I wanted to explore and post some schools that I think are good untapped resources. These schools are smaller, private, coeducational schools in the greater Toronto area. For some students, these not-so traditional schools have outstanding benefits and provide an excellent, comfortable and stimulating high school experience.
An asterisk (*) indicates a point I think is very unique and specialized.
http://www.diacademy.ca/
A unique, small high school, located north of Toronto, in Thornhill. Discovery Academy offers a high school program, but begins in grade 7.
Quick Info:
- Private, nondenominational, coeducational
- Class size of 8 or less
- Many teachers have PhD's and Masters Degrees
- Discovery Academy claims 100% of their graduates are accepted to the postsecondary school of their choice
- *Continue to stay in touch and give assistance to students once they're in college or university*
- Offer language courses in Hebrew, Russian and French
- Offer interesting courses in business, technology, english, mathematics and general studies
- *Offer online courses, which with enrollment include free tutoring and guidance*
- A great selection of extracurricular activities, including (and not limited to): graphic design and animation, leadership development, iPhone and iPod Touch app(lication) programming, website programming, visual art and literature, and advanced math
- Conveniently located slightly north of Steeles on Yonge Street
Discovery Academy seems to have some interesting and innovative educational approaches. The things that caught my attention most are the online courses they offer, which include free tutoring, as well as the assistance and contact they maintain with students after graduation. Since I graduated high school, I have learned that an understanding and confidence in ones ability to take online courses is a very beneficial skill. Our world is changing, and more courses and degree programs are offered on the web. Experience with this type of learning can adequately prepare you to take online courses in the future. I have also learned that the transition from high school to postsecondary education can be more difficult than one might expect. Although proper preparation can help one feel confident and succeed in college or university, having assistance from someone who knows you and your academic history can be a massive relief. Discovery Academy's offer to assist students after graduation is a fantastic service that I think would be beyond beneficial and hard to find at most high schools.
Don Valley Academy
A small, cozy and nurturing learning environment in North York, Don Valley Academy started as Math Masters Tutoring Services in 1994, and with their success, opened a full and part-time day school.
Quick Info:
- Maximum class size is 8 students
- Offers an in-house tutoring service - Math Masters
- Always have extra help available
- *Have a 2 period schedule - with one class in the morning and one in the afternoon*
- Structured in a 4 term schedule from September to June
- *Offer a visual arts course*
- *Offer a large, unique and fascinating selection of courses, some examples include; Individuals and Families in a Diverse Society, Introduction to Anthropology, Psychology and Sociology, Writers Craft, Philosophy: The Big Question, Media Studies, and Understanding Canadian Law*
- Conveniently located a few blocks from the Sheppard/Yonge Subway
- Offer evening courses for part-time students to pick up high school credit
Tuition: 8 courses (full load) - $13,200
Don Valley Academy is a comfortable and safe learning environment. The school is located in a nice office building in the Yonge and Sheppard area, situated close to the subway and 401. The school is an offspring of a successful tutoring company called Math Masters, which has been given wonderful endorsement from Toronto parents, students and educators alike. The tutoring company has been in business for 16 years, which increases my confidence in the success of their school.
In small private schools, it can be difficult to find a course selection that exceeds the basic requirements. The more courses a small school offers, the more costly it is for them to maintain the program, as they have to ensure they have a teacher for each period. It is nice to see that Don Valley Academy is offering courses such as visual arts, media studies, philosophy and high level geography classes. Taking courses outside of the basic educational requirements can be a great way for students to achieve in new ways and learn more about what they might want to study in university.
One of the other things that I like most about Don Valley Academy is their daily schedule. The way their program works is by offering 2 periods a day, one for the entire morning from 9am-12pm and one from 12:30pm-3:30pm. This gives students a chance to really engage in what they're learning. Having 3 hours a day to focus on one course allows the teacher to understand and know their students and their learning style, therefore setting students up to accomplish more and feel confident in their abilities. The other great thing about this style timetable, is it adequately prepares students for postsecondary education. For some students it can be a shock having a 3 hour college lecture, and having the opportunity to sit through long classes during high school, the potential to lose interest, find distractions and be inattentive during lectures can be eliminated.
Don Valley Academy is worth checking out! The head of the school has long standing success educating neighborhood students through his tutoring service, and has seemingly created a nurturing, challenging and fun environment for students to call their own.
City Academy
City Academy is an innovative and growing school, with locations at Yonge and Lawrence and in Yorkville. They have a history of preparing students to attend top universities around the world, and with their growing enrollment, they offer a wide range of interesting courses.
