Frequently Asked Questions

1320 Yonge St Cafeteria at Lunch

Students sitting at white cafeteria tables at lunch with artwork hung on wall in background

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Admissions

Frequently Asked Questions

Application Process

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When can I apply?

The application for the next year of entry is available starting September 1 (so the application for 2025-26 entry will be available on September 1, 2024). The application deadline is December 1 for the following year of entry. Submit an inquiry using the ‘Learn More’ or ‘Begin Your Application’ button on the website and create an account in YorkNet, our family portal, so that we can keep you informed of admissions updates and deadlines.
Do you accept applications after the application deadline?

Yes, we accept late applications. Late applicants will be considered based on available space, which is often limited, and only after the common offer date. We encourage families to contact the admissions office directly to inquire about availability.
What are your entry years?

Our main entry years are Junior Kindergarten and Grades 1, 7, and 9. We often have limited space in most other grades.
Which grade should my child be applying for?

We determine grade placement based on the calendar year (from January 1 through December 31). Student placement starting in September 2025 will be:
Born in 2021 - JK
Born in 2020 - SK
Born in 2019 - Grade 1
Born in 2018 - Grade 2
Born in 2017 - Grade 3
Born in 2016 - Grade 4
Born in 2015 - Grade 5
Born in 2014 - Grade 6
Born in 2013 - Grade 7
Born in 2012 - Grade 8
Born in 2011 - Grade 9
Born in 2010 - Grade 10
Born in 2009 - Grade 11
How are applicants assessed?

We develop a profile for each applicant through an interview, assessment, teacher reference, and supporting documents like report cards. For the full list of application requirements, please refer to the Deadlines and Requirements page of our website.
Does The York School require Letters of Recommendation as part of the application process?

We do not require or encourage Letters of Recommendation.
Does the Teacher Assessment have to come from my child’s current teacher?

We prefer the Teacher Assessment Form to be submitted by a current teacher, to ensure the most up-to-date information.
Does The York School accept applications for Grade 12?

No, we do not accept applications for Grade 12.
What is the admission process for international students?

International applicants follow the same application process as domestic applicants. Application fees and tuition fees are the same for all candidates. Please click here for further information.
What is The York School's policy on English language proficiency?

At The York School, the language of instruction is English and we do not offer ELL support. We will accept applications to JK, SK, and Grade 1 from ELL students. Applicants to Grades 2 through 5 who have strong academic records and foundational skills in English will be considered. English language skills (reading and writing) will be assessed during the admission process. Candidates for Grades 6-11 who are not fluent in the English language must complete a language assessment and submit the results (we accept TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo).
What is a Psychoeducational Assessment (Psych-Ed)? What is an IEP/SLP?

During a psychoeducational assessment, a psychologist conducts clinical interviews, makes observations, and administers a variety of tests and rating scales to better understand how a child learns, processes information, and functions emotionally and behaviourally. The resulting report produced is referred to as a Psych-Ed Report. An Individual Learning Plan (IEP), which is known at The York School as a Student Learning Plan (SLP), is an individualized education map that lays out the program of special education instruction, supports, services and accommodations a student needs to make progress and thrive in school. We require disclosure of these documents in order to have a full picture of each student's individual learning profile.
Do you offer a Gifted program?

No. The IB program that we offer is inquiry-based, academically rigorous and challenging. Students can access many opportunities for extension, both inside and outside of the classroom, in our program.
Can you accommodate students with learning differences?

Our Student Support Team is here to support all of our students. There are Learning Strategists assigned to each grade level who work with our Faculty to ensure student success. We ask that when you apply, you provide us with a current Psychoeducational Assessment (Psych-Ed) Report and a current Individual Education Plan (IEP), so that we can understand your child’s needs and whether we are able to offer the necessary support to ensure individual success.
Do you accept new students part way through the school year?

Very rarely and only in exceptional circumstances, if space allows.
Are any applicants given special consideration?

We consider each application based on its own merits to ensure a fair and comprehensive admissions process. While we recognize that keeping siblings together or having the children of alumni join the school fosters a strong sense of community, we do not make any guarantees. Each applicant is assessed individually to maintain our commitment to providing the best fit for both the student and our school community. Our goal is to ensure that every child admitted will thrive and contribute positively to our school environment.
What school or program do you recommend as preparation for The York School?

We do not recommend any one school or program to prepare students for The York School. We admit a wide variety of students from different educational backgrounds who meet The York School's academic and social-emotional criteria. We are recruiting curious learners who are interested in challenging themselves and who will contribute to the school community.

Tuition and Financial Assistance

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What does tuition include?

Tuition fees cover the majority of costs involved for students to attend The York School. Fees for uniforms, textbooks, laptops, lunches and activities/trips are extra and vary by grade and degree of involvement. Please refer to the Tuition page on our website for a more detailed breakdown of fees.
Do you offer sibling discounts?

At this time, we do not offer sibling discounts.
Is Financial Aid available?

Financial Aid is available for qualified students in Grades 9-12, based on demonstrated financial need. To be considered for Financial Aid, families must submit an application to Apple Financial Services in addition to their application to The York School by the application deadline of December 1, 2024. Apple Financial Services is a third-party organization that provides an unbiased evaluation of an applicant’s financial resources and makes a recommendation as to what aid a family might require to attend The York School. Any Financial Aid awards will be communicated along with admission offers.
Does the school offer scholarships?

The York School offers a limited number of merit-based entrance scholarships to top candidates for Grades 9, 10 and 11. All candidates are considered and there is no separate application for scholarships. Scholarship awards will be communicated along with admission offers.

Community

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How diverse is The York School community?

