Meet Cambridge International Academy's admission team at the Private School Expo: Toronto (Oct 26). RSVP NOW
School address
300 Water Street #1, Whitby, Ontario, L1N 9B6(MAP)
Busing available (View details)
School Busing:
CCIA offers bus transferring.
Service options offered are airport pick-up.
Our Perspective
How we see Cambridge International Academy
Our Kids Feature Review
The 50-page review of Cambridge International Academy is part of our series of in-depth accounts of Canada's leading private schools. It provides a unique and objective perspective on the school's academics, programs, culture, and community.
Arff is a firm believer in individualized education where students receive customized education plans. “I’ve always believed that a cookie-cutter approach to education fails too many students."
School's Perspective
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How Cambridge International Academy sees itself
The school administration answered our questions
Who are you, as a school?
"Cambridge International Academy is a ministry-inspected co-ed private school for grades 1 to 12 in Whitby. We enhance the Ontario curriculum with Reach Ahead credits and AP courses. Personalized planning helps students achieve their academic potential. Strong parent partnerships support transitions from elementary to high school. Our high school curriculum ensures students reach post-secondary goals. Our new Athletic Sports Program offers training and competition, helping students earn scholarships."
Customized Educational Pathways
Small Class Sizes
Individual Needs and Academic Learning
Homework club
Visual Art, Drama, Music, Gym Programs
Elementary and High School Coding Programs
Monthly School Trips
Weekly Report
Safe, Learning Environment
100% Post-secondary Institution Placement Rate
What do you do differently and uniquely well?
"Every student receives an Individual Student Plan so that their learning experience is personalized and customized to their individual needs, interests, talents, and skill level. The Student Plan is comprised of customized academic programs such as Blended Learning, Reach Ahead, & AP, volunteer initiatives, interesting co-curriculars, as well as academic and non-academic outside competitions. Lastly, we offer cross-curricular coding to increase the technology proficiency of students."
To your knowledge, why do families choose your school over others?
"Families join Cambridge International Academy because of our personalized approach to education. Our customized programs (Blended Learning, Reach Ahead, & AP classes) challenge our students so that they thrive academically, socially, and personally. Our small class sizes provide students individual attention to successfully complete the curriculum and ready them for the next higher grade level. Our parents appreciate the frequent updates about their child's academic progress."
What aspect of your school is underappreciated?
"The kitchen & dining area are sometimes overlooked by prospective parents. Initially, parents don’t realize the significant academic & social learning that takes place in these gathering areas. Students not only learn about healthy eating habits, kitchen safety, and food preparation but they also gain a deeper understanding, respect, and appreciation for diversity while they prepare and taste each other’s cultural traditional foods. Transferable skills acquired through cooking are beneficial."
What might families find surprising about your school?
"Families are surprised by the frequent communication and the variety of co-curriculars at school. Our teachers frequently communicate with parents to offer the 'next steps' to keep their children engaged and challenged in their learning. In addition, our teachers coach students to perform their best in a wide range of co-curricular activities. This year, students in our Math Club won University of Waterloo's 2022 Zone Champion Award for the Canadian Intermediate Mathematics & Computing Contest."
Top-down influence on the school’s direction and tone
Message from school leadership
Sandra Arff, Principal
It is with great pleasure that I welcome our twenty-first-century pupils to Cambridge International Academy located in Ajax, Ontario. We are a co-ed private school that customizes and enriches the Ontario Curriculum for students from grades 1 to 12. Our goal is to find each of our student's academic potential and personal interests so that they can thrive in their future endeavors.
Our professional and dedicated teachers ensure a respectful learning environment where students can reach their academic potential through our customized academic pathway and be inspired by each other. Our caring teachers understand the importance of encouraging students to apply their critical thinking and analysis skills in order to experience an ongoing and in-depth inquiry about their learning. They give high-achieving students more opportunities to be engaged and challenged with the curriculum. Our educators provide their students with opportunities to engage in different ways of learning, seek out information related to the interest of the students, and provide them with time and resources to explore these interests. With our enriched curriculum, we help students in their personal/character development, uncover their hidden talents, and inspire a love for learning. We promote our students to embrace collaboration, communication, innovation, and computer technologies to keep up with the ever-changing landscape of education.
We believe parents are vital partners in education and they have a positive impact on their child’s school experience. We invite our parents to get involved in various school initiatives and make them a part of our school community. We communicate frequently with parents to ensure their son/daughter remains on track in his/her academic success so that their child experiences individual success in education.
I invite you to visit Cambridge International Academy and experience a difference in education. This may be one of the best decisions you will make in your child’s life. Cambridge International Academy’s Information Package provides you with further details about our enriching way of education.
Best Regards,
Sandra Arff
THE OUR KIDS REPORT: Cambridge International Academy