Toronto, Canada provides an array of options for parents seeking to enroll their kids in a boarding school. But, that is also where the problem lies, sometimes, where there are so many options, it’s hard to make the right choice; no wonder Robert Browning said “Less is more.”
We’re here to provide you with the best boarding schools in Toronto and help you navigate toward the perfect education for your child.
Moreover, there is still a handful of affordable boarding schools in Canada, and if you are considering sending your kid abroad, there are low-cost boarding schools in England for int’ll students there are even free government boarding schools in the U.S.
Before we list these prestigious public and private boarding schools in Toronto, let’s first list some of the questions you need to ask when choosing your child’s school.
Questions to Ask When Choosing the Right Boarding School for Your Child
Question 1: What is the school’s academic philosophy and curriculum?
You need to know if the school’s values and goals align with you and your child. Also, you need to confirm if the school’s curriculum offers a wide range of subjects beyond the major requirements.
Question 2: What is the average class size?
It’s very important you know the student-to-teacher ratio of their classes because this will determine the relationship and care the teachers will have over the students and how effective your child’s learning will be. So the smaller the class size the better, the best part is that all the top boarding schools in Toronto we have listed have very small class sizes.
Question 3: What AP or IB courses are offered?
It is also important you know if the school offers enough Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses in your child’s areas of interest. Also, offering specialized programs such as STEM, arts, athletics, language immersion, etc, is an added advantage.
Question 4: What is the college/university acceptance rate?
It’s also significant you know the kind of college their graduates attend, and the percentage of graduates that are admitted.
Question 5: What kind of extracurricular activities are offered?
Extracurricular activities don’t just help boost your child’s academic performance and develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, but they also help your child gain admission to some of the top colleges. So the school needs to have strong athletic programs and arts programs.
Some other questions
- What are the rules and regulations regarding dorm life and student conduct?
- How does the school address issues like bullying and discrimination?
- What opportunities are there for student leadership and involvement?
- What security measures are in place on campus?
- What healthcare services are available to students?
- How does the school handle emergencies and illnesses?
These questions are not necessarily a checklist, but more of a guide on what to look out for. You are allowed to come up with any question you feel is important to help your child’s performance in school.
Now we have taken care of these questions, let’s list these schools.
Best Boarding Schools in Toronto
Choosing the best or right school for your kid is usually subjective because after all is said and done, it boils down to your kid’s individual needs and preferences. Our focus on this list is those boarding schools that have great reputations and are highly-regarded options in Toronto.
1. Branksome Hall
- Grades: Junior kindergarten to grade 12
- Location: 10 Elm Ave, Toronto, ON, Canada
| Day Students | Canadian and US Boarding Student Tuition ($CAD) |
| JK-Grade 10: $40,940 | Grades 7–10: $78,590 |
| Grades 11–12: $44,640 | Grades 11–12: $82,290 |
Branksome Hall is one of the best all-girls private boarding schools in Toronto, and the only International Baccalaureate (IB) World School for girls in Toronto. At Branksome, girls are taught the skills they need to thrive in our complex and changing world.
Even though Branksome Hall is more than 120 years old, it still uses state-of-the-art technology and facilities. They are currently building the Innovation Centre and Studio Theatre (iCAST) which will provide a space where arts and innovation are integrated, and ideas are realized.
In addition, to help reduce the fees of their students, they support students through a program of entrance merit scholarships and financial assistance (bursaries). Annually, approximately $1.4 million is awarded in financial assistance, and around 10% of Branksome students receive financial assistance in the form of a bursary or entrance merit scholarship.
2. Upper Canada College (UCC)
- Grades: Grades 9 to 12
- Location: 200 Lonsdale Rd, Toronto, ON M4V 1W6, Canada
| Day Students | Canadian Boarders | International Boarders |
| $39,800 | $74,800 | $78,200 |
Upper Canada College is among the best boarding schools in Toronto that emphasize experiential learning and character development alongside academics. As an IB Continuum World School, it means that your kid(s) will go beyond repetitive memorization and encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, etc.
With student to faculty ratio of 8:1, it helps them to provide a more personalized experience for your child and even helps to easily build student-teacher relationships. Also, 100% of their graduates receive university offers.
Besides the pursuit to provide the best educational experience, UCC is one of the boarding high schools in Toronto that provide financial assistance to almost 20% of its students, with $5 million available annually to Canadian students.
3. The Bishop Strachan School (BSS)
- Grades: Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12
- Location: 298 Lonsdale Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4V 1X2
| Day Students | Canadian Boarders | International Boarders |
| $39,800 | $74,800 | $78,200 |
This is another top all-girls school in Toronto that provides a strong academic program alongside a diverse range of extracurricular activities and leadership opportunities. As a Christian school, they also have a high emphasis on spiritual growth. Not to mention that Canada has lots of Christian boarding schools even for international students.
BSS is not just occupied with only academic activities, girls also have the chance for beyond-the-classroom activities like global learning, service learning, and outdoor education, where they will gain hands-on and real-world experiences.
Also, to help ease the burden of cost for families that need extra financial assistance, BSS provides merit-based scholarships and need-based bursaries annually. Each year, they allocate over $2 million in financial assistance, the most of any girls’ school in Canada.
4. Havergal College
- Grades: Grades JK to 12
- Locations: 1451 Avenue Rd Toronto, ON M5N 2H9
| Day Students | Canadian Boarders | International Boarders |
| $41,520 | $75,905 | $79,905 |
Just like other best boarding schools in Toronto that we’ve listed, Havergal College provides financial assistance to support your girl in the upper school, thanks to their alumni, parents, and friends for their generous donation.
Havergal is on a mission to prepare young women to make a difference and take on an ever-changing world with confidence, resilience, and global-mindedness. One of the ways they do this is by providing a rigorous curriculum designed around the pillars of academics and wellbeing.
5. Royal Crown School (RCS)
- Grades: 7 to 12
- Locations: 4620 Finch Ave E, Toronto, Ontario
RCS is a new school that has grown to become one of Toronto’s leading boarding high schools. It was founded in 2005, and has been growing its school on 3 core strengths;
- The first is their small class sizes where there are 10 to 15 students, allowing better and more personalized interaction between your kid and teachers.
- The second is their student build a relationship with other students from different cultures which will help build language acquisition and cultural fluency.
- Their third strength is their amazing co-curricular program where your kid will be engaged in after-school activities, clubs, or internships.
Even though new, their recently started elite development basketball program has been able to send several graduates to NCAA Division 1 schools in the United States, Canadian National teams, and even to the NBA. This is to tell you how innovative and excellent RCS is.
Key Takeaway
You and I know that there are lots of procedures that need to be followed when choosing the right school for your child, the best boarding schools in Toronto could be a good way to start. Even though we have listed some of Toronto’s prestigious institutions, remember, the “best” school has to match your child’s unique aspirations and individual learning style.
It will be helpful to take virtual tours, book in-person visits, and even speak with some of the students and alumni, to find the right school for your child.
Author’s Recommendations
- 7 Cheap Boarding Schools in England for International Students
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. - 6 Low-Cost Boarding Schools for Troubled Youth Australia
. - 10 Unique Christian Boarding Schools in Canada (Plus Location)
. - 10 Best Christian Schools in Ontario (Plus their Address)
