarian component.

Over the past 20 years, there has been a surge in the number of international students: in 2022/2023, the share of expat students in the total number of students in primary and secondary schools in Ontario reached 20%, but in 2024, a special law limited the number of international student visas, which slowed down the growth rate.

The province has four parallel public secondary education systems: English-language and Francophone, secular and Catholic, respectively. The legal framework for primary and secondary education is the Education Act 2011.

250 thousand schoolchildren study in private schools - 26% of the average number of schoolchildren (2022), of which 162 thousand study in Toronto. Non-public schools can be secular or religious (the dominant denomination is Catholicism; in addition, there are Baptist, Anglican, Evangelical, Muslim and Jewish educational institutions in the province). Border boarding schools with a certain training profile are popular, where the key role is given to one discipline - music, arts, sports, STEM subjects.  In addition, there are 4 Montessori schools and one Waldorf gymnasium in Toronto, and about 17 thousand children are homeschooled.

The work of non-governmental schools is regulated by the national Act on Independent Schools, according to which such schools are prohibited from promoting extremist ideas, inciting to change the state system through violence and rebellion. They comply with the said law and all the rules adopted to implement it, as well as meet the minimum standards of school premises.

The law defines 3 types of private schools, and each has its own special requirements in terms of the content of the programs, the established qualification requirements for teachers and compulsory subjects. Some non-governmental schools have an unconditional right to state funding, while others are required to comply with a number of conditions for this.

Canadian private international schools can be guided by both the universal provincial K-12 program and national American, British (both English and Scottish), French or Swiss secondary education programs, upon completion of which it is necessary to pass the appropriate exams - these can be:

• International Baccalaureate,
• A-level,
• Baccalaureat,
• Abitur,
• SAT General, ACT.

Some schools even offer two or more programs to choose from.

Traditionally, independent schools provide their pets with an excellent education that goes far beyond the curriculum. Schools offer a variety of extracurricular activities in traditional areas such as:

• drama, public speaking, debate, recitation and oratory,
• modern and classical instrumental music, vocals, dances,
• plastic arts – from painting and drawing to sculpture and construction using three-dimensional printing,
• Photo and film art.

Great importance is attached to sports (along with classical physical education lessons, many schools necessarily involve students in team games, and the process is organized in such a way that all children, regardless of the level of training and physical development, can find something to their liking), as well as social activities - charitable and educational projects.

The history of many such schools goes back decades, or even centuries. During this time, they managed to acquire traditions and customs, internal holidays and competitions - all together this creates a special atmosphere of camaraderie and friendship.

The conditions of education in Canadian boarding schools may vary: in some schools, children live in separate rooms with their own bathroom or even a bathroom, in others, amenities are located on the floor, and schoolchildren share dormitories with 8-10 peers. Meals are usually according to the "full board" scheme, in addition, the school often has reverse vending machines with snacks and drinks, somewhere there is a cafeteria or buffet. Quite often, residences have kitchens with the necessary utensils, which allows you to heat up semi-finished products or cook yourself a full dinner.

The range of prices is very noticeable. If we talk about schools that are among the top boarding schools in the province of Ontario, on average, a year of boarding school in Canada will cost 25,000-60,000 CAD. The price depends on the level of the school, its reputation, available electives, and the place where the school is located.

Additional charges:

• form
• most textbooks, workbooks and other necessary manuals,
• long excursions,
• elective classes and programs.

Upon admission, schools often take an application fee and a deposit: the first is usually non-refundable, the second is counted towards the payment for the last semester.

• Internationalism without a melting pot

In Canada in general and Ontario in particular, there are two official languages, English and French: these are the working languages of dozens of international organizations, diplomacy, and international trade. Along with English and French, Ontario has dozens of other ethnic and cultural communities that are harmoniously integrated into Canadian society. All this attracts tens of thousands of young and talented students to the country.

• Accessibility

The authorities of Ontario and the Canadian Federation purposefully support educational tourism, state support is enjoyed not only by government and municipal, but also by private and border schools - 10% of GDP, 17% of provincial and 9% of federal budget expenditures are spent on secondary education, which makes Canada a leader among developed countries in this parameter.

At the same time, the price tag for studying in a private school here is noticeably lower than in Switzerland, the EU or the USA, and many schools offer solid scholarships - both based on the criteria of need, and sports, scientific, musical, artistic, covering not only tuition, but also other related expenses.

The standard of living in Ontario is above the average in Canada, it is one of the best student cities in the world, while rent, food and cultural programs are more affordable here than in other major cities.  

• A wide range of programs

Boarding schools in the province of Ontario offer a variety of programs – depending on the chosen track of study, you can choose the best starting positions for admission to a British, American, Canadian university (IB offers a universal scenario).

• Loyal visa policy

To study at a Canadian school, you need to get a visa: you can do this online, and the rejection rate does not exceed 10-15%. In addition, Canadian laws are loyal to migrants, it is easier to move to this country for permanent residence than to any other OECD country, and graduates of Canadian schools receive solid advantages.

• Harsh climate

The range of summer and winter temperatures in Ontario can reach 50-60 ° C. Summers here are hot and short, and Russians may not be comfortable here (however, not those who are used to the continental climate in the Russian Federation).

• Bilingualism

In areas with a significant Francophone minority, not only English, but also French is used in official use; There are English-speaking, French, and mixed schools.

• High load

Studies show that the learning process in Canada is not easy: the academic year is 11% longer than in other OECD countries, and the time it takes to prepare homework is 19%.

The first schools in the province of Upper Canada were opened in the late 18th century, but the Gymnasium Act, which provided public funds for the opening of schools, was not passed until 1807. Fifteen years later, the General Board of Education was established in the province, at the same time it was given the right to determine the criteria for hiring teachers and establish Sunday schools.

In 1834, the Mohawk Institute's boarding school was opened near Brantforth, the oldest boarding school not only in Ontario, but in all of Canada. In 1843, a new provincial education law was introduced, according to which the post of superintendent of education appeared in Western Canada (since 1867 - Ontario), this post was taken by the outstanding educator Egerton Ryerson. On his initiative, the first free schools began to open, and the new law of 1847 on general schools opened the way for individual Catholic schools and allowed segregation.

In 1870, four-year school education became compulsory for boys and girls, and schools with at least four professional teachers received additional funding. In 1891, education was compulsory until the age of 14, and from 1921 until the age of 16, except in cases where children were forced to start working before the age of 16. It wasn't until 1970 that education became truly universal. In 1997, funding for education was transferred from the municipal to the provincial and federal levels, and as a result of this reform, non-state boarding schools received government support.