Our History

The York School has been offering exceptional learning experiences since 1965. That’s the year our founder, Barbara Christie, started a modest Montessori program in a small rented space in midtown Toronto. Over the years, under the visionary guidance of Barbara and subsequent senior leaders, our school has grown, innovated and transformed to stay at the forefront of education excellence. We were proud to become the first school in Canada – and the fourth in North America – to be accredited to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma Programs. 
Today more than 750 students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 embrace curiosity, challenge and community at our two, state-of-the-art, urban campuses. The world has changed significantly over the years – and so has our school – but we’ve stayed true to our founder’s commitment to nurturing learners to become globally minded leaders with integrity and purpose.

Explore the timeline below to learn about some of the significant milestones that have shaped The York School’s evolution.
"The York School began as a modest Montessori program operating out of a church basement—born of entrepreneurial grit and vision. What followed was a remarkable journey of transformation. From those humble origins, York has grown into a vibrant, dual-campus institution, home to 750 students and 165 educators, deeply rooted in the values of the International Baccalaureate and fueled by a relentless commitment to excellence, innovation and community. We look forward to our next 60 years.”

- Struan Robertson, Head of School