Choosing Schools - Family Care Office

In Canada, education is a provincial responsibility. Learn more about the school system by reading the province’s guide to our school system for parents. Your schooling options for your children include public schools (English public, English Catholic, French public, French Catholic), private and independent schools (including religious schools), and home schooling.

The majority of children in the Greater Toronto Area attend English public schools. Explore our Family Care Resource Centre for information about school choice within the public boards and how to enrol your child in school, including enrolment instructions for non-Canadians.

Children may begin junior kindergarten in the year they turn four. Kindergarten (junior and senior) is optional, but most children attend. Grade one is mandatory. The school day is generally from approximately 9 am to 3 pm. For supervised care before and after school, explore before and after school programs.

Quick Links

In Ontario there are public schools and publicly funded Catholic schools. Click on the links below to visit each board’s website.

Conseil scolaire Viamonde (French Public District School Board, including the Toronto area)
Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir (French Catholic District School Board, including the Toronto area)
French Language Schools in Ontario (list of public, private and Catholic French schools across the province)

Independent Schools on the St. George Campus

The University of Toronto has two independent schools. Please note that both schools have specific admissions requirements and tuition costs.

The University of Toronto Schools is an independent school affiliated with the University of Toronto for students in grades 7 through 12.
The Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study Laboratory School (JICS Lab School) is an independent laboratory school affiliated with the University of Toronto for children in Nursery through Grade 6.

Independent Religious Schools

Many private schools in the Greater Toronto Area approach their curriculum from a religious perspective. You can link to the Government of Ontario’s Private Elementary and Secondary Schools page to find a directory. See Our Kids guide to religious-affiliated private schools.