AN OUR KIDS REPORT:Academy of Thought and Industry Toronto vs. Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology

one-to-one comparison:

View Academy of Thought and Industry Toronto's full report
VS.
View Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology's full report

  • SCHOOL LOCATION

    Distance From

    Map

    Address

    Address

    1767 Queen Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4L 3Z2, Canada

    #200 - 1490 W Broadway, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6H 4E8, Canada

  • SCHOOL OVERVIEW

    Basics

    Basics

    Founded

    2022

    2022

    Enrolment

    12

    40

    Grades

    7 to 9

    8 to 12

    Gender

    Coed

    Coed

    Living arrangements

    Day

    Day

    Language of instruction

    English

    English

    Faith Based

    School focus

    Academic

    Science and technology

    Developmental Priorities

    Balanced
    Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.
    Intellectual
    The goal is to cultivate "academically strong, creative and critical thinkers, capable of exercising rationality, apprehending truth, and making aesthetic distinctions."
    Balanced
    Equal emphasis is placed on a balance of priorities: intellectual, emotional, social and physical cultivation.
    Intellectual
    The goal is to cultivate "academically strong, creative and critical thinkers, capable of exercising rationality, apprehending truth, and making aesthetic distinctions."

    Academics

    Academics

    Curriculum

    Montessori

    Progressive

    Curriculum pace

    Student-paced
    The main curriculum pace is non-standardized and is HIGHLY responsive to the pacing of individual students, (via differentiated instruction, differentiated assessment, etc). In theory, some students outpace the default/normalized curriculum, while others spend periods "behind schedule" if they need the extra time.
    Accelerated
    The main curriculum accelerates beyond the pace of the provincial one; ALL students do the work of OLDER public-school peers in tangible and measurable ways. This accelerated pace is maintained by the teachers and school, (through textbook selection, topic selection, grading, assignment standards and expectations, etc).

    Academic culture

    Rigorous
    A school with a “rigorous” academic culture places a high value on academic performance, and expects their students to do the same. This does not mean the school is uncaring, unsupportive, or non-responsive -- far from it. A school can have a rigorous academic culture and still provide excellent individual support. It does mean, however, the school places a particular emphasis on performance -- seeking the best students and challenging them to the fullest extent -- relative to a normal baseline. High expectations and standards – and a challenging yet rewarding curriculum – are the common themes here. Keep in mind this classification is more relevant for the older grades: few Kindergarten classrooms, for example, would be called “rigorous”.
    Rigorous
    A school with a “rigorous” academic culture places a high value on academic performance, and expects their students to do the same. This does not mean the school is uncaring, unsupportive, or non-responsive -- far from it. A school can have a rigorous academic culture and still provide excellent individual support. It does mean, however, the school places a particular emphasis on performance -- seeking the best students and challenging them to the fullest extent -- relative to a normal baseline. High expectations and standards – and a challenging yet rewarding curriculum – are the common themes here. Keep in mind this classification is more relevant for the older grades: few Kindergarten classrooms, for example, would be called “rigorous”.

    Avg. Class Size

    10 to 12

    15 to 20

    Special needs support

    Gifted learner support

    In-class adaptations

    In-class adaptations

    Preschool/K curriculum

    Tuition

    Tuition

    Day Tuition

    $18,000

    $1 to $23,400

    Boarding Tuition

    Financial aid (FA)

    Yes

    Yes

    Students on FA

    0%

    70%

    Eligible grades for FA

    7 to 8

    8 to 12

    Median FA package size

    $0

    $8,000

    Enrollment

    Enrollment

    Avg. enrollment per grade

    4

    8

    Percent in boarding

    0%

    0%

    Admissions

    Admissions

    Admissions rate

    0%

    0%

    Day entry years

    Boarding entry years

    Day admissions deadline

    Rolling

    Rolling

    Boarding admissions deadline

    Not available

    Not available

    Interview required?

    Yes: grades 7 - 8

    Yes: grades 8 - 12

    SSAT required

    No

    No

  • OUR PERSPECTIVE

    The Our Kids Review

    The Our Kids Review

    ACADEMY OF THOUGHT AND INDUSTRY TORONTO

    information not available

    Our Take

    Our Take

    ACADEMY OF THOUGHT AND INDUSTRY TORONTO

    Offering a highly individualized curriculum, Academy of Thought and Industry (ATI) Toronto students are supported in unique ways while still completing the rigorous, self-paced core academic curriculum they’ll need to thrive in higher education. With small class sizes and a tight-knit community, the school offers a hands-on learning style where students are supported in personal projects, custom internships, and electives suited to their interests. Every student is paired with a coach to support the process of social and emotional development so fundamental to adolescence. The school describes its curriculum as “designed for life,” offering a third choice beyond the rigours of more traditional private schools and some other less demanding schools. As part of a network of eight ATI schools across North America, students can access a wide range of extracurricular activities that run both locally and virtually. ATI strives to deeply understand each student, to help them thrive emotionally and socially, and to support their individual path to excellence. 