Quick Profile:
- Offer a flexible schedule, with the ability to take 2 or 3 periods a day - Period 1- 8:30am-11:00am, Period 2- 11:15am-1:45pm and Period 3- 2:00pm-4:30pm
- *The year is divided into four ten-week semesters*
- Have 2 convenient locations, one near Yonge and Bloor and one at Yonge and Lawrence - both in close proximity to the TTC
- Offer a very wide range of courses, including studio arts, dramatic arts, social studies and humanities
- Offer courses in French, Mandarin, Japanese and Spanish
- Small classes of 10 students
- Teachers are available for consultation and extra help before and after every class
- For an additional small fee, privately instructed courses are available
- Graduates have gone on to attend prestigious schools, such as University of Tel Aviv, London School of Economics, University of Toronto, McGill University, George Washington University and New York University, to name some
- Has a full time university placement counselor, who assists all students in making postsecondary plans, including researching schools to attend and overseeing, from start to finish, the application process
Tuition: 8 courses (full load) - $11,200
City Academy has been educating students in Toronto for many years. They are one of the first small private schools in Toronto to offer flexible course schedules and small teacher to student ratio. With their continuing success of preparing graduates for postsecondary education, they are a great institution for all types of high school students. Their classes are fun and stimulating, and their staff is approachable, and specialized to the courses they teach.
City Academy has recently opened a second location in Yorkville, which greatly increases convenience for downtown students, and allows more space and smaller class sizes in both locations. City Academy prides itself on preparing students for post graduation, by teaching advanced essay writing skills, time management, note-taking and academic research skills. In high school, it is very helpful to place an emphasis on skills that will be highly coveted and utilized in university. Teachers at City Academy focus on these qualities and aim to instill the importance of these skills in their students.
Another fascinating thing about City Academy is they cater to a diverse group of students. They are recommended by many larger private schools in Toronto, for students who are short on credits, or would like to take summer courses. They also promote their flexible schedule as a convenient opportunity for high school students who have time commitments for sports or vocational pursuits.
City Academy is a truly enriching learning environment that should be considered for high school students looking for a slightly more alternative approach to education.
YMCA Academy
YMCA Academy is small, alternative high school, housed within a newly renovated YMCA in downtown Toronto. The school that is specialized to deal with students who are not on a "traditional" track to attend university.
Quick Info:
- Maximum class size 15
- School day is from 9:30am-3:45pm
- Teachers are highly qualified and staff includes specialists in areas such as English, Science, Technology, Co-Operative Education and Remediation
- Full use of health, fitness, and recreational facilities at YMCA
- Offer optional participation in YMCA Student Youth Exchange Programs across Canada
- Offer financial assistance
- Located in a newly renovated YMCA facility, close to TTC
- Believe in using alternate forms of assessment and evaluation, encouraging fair testing and portfolio-based evaluation
Tuition: 8 courses (full load) - $14,100
The YMCA Academy advocates a hands-on approach to education, best suited for students who plan to attend college or vocational training after high school. The school is guided by the YMCA's values of Respect, Responsibility, Inclusiveness, Caring, Health and Honesty. The school strives to instill the importance of these principles in their students, and create a learning environment that is supportive, socially inclusive and diverse.
The YMCA Academy is different because they truly understand that not all students are meant to attend university. Students who attend the academy are mentored by a co-operative education specialist, who will assist them by providing career counseling, job shadowing opportunities, and co-op placements. For students who want to get a diploma or certificate in a certain specialization, being given the opportunity to have on-site experience in the field of their interest is a valuable opportunity that can help them decide what they'd like to do in the future. YMCA Academy encourages exploration in these areas so students make good decisions about postsecondary plans that will lead to successful careers and futures.
This school has a fantastic advantage that many small private schools don't have. Because the school is situated in the YMCA, students have the opportunity to use the health, fitness and recreational facilities at their leisure. Most small private schools in the city are located in office buildings, typically in close quarters, which doesn't allow students to participate in any physical activity. The ability to be active and blow off some steam at school is a great bonus, as it's very common these days that students live rather sedentary lifestyles. The YMCA Academy promotes healthy living, and having the facilities to use at your discretion is a great perk.
Overall, the YMCA Academy is a very unique school. They are overly equipped to handle students who haven't recently succeeded in their academic careers, and they use effective and proactive strategies to ensure students reach their academic goals. The school is definitely one to visit, especially if you are looking for an environment that will give students the extra motivation and attention they need to be successful.
Eligor School
Offering a K-12 education, this private high schools located in Thornhill offers a flexible schedule and encourages independence to achieve short and long-term goals.
More to come!
SOLA - http://www.solaprep.com/
College of Toronto - http://www.collegeoftoronto.ca
