Welcome to
Message from Struan Robertson, Head of School
The York School’s two urban campuses in midtown Toronto are buzzing with the enthusiasm and creativity of curious learners who are discovering new ways to challenge themselves. In our classrooms and throughout our school, students are being inspired to reach their fullest potential by educators who embrace a relationship-based approach and research-informed teaching strategies.
And those are just the learning experiences that are taking place within our walls. We believe the best way to nurture curious learners to become globally-minded leaders is to take them out into the world to explore innovative solutions to pressing problems. On any given day, the Senior Kindergarten students may be at a conservation area learning how to share our planet with trees and animals, the Grade 6s could be in a ravine launching water bottle rockets they’ve designed for peak performance, and the Senior School Music students might be in Havana learning about Cuban culture from local musicians.
We’re proud of our exceptional programming and we believe our students’ wellbeing is just as important as their academic success. Our faculty and staff are committed to creating a supportive, diverse and inclusive community where young people can thrive as their authentic selves. Small class sizes, a dedicated wellbeing and learning strategies team, supportive homeroom and advisor programs, and engaged parents and alumni make it possible for us to celebrate the unique strengths of every student.
At The York School, the curious go beyond. Are you ready for the challenge?
Who We Are
At the Forefront of Educational Excellence
The York School is a gender-inclusive, independent school located on the subway line in midtown Toronto. We offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12.
Since our founding in 1965, we’ve developed an innovative teaching culture that blends academic excellence and experiential learning with socialemotional learning and wellbeing. Our goal is to empower every student to thrive in a community where relationships are built on trust, empathy and mutual respect.
Our forward-thinking approach to technology enables us to be nimble about implementing digital tools that support teaching and learning. In the 1990s, we were the first one-to-one laptop school in Canada. Today, our students are programming robots, producing projects on 3D printers and learning how to use AI to support their learning experience.They're becoming responsible digital citizens while mastering future-ready skills.
Our Mission
To nurture curious learners to become globally minded leaders with integrity and purpose.
Our Values
Embrace curiosity. Challenge yourself. Contribute to an inclusive community.
Our Vision
To be a premier destination for top learners in the Greater Toronto Area.
Renowned for our:
Relationship based approach to teaching and learning
Culture of belonging
Unique urban campuses
Unparalleled preparation for university
What Sets The York School Apart?
Experiential Learning
We bring the International Baccalaureate program to life by developing complementary, experiential learning opportunities. Our guiding principle has always been that students can and should learn by doing. That principle comes to life every day as students from JK to Grade 12 learn through direct experiences both inside and beyond the walls of our school.
Integrated Canadian Experience (ICE)
All Grade 9 students participate in the Integrated Canadian Experience (ICE), a unique academic program developed by York School faculty that integrates Civics, History, Geography and Canadian Literature. During the year-long course, students explore what it means to be Canadian by having out-of-classroom experiences, learning from guest speakers, reading novels, conducting interviews and research, and applying their knowledge to assignments that include creating videoblogs, art projects and short documentaries. One of the ICE highlights is a winter camping adventure that fosters community among students and faculty, and helps learners build confidence by embracing new challenges.
Challenge Week
Each May, students in Grades 6 to 10 participate in Challenge Week, a unique York School experience featuring trips that are tied to units of inquiry from the IB framework. These experiential learning opportunities connect our students to the world outside our classroom walls and help build their skills and confidence. Depending on their grade, students may travel within Ontario, across Canada, or across North America.
Optional International Trips
Senior School students have opportunities to participate in international educational trips. Previous destinations have included India, Bhutan and countries throughout Europe.
“The hands-on experiences we had during ICE were transformative for me. Seeing the evidence at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre first-hand sparked my overall interest in climate change and biology, specifically in how human behaviour is impacting the environment and sea life.
-Julia Band Orange ‘22 Marine Program Undergraduate at Boston University
Innovation and Technology
In 2003, The York School created the department of Learning, Innovation and Technology and quickly became a leader in innovative and meaningful integration of technology across the curriculum.