    View full report

    VANCOUVER INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology (VISST) is a tech-heavy high school where all teachers are PhDs and UBC professors. Learning is project-based and follows the B.C. curriculum at an accelerated rate in which both the sciences and humanities are taught at a challenging pace. Currently, the school is admitting Grade 8 and 9 students, with more grades, and computer science is taught from Grade 8. Fun is deeply woven into the programming, creating an environment where students are excited to learn. and learning new things is not the only metric for success—creating a learning environment where students are excited to learn is key. The school respects students’ capabilities and time, and it clearly communicates goals to each student and for each project. VISST has a flexible tuition model that accounts for each family’s financial situation and resources. 

     

    View full report
  • School’s perspective

    Who are you, as a school?

    Who are you, as a school?

    ACADEMY OF THOUGHT AND INDUSTRY TORONTO

    "ATI's curriculum is rooted in thought & industry, in thinking and doing. In addition to our core academic curriculum, students take the driver's seat by tackling personal projects, entrepreneurial ventures and electives suited to their interests. Every student at ATI is paired with a coach, to support the process of self-creation that is so fundamental to adolescence. We strive to deeply know each student, to help them thrive emotionally and socially, and to support their individual path to excellence."

    • Self-paced, rigorous academics
    • Individualized coaching
    • Supportive community
    • Connected to a network of 8 schools

    VANCOUVER INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    "Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology (VISST) is Vancouver's first & only dedicated STEM high school, offering the full BC curriculum with accelerated/enriched STEM taught via a mix of traditional methods and project based learning. VISST isn't just for the "math whiz" type -- you will find all sorts of students at our school, united by a shared curiosity and passion for learning. We believe science and technology fundamentals are important for any path our students might take after high school."

    • Classes start at 10:00am.
    • A progressive tuition model that accounts for each family’s circumstances.
    • Computer science starting from Grade 8.
    • An integrated curriculum where teachers forge connections between subjects.
    • Transparent and open communication between the school, students, and parents.
    • Students take responsibility for, and take care of, the facilities and each other.
    • Fun as an explicit goal of the school - learning new things is not the only metric for success.
    • Working outside the school bubble: our students will create value for the broader community.
    • A learning environment where all students want to be there and are excited to learn.
    • Transparent communication of goals: students won’t be left wondering, "Why am I learning this?"

    Array

    What do you do differently and uniquely well?

    ACADEMY OF THOUGHT AND INDUSTRY TORONTO

    "Too often, parents and students face a choice between traditional schools —lacking flexibility and individualization— or “progressive schools” that fall short in delivering deep knowledge and an intentional curriculum. At ATI, we combine deep study of core subjects with a focus on real-world exploration and application. This transforms the school experience from disengaged participation to thriving
    and passionate learners who have an ever-increasing capacity for independent exploration."

    VANCOUVER INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    "VISST is a reimagining of high school and differs from other schools in several ways. We ar a STEM school with enriched and accelerated STEM offerings, delivered by experts in our respective fields. VISST deeply values student buy-in and ownership. We include students in important decisions such as which teachers to hire. VISST staff are open and transparent with students, and avoid reinforcing power dynamics. Teachers and students are all just people, on a journey of self-improvement together."

    Array

    What tradeoffs has your school made to serve families in this way?

    ACADEMY OF THOUGHT AND INDUSTRY TORONTO

    Information not available

    Array

    What key junctures in your school's history have most shaped its present?

    ACADEMY OF THOUGHT AND INDUSTRY TORONTO

    Information not available

    Array

    What type of student is a good fit for your school?

    ACADEMY OF THOUGHT AND INDUSTRY TORONTO

    Information not available

    Array

    Under what conditions would you advise a family against choosing your school?

    ACADEMY OF THOUGHT AND INDUSTRY TORONTO

    Information not available

    Array

    To your knowledge, why do families choose your school over others?

    ACADEMY OF THOUGHT AND INDUSTRY TORONTO

    "Rather than an emphasis on memorization or standardized testing, all knowledge at ATI is deeply practical. Coursework is motivated by real-world problems and challenges—from Socratic discussions in literature courses, to field research in science, to entrepreneurship, internships, and more. It is this fusion of deep knowledge (thought) applied to real-world problems (industry) that captures our approach."

    VANCOUVER INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    "Families are drawn to VISST for different reasons: the STEM curriculum, the way students are treated and respected, the project-based learning, the like-minded peers. One of VISST's key competitive advantages is our teachers. In BC, it is not required that a teacher have a degree in a subject in order to teach it. In contrast, VISST teachers are highly trained experts who buy into VISST's philosophy and values. We give our teachers the time and resources to shine and do their life's best work."

