Indirect Support:
Brighton is the leading private school in Toronto intentionally designed for students with academic and/or social challenges. We offer both curriculum-based and remedial programs in our Elementary division, and flexible Secondary programs with credit, pre-credit and non-credit streams that can be customized and combined to meet students’ unique learning needs.
The Brighton program begins from the understanding that not all students are able to adapt themselves to the curriculum; rather, in order to reach their potentials, they require an academic environment that adapts itself to them. That can take many forms, and Brighton offers the full range, from small, student-centred groups, to a balanced daily schedule, to a staff with the tools and supports—and the time—to really work individually with each of the students. There are lots of challenges out there, and Brighton has a history of helping their students meet all of them, no matter what form they might take. The service programs, spirit days, and extracurricular programs all extend and enhance the strength of the core program.
Gallery showcasing school life and general photos of Brighton School.
Gallery showcasing specific locations and facilities found at Brighton School.
| Focus | Special needs |
|---|---|
| Academic | Special needs |
DIBELS Testing: This school does not use DIBELS testing to assess reading progress.
| Subject | offered |
|---|---|
| Biology | |
| Chemistry | |
| Ecology | |
| Geology | |
| Meteorology | |
| Physics | |
| Physiology | |
| Zoology |
| Subject | offered |
|---|---|
| Evolution as consensus theory | |
| Evolution as one of many equally viable theories | |
| Evolution is not taught |
| Subject | offered |
|---|---|
| Acting | |
| Dance | |
| Drama/Theatre | |
| Graphic Design | |
| Music | |
| Visual Arts |
| Subject | offered |
|---|---|
| Computer science | |
| Robotics | |
| Web design |
| Flexible pacing style | offered |
|---|---|
| Subject-streaming (tracking) | |
| Multi-age classrooms as standard | |
| Ability-grouping (in-class) as common | |
| Frequent use of cyber-learning (at-their-own-pace) | |
| Regular guided independent study opportunities | |
| Differentiated assessment |
Full-time programming is offered for all students which is exclusively focused on one or more special needs.
| Subject Type | offered |
|---|---|
| Learning strategy and study counselling; habit formation | |
| Extra support and minor accommodations for children experiencing subclinical difficulties |
| Subject Type | offered |
|---|---|
| Accommodations | |
| Modifications | |
| Extra support |
Read our guide to special needs schools and special education
| Program | offered |
|---|---|
| Full-time gifted program (parallel to rest of school) | |
| Part-time gifted program (pull-out; parallel to rest of class) |
Curriculum delivery: This information is not currently available.
| Program | offered |
|---|---|
| Custom subject enrichment (special arrangement) | |
| Custom curriculum compacting (special arrangement) | |
| Guided independent study (custom gifted arrangement) | |
| Cyber-learning opportunities (custom gifted arrangement) | |
| Formalized peer coaching opportunities (specifically for gifted learners to coach others) | |
| Custom subject acceleration (special arrangement) | |
| Career exploration (custom gifted arrangement) | |
| Project-based learning (custom gifted arrangement) | |
| Mentorships (custom gifted arrangement) |
| Lettered or numbered grades | Gr. 1 to Gr. 12 |
| Prose (narrative)-based feedback | Gr. 1 to Gr. 12 |
| Parent-teacher meetings | Gr. 1 to Gr. 12 |
| Sports Offered | Competitive | Recreational |
|---|---|---|
| Badminton | ||
| Baseball | ||
| Basketball | ||
| Football | ||
| Ice Hockey | ||
| Ice Skating | ||
| Lacrosse | ||
| Rowing | ||
| Rugby | ||
| Soccer | ||
| Softball | ||
| Swimming | ||
| Tennis | ||
| Track & Field | ||
| Volleyball |
| Clubs Offered |
|---|
| Photography |
| Yearbook |
| Art Club |
| Chess Club |
| Choir |
| Computer Club |
| Drama Club |
| Environmental Club |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
| Day | $23,950 | |||||||||||
This information is not currently available.