We were excited to introduce Flint in 2024, an AI platform designed specifically for educational use by students from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
Our youngest students learn about robotics and coding by programming a robot that looks like a bumblebee. A few years later, they are using block coding to produce interactive digital stories and games. Students in Grade 6 create, test and launch rockets made from plastic water bottles. In Grade 7 Design, learners construct miniature cars with our 3D printers and race them in an exciting derby. Our IB Film students use York’s state-of-the-art equipment and digital tools to create realistic locations and assemble original film productions.
Our Dedication to Wellbeing and Belonging
“We've been impressed by the attentiveness of the teachers and support staff. They are able to identify learning styles early and tailor their approaches so that both our kids feel supported and thrive.
-Stacey & Sonya Weisberg Parents
Academic success is deeply connected to social and emotional wellbeing. We are committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive space where our students can acquire the social-emotional skills and strategies they need to achieve balance in today’s fast-paced and turbulent world.
Our Student Wellbeing team, which includes a registered nurse, social workers and learning strategists, is available to work with individual students and groups from JK to Grade 12, as well as parents and teachers. This team ensures that our learners’ unique psychosocial needs are addressed.
Our learning strategists support students who may benefit from additional intervention and/or extension beyond the classroom. They work as co-teachers during classes and also offer one-on-one and small group support outside of the classroom.
We work to ensure that every student at York can achieve their personal best. Individual attention, small class sizes and our focus on the whole child help us identify academic challenges and strengths, and provide the support students need to succeed.
Students in Grades 9 to 12 can access comprehensive programming in our Leigh Family Centre for Wellbeing.
We’re Proud to Be an IB World School
The International Baccalaureate (IB) is a world-leading educational framework that emphasizes inquiry and encourages students to become lifelong learners and global citizens. We’re proud to have been the first independent, English speaking school in Canada accredited to offer the IB from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12.
Our IB approach to learning is transdisciplinary, which means from English, to Arts, to Science and Technology, our students are studying similar themes and concepts that prepare them for success beyond The York School.
Our IB programs – the Primary Years Program (JK to Grade 5), Middle Years Program (Grades 6 to 10) and Diploma Program or Personalized Pathway Program (Grades 11 and 12) – are guided by the IB framework that nurtures the attributes of lifelong learners. The teaching framework sets the student in the centre of inquiry through a robust curriculum that is contextualized with global concepts.
These programs provide a continuum of education that is united by an approach to teaching that develops inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who are engaged citizens of the world. The programs’ curricula complement each other and as students transition from one program to the next, they bring a rich foundation of knowledge and skills with them. The IB gives students distinct advantages by building their critical thinking skills, and nurturing their curiosity and ability to solve complex problems.
Our graduates consistently score well above the IB World average.
Divisions and Grades Corresponding Academic Programs
Junior School
JK - Grade 5
Middle School Grade 6 - Grade 8
Grades 9 - 10
Senior School
Grade 9 - Grade 12
Grades 11 - 12
Learn more about what makes York’s IB Program so unique and outstanding by watching this video.
Exceptional Learning Experiences from JK through Grade 12
Junior School (JK to Grade 5)
The foundation of the Junior School is a commitment to guided inquiry; when students are empowered to ask questions and participate fully in the learning process, learning is engaging, relevant, challenging and significant. With a focus on the overall growth of the child, this curriculum is planned around academic needs along with social, physical, emotional and cultural development. This well-rounded education means that students enjoy learning and ensures they are well-prepared for the next stage of their academic journey.
The Junior School experience culminates in Grade 5 when students carry out an extended, in-depth, collaborative IB project known as the Primary Years Program Exhibition. Working in small groups, students choose a real life issue to learn about, devise a plan to take action, and present and share their learning with the community. Through the Exhibition, students demonstrate independence and responsibility for their own learning, explore multiple perspectives and synthesize and apply the various IB approaches to learning that they’ve honed throughout their time at the Junior School.