    Array

    How would you characterize your school's image amongst the public?

    ACADEMY OF THOUGHT AND INDUSTRY TORONTO

    Information not available

    Array

    What aspect of your school is underappreciated?

    ACADEMY OF THOUGHT AND INDUSTRY TORONTO

    "Every student at ATI is paired with a coach, a supportive guide who serves as thought partner and mentor. The coach’s role, over the course of the school years, is to make herself obsolete: as the student gains the social, emotional, and cognitive skills to enable her to serve as her own coach going forward. This is not a tutor or a guidance counselor; the coach is a powerful and unique partner to help each student unlock his or her full potential."

    VANCOUVER INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    "VISST's culture is sometimes underrated. In a word, we are a STEM school -- this features in our school's name, even. But in sentence, we are a STEM school with an utterly different school culture. At VISST students are first class citizens. Students call teachers by their first names, share social spaces with teachers, interview teacher candidates during hiring, and participate in school governance. Students truly feel a part of VISST, and in doing so they build justified self-confidence."

    Array

    What might families find surprising about your school?

    ACADEMY OF THOUGHT AND INDUSTRY TORONTO

    "Every ATI school is a tight-knit community that is also connected to a network of other ATI locations. The network allows you to learn from industry experts, take part in unique electives, find mentors in your field and connect with peers across North America."

    VANCOUVER INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    "Some families think of VISST as a school for "math genius" types. While we do provide an excellent environment for students who excel in STEM subjects, VISST was created for a broader audience. We measure success by how much a student grows in 5 years, not by where they start or end up. All students at VISST enjoy STEM, are curious about it, and are capable of succeeding, but math doesn't have to be your strongest suit for you to attend and thrive at VISST. We also welcome "artsy" types!"

    Array

    What improvements or changes has your school made recently?

    ACADEMY OF THOUGHT AND INDUSTRY TORONTO

    Information not available

    Array

    How will your school change in the next 5 years?

    ACADEMY OF THOUGHT AND INDUSTRY TORONTO

    Information not available

  • SCHOOL LEADERSHIP

    Message from school leadership

    Message from school leadership

    Welcome to the Academy of Thought and Industry: we’re so glad you’re here! ATI is education not as it has been, but as it can be: something designed specifically for adolescents, something designed for life. Adolescence is a period of intense physical and emotional growth. You are transitioning from childhood to adulthood—from depending on your parents, family, and teachers to a space where you decide your own path. What an exciting journey, occasionally overwhelming, potentially fraught, inevitably profound. No matter where you spend these years, you emerge on the other side having changed dramatically. In many ways, traditional schools are at odds with the needs of this period of change: you’re forced to conform to a system that has at its core not your needs as a growing, changing, striving, individual— but the needs of the system itself. Progressive schools often allow you free rein to choose your own pursuits, skipping from project to project, but without that deep attention to knowledge that would fully unlock your mind’s potential. The alternatives are: rigid structure where knowledge is abstracted from application, or free structure where applications are abstracted from knowledge.

    The Academy of Thought and Industry is the third option. Here, we pursue the union of thought and industry, of the mind and the hand. Our students don’t just memorize— they understand, by integrating and applying at every step.

    At ATI, there is no conflict between the intellectual and the practical. Our students take film-making classes to actually make movies. They take economics courses because they are starting their own businesses—or more abstract economics because they want to understand the theories that make up the society in which they participate. One of our middle school classes in New York is running a thriving compost business; a high school student in Texas has a professional photography studio with international clients.

    You might be asking: Who are these incredible teenagers? 

    In some ways, our students are extraordinary. In other ways, they are the most natural and healthy people of all: they are unusual only in that they are actualizing the potential that is perfectly, universally ordinary. At ATI, you get to explore this period of transition into adulthood with graduated agency: each step you take here will open up greater choices, greater possibilities, and greater independence. But you will always have behind you the support and care of your coach, your guides, and your ATI community. Here, you can fully explore your own rapidly expanding self.

    We can’t wait to meet you.

    Welcome to the Vancouver Independent School for Science and Technology (VISST)! Before founding VISST, I was a computer science professor at UBC where I taught over 25 courses to thousands of students. At UBC I made two key observations. One, that university students are much more comfortable with well-defined short-term tasks than with ambiguity and long-term planning; this, I concluded, is likely a product of our current high school system. And two, I observed firsthand the insatiable demand for computer science at UBC and all universities around the world, which is well beyond our capacity to provide it. This is unfortunate, I felt, because kids are more than capable of learning computer science. Combining these observations with my teaching experience, I decided to create VISST along with a fantastic team. VISST is a non-profit high school in Vancouver that aims to address the struggles I observed in university students and the lack of computer science in high schools. 