This information is not currently available.
| Grades | Gender | Living Arrangement | Enrollment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Gr. 1 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Day | 65 |
| Total enrollment | 65 |
| Average enrollment per grade | 5 |
| Average class size | 6 |
| Gender (grades) | Gr. 1 to Gr. 12 (Coed) |
| Boarding offered | No |
| Percentage of students are international students | |
| Number of different nationalities within student population | 0 |
| Five-day boarding programs offfered |
| Assessment | Required | Grades |
|---|---|---|
| Interview | 1 - 12 | |
| SSAT | ||
| SSAT (out of province) | ||
| Entrance Exam(s) | ||
| Entrance Essay | ||
| Application Fee |
Day students: Rolling
Parents interested in applying to Brighton School may wish to start the process by attending one of our Open Houses to tour the school, meet the teachers and hear an overview of our program. If that is not possible, parents may call to arrange a personal appointment with the Principal or the Director of Admissions. You may also request an application package be mailed to you, or you can download the appropriate Application package here: The application fee is $150, or $450 for International applications. Once we receive your Application Form with the requested information, including psycho-educational assessments (if available), report cards and other pertinent information, we will set up a student assessment. The assessment takes between one and two hours, depending on the age of the student and the information provided. If there seems to be a reasonable fit between the student and our program, a half-day class visit will be arranged for the student. Following this, the parents will be called to discuss the results of the assessment. We make every effort to expedite the process once the application is received. You may contact our Principal, Irene McRae, at 416-932-8273 ext 120.
Student Entry Points
| Student Type | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 0 (100%) | 0 (100%) | 0 (100%) | 0 (100%) | 0 (100%) | 0 (100%) | 0 (100%) | 0 (100%) | 0 (100%) | 0 (100%) | 0 (100%) | 0 (100%) |
| Services | Offered |
|---|---|
| Career planning | |
| Internships | |
| Mentorship Program | |
| University counseling |
| Key Numbers | |
|---|---|
| Average graduating class size | N/A |
| *Canadian "Big 6" placements | N/A |
| **Ivy+ placements | N/A |
*Number of students in the past year who attended one of McGill, U of T, UBC, Queen's University, University of Alberta, or Dalhousie University.
**Number of students in the past 5 years that that attended one of Harvard, Yale, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, University of Chicago, Oxford or Cambridge (UK)
Below, find stories and testimonials about Brighton School.
Our Brighton Launch Adult Program is designed for young adults 18+ with learning challenges, who are preparing to move from school to post-school activities, including employment or supported employment, further education, independent or supported living, and community participation.
Launch is a year-round program that provides a comprehensive, all-inclusive curriculum focusing on job preparation training, skills for independent living, facilitation of social skills and friendships, development of recreation & leisure pursuits and increasing functional abilities in all areas. We offer both Full-time and Part-time programs which run from September through the end of June, as well as Summer Camp Sessions in July and August.
Rather than a series of stand-alone courses, our ‘one-stop-shopping’ integrated program approach ensures that key goals are being addressed in a focused, consistent and synchronized manner across the curriculum, with experienced coach/facilitators who know the young adult very well. Brighton Launch is not a time-limited program. You can enroll for one year or several; you can remain connected to Launch in various ways throughout your life and career, returning for career assistance or job-training as needed, or participating in social groups.
The Launch program is located at 40 Wynford Drive, in suite 201. Our bright and cheerful space contains classrooms, a kitchen, a laundry room, a student business centre, a student lounge, and of course, a hub!
Brighton Launch is committed to providing an integrated and coordinated experience for young adults that leads to choices and opportunities, and a productive, satisfying adult life.
Please call and speak to our wonderful Program Manager, Raneta Krylov, M.A.D.S., BCBA, to arrange a visit to see Launch for yourself:
416-932-8273 ext. 220
Brighton’s innovative Secondary program is designed to address the needs of students who would have difficulties meeting the demands of a typical high school program and social environment. We offer Ontario Ministry of Education credit courses, as well as “alternative” pre-credit and non-credit courses. Students may enroll in all credit, all non-credit, or a mixture of both credit and non-credit courses.