Middle School (Grades 6 to 8)
In Middle School, students continue their educational journey by further embracing an experiential learning model that allows them to stretch their thinking and explore new ideas. The curriculum is founded on three fundamental concepts: Holistic/Global Education, Communication Skills, and Intercultural Awareness. The curriculum gives students exciting opportunities to expand their understanding of real world problems and explore innovative solutions that address them. Mastering effective written and oral expression enables students to share meaningful insights and further develop their sense of self. Middle School courses promote an international perspective by awakening an interest in diverse cultures and beliefs. In keeping with The York School’s inclusive community, students are encouraged to celebrate their unique heritages and to be welcoming of others. Through curriculum-linked service initiatives, students collaborate with their peers to raise awareness of local and global issues. This meaningful engagement mobilizes youth to bring about positive change, and develops empathy for those with differing perspectives and backgrounds than their own.
There are nine core subjects in the academic program: English, Humanities, Science, Mathematics, French, Physical Education, Instrumental Music, Visual Arts and Technology. In Grades 7 and 8, students can also choose an elective course based on their interests and passions (Mandarin, Learning Strategies, Coding and Drama are among the choices).
Senior School (Grades 9 to 12)
At the Senior School, you’ll find a community of curious learners who embrace academic challenges, dig deep and emerge as confident citizens of the world. Our signature programs engage and inspire them, and foster leadership skills and global mindedness.
In Grades 9 and 10, students continue developing an understanding of their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet. They explore themes related to identities and relationships, orientations in time and space, scientific and technical innovation, and globalization and sustainability.
Every Grade 10 student completes the Personal Project, a research project that is the capstone of the IB Middle Years Program. The Personal Project emphasizes the development and demonstration of independent research skills. It provides excellent preparation for the more rigorous Extended Essay that students in Grades 11 and 12 undertake as part of the IB Diploma Program.
The Extended Essay is an independent, self-directed piece of research that culminates in a 4,000 word paper. This core component of the Diploma Program gives students an opportunity to delve deeply into a topic of interest and acquire some of the essential skills needed for researching and writing university papers. Throughout the project, each student has regular meetings with a supervisor who helps them structure their research questions and offers guidance during the writing phase.
Diploma Program (Grades 11 and 12)
The York School offers the two-year IB Diploma Program in Grades 11 and 12. Recognized globally as the gold standard in education, this highly prestigious program prepares our students for the challenges of university by fostering the oral, writing, research and analytical skills necessary for success. The IB Diploma Program is the ultimate passport. It prepares our students for the best post-secondary institutions in the world and gives them the confidence they need to succeed.
What sets the IB Diploma Program apart from a more conventional Grade 11 and 12 experience is that courses span both years and there are a number of key requirements, including:
The Extended Essay: an independent, self-directed piece of research that helps students develop the capacity to analyze, synthesize and evaluate knowledge.
Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Course: provides an opportunity for students to reflect on the nature of knowledge and on how we truly know what we claim to know. This curriculum unites students by linking academic subjects and fostering broad, deep thinking in preparation for university.
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): encourages students to become involved in artistic and athletic pursuits, as well as community service work. CAS promotes well-roundedness by enriching students’ understanding of themselves and their world. As students take action to make a difference in the lives of others, they develop empathy and a sense of gratitude for what they have.
Personalized Pathway Program (Grades 11 and 12)
The Personalized Pathway Program offers students a more flexible approach in their final two years. Students in this pathway graduate with their IB course transcript and Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), completing the same courses as their peers. Students in this pathway benefit from a globally recognized IB education, including the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course, but are provided with greater flexibility in choosing a composite of courses that better meets their needs. For example, this program may benefit a student who plans to major in Science in university and wants to take three senior Science courses, or a competitive athlete whose training or travel schedule requires greater flexibility.
“York gave me opportunities for deep conversations with all sorts of different people, and this built and fostered a selfawareness and confidence that I drew upon to lead weekly peer-to-peer groups, and eventually volunteer as the Director of Operations for the Wolverine Support Network.
-Jamie Perimutter ‘14 University of Michigan ‘18
Senior Data Specialist at Shopify
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26 countries represented
50 athletic teams
10:1 student:teacher ratio
146 day and overnight experiential learning trips
97% of parents of the IB Diploma Program say they chose York to enhance their child's academic abilities and prospects
98% acceptance rate at 1st choice universities
100+ co-curricular clubs and committees
25% of our teachers have worked overseas
91% of parents believe their child was academically prepared to enter the IB Diploma Program
94% of alumni believe the IB Diploma Program effectively prepares students for postsecondary education