    Our pedagogical approach is to combine project-based learning with rigorous fundamentals. The former builds teamwork skills, long-term planning, and comfort with ambiguity. The latter is an essential component to STEM excellence. An overarching theme of our educational philosophy is to have students interface with the real world as much as possible. Whether it is publishing an article, interpreting data from the news, or partnering with a community organization during a project, real-world experiences are motivating and educational. We would consider it a failure on our part if our students are left wondering, "Why am I learning this?"

    We look forward to having you explore VISST. Welcome to the VISST community.

  • EXTRACURRICULARS

    Competitive

    Comp.

    Recreational

    Rec.

    Competitive

    Comp.

    Recreational

    Rec.

    Badminton

    Baseball

    Basketball

    Canoeing/Kayaking

    Cricket

    Cross-country skiing

    Cycling

    Downhill skiing

    Equestrian

    Fencing

    Field Hockey

    Figure Skating

    Football

    Golf

    Gymnastics

    Ice Hockey

    Ice Skating

    Lacrosse

    Martial Arts

    Mountain biking

    Racquet Ball

    Rowing

    Rugby

    Running

    Sailing

    Skateboarding

    Snowboarding

    Soccer

    Softball

    Squash

    Swimming

    Tennis

    Track & Field

    Volleyball

    Weightlifting

    Wrestling

    Archery

    Curling

    Ultimate


    Clubs Offered

    Clubs offered

    ACADEMY OF THOUGHT AND INDUSTRY TORONTO

    Ballet and Classical Ballet
    Yoga
    Yearbook
    Student Council
    Scouting
    Science Club
    School newspaper
    Round Square
    Robotics club
    Radio club
    Poetry/Literature club
    Photography
    Paintball
    Outdoor Education
    Outdoor Club
    Online Magazine
    Musical theatre/Opera
    Math Club
    Jazz Ensemble
    Habitat for Humanity
    Foreign Language Club
    Environmental Club
    Drama Club
    Debate Club
    Dance Club
    Computer Club
    Community Service
    Choir
    Chess Club
    Band
    Audiovisual Club
    Astronomy Club
    Art Club
    Animation

    VANCOUVER INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    Ballet and Classical Ballet
    Yoga
    Yearbook
    Student Council
    Scouting
    Science Club
    School newspaper
    Round Square
    Robotics club
    Radio club
    Poetry/Literature club
    Photography
    Paintball
    Outdoor Education
    Outdoor Club
    Online Magazine
    Musical theatre/Opera
    Math Club
    Jazz Ensemble
    Habitat for Humanity
    Foreign Language Club
    Environmental Club
    Drama Club
    Debate Club
    Dance Club
    Computer Club
    Community Service
    Choir
    Chess Club
    Band
    Audiovisual Club
    Astronomy Club
    Art Club
    Animation

  • Financial Aid

    Grades eligible

    Grades eligible

    7 - 8

    8 - 12

    Students on aid

    Students on aid

    0%

    70%

    Avg. aid package (annual)

    Avg. aid package (annual)

    $0

    $8,000

  • ADMISSIONS

    Admissions

    Admissions rate

    0%

    0%

    Day entry years

    Boarding entry years

    Day admissions deadline

    Rolling

    Rolling

    Boarding admissions deadline

    Not available

    Not available

    Interview required?

    Yes: grades 7 - 8

    Yes: grades 8 - 12

    SSAT required

    No

    No

    SSAT(out of province) required

    No

    No

    Entrance exams required

    No

    No

    Entrance essay required

    No

    Yes: grades 8 - 12

    Application fee required

    No

    No

    Type of student school is looking for

    Type of student school is looking for

    ACADEMY OF THOUGHT AND INDUSTRY TORONTO

    The ideal ATI student is both intellectually curious and driven to apply their learning in the real world.

    VANCOUVER INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    We are looking for students who want to be challenged and who demonstrate the potential to meet those challenges. A strong applicant will also demonstrate that they understand what VISST is about and that they would really like to be a part of this unique school and community. As a STEM school, we are looking for students with an interest in STEM, but this does not have to be your only interest! On the contrary, we welcome students with a broad range of interests; a diverse student body will enrich the experience for everyone. You will find that VISST innovates, and employs amazing teachers, in all subject areas.

    What the school says

    What the school says

    ACADEMY OF THOUGHT AND INDUSTRY TORONTO

    ATI utilizes an online application. We admit students on a rolling basis. A tour and shadow day are required before submitting an application. 

    VANCOUVER INDEPENDENT SCHOOL FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

    See https://www.visst.ca/admissions for admissions information.

  • NOTABLE ALUMNI

    Alumni

    information not available
    information not available



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