Our programs are selected and designed for students who are identified with an Exceptionality (i.e., Aspergers, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Learning Disability, Language Impairment, or Mild Intellectual Disability). All students at Brighton have an Individual Education Plan (IEP), and all teachers are Ontario Certified Teachers (OCT) with additional Special Education qualifications.
THREE PROGRAMS IN BRIGHTON SECONDARY
1. CREDIT PROGRAM
2. PRE-CREDIT/REMEDIAL PROGRAM:
3. NON-CREDIT PROGRAM
FAQs
Do you follow the Ontario Curriculum?
Our elementary programs follow the Ontario Curriculum with some modifications to individualize instruction to address each student’s particular learning gaps. Our fully inspected and accredited Secondary programs follow the Ministry of Education standards and Ontario Secondary Curriculum requirements.
Do you offer before or after school childcare?
Yes, we offer Before School Care and After School Care daily. Before School Care runs Monday to Friday, from 8am – 8:30am,until our regular school supervision begins. After School Care runs from 3:45pm – 5:30pm each day. There is a $5 fee for Before School Care and a $10/hour fee for After School Care. Parents may use the program on a regular or occasional basis. Before and After Care fees are charged to students’ accounts and billed monthly.
Do you provide busing or help with carpools?
We’d be happy to provide you with a list of several busing companies that include Brighton School on their routes. We also have an online Car Pool To School registration system to assist parents in arranging ride sharing opportunities.
Do you have a lunch program?
Students bring their own packed lunches from home daily, and are welcome to use the microwave (with supervision) to heat up their lunch. Students can also purchase a hot lunch on Mondays and Fridays through The Lunch Lady school lunch program.
Do you have a newsletter?
Yes, our Brighton Update Newsletter is published monthly and distributed to parents and students.
Do you have a Parent Committee?
Yes, the Brighton Parent Committee (BPC) meets monthly to organize and support school events, and discuss school issues. All parents are welcome to attend the monthly meetings. There are many opportunities and parents are encouraged to become involved in the Brighton Parent community.
Do you take children with special needs?
Brighton supports meaningful integration of students with different abilities. Brighton will consider students who require a higher level of support such as 1:1 or 1:2 teaching assistance on a case by case basis.
Do you have a religious affiliation?
No. Brighton is a non-denominational, co-educational school. We celebrate the holidays of all the students who attend the school.
Do you offer Music, Art or French instruction?
We include visual arts and music in our curriculum. We do not currently offer French instruction.
Do students have access to computers and Assistive Technology?
Yes, all students have opportunities to use computers in the classroom. Assistive technology is available to all students as needed, and iPads are available in the classrooms for students and teachers to use.
Can my child receive occupational therapy services or speech and language services at your school?
Brighton works with a private company to provide Speech & Language and Occupational Therapy to students who wish to access these services at school. There is a separate fee charged for these services. Students who qualify may also access free in-school CCAC services.