The York School is committed to achieving an equitable and inclusive school climate. The York School community is proud to reflect a broad spectrum of backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives. We actively celebrate and embrace this diversity, understanding that it enriches the educational experience for all our students. Our community includes families from over 25 countries, and approximately 15% of our families are internationally mobile. Through our curriculum, extracurricular activities, and school events, we aim to promote an understanding and appreciation of diversity in all its forms.
How can parents get involved at the school?

One of the driving forces of The York School’s success is the highly talented group of volunteers who dedicate their expertise and time in support of the School. Our parents are very involved in The York School community. All parents are members of the York Parent Association (YPA) and can choose their desired level of involvement. Some volunteer roles run throughout the school year (e.g., Class Parent), others support ongoing events and activities (e.g., Treats for Teachers and Staff, Class Trips), and others support one-off events (e.g., Terry Fox Run, Pancake Breakfast, Halloween, Movie Nights, Grandpals’ Day). There are many opportunities to get involved and we welcome and encourage parents to be active members of our community!

Other Information

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Does the school provide daycare or have extended hours?

We offer Before Care and After Care to students from JK to Grade 5. There is Before Care supervision provided at the Junior School beginning at 7:45 a.m. After Care commences after classes end at 3:45 p.m. and continues until 5:30 p.m. The cost of Before Care is included in tuition. After Care fees are included in tuition for JK and SK, and students in Grades 1-5 pay $15/hour. We also offer a robust Co-Curricular Program where students can sign up for age-appropriate activities of interest related to art, music, drama, sports, leadership, science, etc.
Where do the school's graduates go? What percentage of students go on to university?

The IB Diploma prepares our students to be successful anywhere! Our graduates have been accepted to more than 145 national and international post-secondary institutions. York graduates are attending elite programs within each of the U15 Group of Canadian Research Universities. In the U.S., our students are attending Ivy League universities, the USN&WR twenty-five top-tier universities, Ivy-Plus schools and the Seven Sister Colleges. In the U.K., our students are attending some of the top research-intensive institutions within the Russell Group of Schools. Since York’s first graduating class in 1999, 100% of students have graduated and received offers to attend university.
How does the school measure individual achievement and progress?

Student progress is measured through a variety of formative and summative assessments reported regularly to parents. In addition to internally assessed oral, musical, visual, and written assignments, the IB Diploma Program culminates with exams marked by outside examiners, providing additional accountability.
When is French introduced? What other languages are offered at The York School?

All York School students take Core French from JK through Grade 9. We use the Accelerative Integrated Method (AIM) up to Grade 5 which incorporates gestures, music, dance, and theatre to help students learn because students learn and remember better when they do something that goes along with the words they are saying. In Middle School, students have the option of taking Mandarin as an elective starting in Grade 7. IB Diploma Language B options include French, Mandarin and Spanish.
What sorts of co-curriculars are offered at The York School?

We provide many opportunities for students to participate in clubs, leadership and competitive sports. Please visit the following links to learn more.
Junior School
Middle School
Senior School
What facilities does The York School have, or have access to?

As an urban school situated in the heart of midtown Toronto and steps from the subway, The York School is in a unique position to take advantage of the many facilities all around us - including the Rosedale Reservoir playing fields, the Beltline running path, and various camps, located north of the city.

Our campus facilities include:

Junior School: gymnasium, music room, art room, library, cafeteria, open concept gathering places, and an innovative playground

Middle/Senior School: double gymnasium, running track, outdoor turf, outdoor patio, rooftop garden, drama studio, film studio, recording studio, art rooms, music rooms, science labs, library, cafeteria, Leigh Family Centre for Wellbeing, athletic commons, and fitness centre.
Do students wear uniforms?

Yes, all students wear a uniform. At The York School, we believe that the uniform creates a sense of belonging to our community, a common purpose and signals pride in our school. Through a wellbeing lens, we strive to ensure that the uniform is gender inclusive, comfortable, developmentally appropriate and streamlined, while incorporating some choice. The Junior School and the Middle/Senior School have different uniforms. There is a separate summer and winter uniform for each, as well as an athletic uniform which is required for PE and participation in athletic programmes. York Spirit Wear has been such a success with our students that it has been incorporated into the uniform as well.
Do you provide lunch?

Yes. In the Junior School, a nutritious, balanced and tasty lunch is provided by Aramark prepared in a full-service kitchen and is included in tuition. In the Middle/Senior School, we have a cafeteria where students can purchase full meals and grab-and-go options provided by Aramark prepared in a full-service kitchen. We can accommodate a wide range of dietary needs. Students can also bring their own nut-free lunch and snacks. Grade 9-12 students can choose to leave the school for lunch and Middle School grades enjoy periodic “Lunch Out” privileges throughout the year.
Do you have a boarding program?

The York School is a day school. We do not have any boarding facilities or homestay arrangements and can only consider applications from students moving to Toronto with their families/guardians.
Do you provide a school bus or transportation service?

The school does not provide transportation services. Some families use private school transportation services. The York School is conveniently situated right on the Yonge subway line and many students take public transit (the TTC). Moreover, both campuses have drop-off and pick-up facilities for parents/guardians/caregivers who drive their children to school.
What technology is used in the classroom?

As the first 1:1 laptop school in Canada, we are dedicated to providing innovative technology for our students. Please visit the following links to learn more.
Junior School
Middle School
Senior School

About the York School

The York School is a gender-inclusive JK to Grade 12 independent school located in the heart of Toronto. The York School was founded in 1965 and is the first English speaking school in Canada accredited to offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) from junior kindergarten (JK) to university entrance. As an IB World School, The York School's motto is Experience Teaches.