Brighton is a private school which was founded in 2003 to serve students who learn best in small classes, or are one or more years behind academically, or have an LD (Learning Disability) diagnosis, or have difficulty with attention, anxiety, motivation, memory, language, reasoning, spatial or sequential ordering or graphomotor functions. Brighton is fully inspected and accredited with the Ontario Ministry of Education. Brighton is a member of OFIS and the Ontario Federation of Independent Schools and Spectra - Association of Special Education Schools of Ontario.Class Structure and Size - Students start each day in Homeroom classes of between 8 - 10 students. Our Primary homeroom is for grades 1, 2 & 3; our Junior homerooms are for grades 4, 5 & 6; our Intermediate homerooms are for grades 7 & 8. Our Secondary students have homeroom as part of their first class.Learning Groups - Teaching of our core subjects is done in small Learning Groups of between three and six students. Students are assessed and assigned to their groups according to their ability levels in each subject. This allows students with uneven learning profiles to have their needs met in all subject areas, whether they are above grade level, at grade level, or lower than grade level. Individualized Instruction - Students are assessed upon entry to Brighton and a personal learning plan is prepared for them, with goals and methods described. Each student is monitored throughout the day through ongoing faculty and staff discussions so that problems can be identified and adjustments made quickly. Differentiated Instruction - Learning goals are adjusted to the abilities of each student. The teacher will vary the content (what the students learn), the process (how they learn, or the activities they do) and the products (what the student is required to produce to demonstrate mastery of the concept). Differentiated instruction allows students of different abilities to participate in class study at different levels. Balanced Day Schedule - Our Balanced Day timetable is a change from the traditional hour-long lunch with two short recesses in the morning and afternoon. Instead, our day is divided into three 90 minute learning blocks, separated by two 45 minute breaks. The two extended nutritional and exercise/play breaks mean that children get a chance to eat their snack or lunch and still have substantial time left to play and burn off energy before coming back to focus on lessons in the classroom. The school day starts at 8:30 with general recreation outside or in the gym. This is designed to provide a transition time between home and classroom learning. It allows students to discharge some energy and provides an opportunity for social connection. The first instructional period starts at 9:00 and lasts for 90 minutes (3x30 minute periods) during which one, two or three subjects may be covered. The first break (recess) occurs at 10:30 for a 45 minute period in which the students are encouraged to have a snack and engage in some structured or non-structured recreation and exercise. At 11:15 the second work period begins until 12:45 when students break for a 45 minute lunch period. The last full work period of the day begins at 1:30 and ends at 3:00. From 3:00 until 3:30 the entire school participates in co-curricular activities. Please visit the curriculum section of our site to view a sample schedule, and the co-curricular section to view our co-curricular activities. Physical Education - Research has proven that physical activities enhance learning ability. Brighton School is fortunate to have a large, bright, well-equipped gymnasium and opportunities each day to use this facility. Our playground is equipped with basketball and soccer nets, and a climber for active play at recess and lunch. Students are encouraged to participate in both organized and free play basketball, soccer, hockey and other team and individual sports and games. DPA (Daily Physical Activity) is built into each recess and lunch, and twice a day, the PA announces a quick DPA break for all of our students. We have equipment such as stepper machines and BOSU balls situated in all our classrooms for students who need a to disperse some energy before working, or who need to take a quick break. Homework Policy - Teachers will first help the student learn how to work and study successfully before assignments are sent home. Progress Reports - The partnership of students, teachers and parents requires regular and frequent feedback about progress. Short reports can be provided each day in the student's daily agenda. The staff meets regularly to discuss each student, and is readily available by phone or email to parents at any time. While report cards are issued for each child, at Brighton we believe that a report card should be a summary and not a surprise to parents and students. Lunch - Nourishment is essential to learning. We encourage students to bring lunches that are healthful, include protein, and are low in sugar. Students have (supervised) use of a microwave for a hot meal. Students Requiring More Support - Brighton supports meaningful integration of students with different abilities in the classroom. Brighton will consider students who require a higher level of support such as 1:1 or 1:2 teaching assistance. Please contact the Principal & Executive Director for information and tuition fees.
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Welcome to Brighton
We have what you’ve been looking for. A warm, vibrant school community that understands elementary and secondary students with learning challenges. Learning Groups with only 3 – 6 students in each group. Caring, qualified, trained and experienced Special Ed teachers who individualize learning to meet each students’ needs. An evidence-based, best-practices curriculum that gets results. A focus on remediation, but also on ‘strengthening strengths’ so our students understand that while they have challenges, they also have gifts and abilities that make them shine.
Our ‘Balanced Day’ schedule with two well-spaced 45 minute breaks (instead of short 15 minute recesses) helps keep our students at a consistent energy and attention level throughout the day. After school clubs that allow students to experience a wide variety of different sports and arts activities, and are designed to build skills, friendships, teamwork and self-confidence. A social skills program. In-house tutoring. Speech and OT services. Dances. A large, bright gymnasium. A stage. A great playground. A parking lot. A before and after school care program. Great students and parents. Come and visit us to experience Brighton for yourself!
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Brighton's Transition to Adulthood for Adolescents and Young Adults
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