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Metro Prep Academy is a semestered, coeducational, university preparatory day school located in the DVP and Eglinton area of Toronto. Since 1982, Metro Prep has been preparing middle school (grades 7 & 8) and high school (grades 9 to 12) students to realize their highest potential. The school provides a structured environment that is geared for success at the university level. We imitate no one. We are totally original in thought and actions. Metro Prep is committed to nurturing the intellectual, physical, social and creative potential of students through a supportive yet challenging academic environment. The school places emphasis on the individual, where strengths are refined and weaknesses are overcome through academic and social supports. Metro Prep fosters a safe environment where students feel confident expressing their individuality, thinking critically and receiving the assistance needed to excel. Over 99 percent of graduates gain admittance to top-level Canadian and international universities. If the potential of your child is not fully supported by his or her current school, make an appointment to talk with us. A strong foundation can make all the difference.
Metro Prep, in once sense at least, is very much what you might think a preparatory academy is for: the program is intended to prepare students for post-secondary education, particularly university. From there, however, all bets are off, and the school adopts none of the cliches or the stances that are hallmarks of the traditional, stereotypical prep school. The students don't wear uniforms, for one, the intention being to encourage individuality rather than conformity. Likewise, while the school intends student success, it's not defined in test scores, but by a creative engagement with the curricular content, and the world. Confidence over bravado; critical thinking over rote learning – in so many ways, this isn't your grandfathers' prep school. The ideal student is one who can thrive in a very active, engaging student environment, and intending to continue their studies at university.
Gallery showcasing school life and general photos of Metropolitan Preparatory Academy.
Gallery showcasing specific locations and facilities found at Metropolitan Preparatory Academy.
Home Court for Girls and Boys Volleyball & Basketball (Victoria Village)
Home Ice @ Victoria Village Arena
Metro Production of "Of Mice and Men" in our Blackbox Theatre
D.I.Y. Club in the Art Room
Jamming in the Music Room
Humanities Classroom
English Class
Young Scientists in the Lab
Studying in the Cafeteria
Promotional video for Metropolitan Preparatory Academy.
If you are searching for an ideal school for your child, join us at one of our Open Houses.
Take a tour of our facilities (classrooms, science labs, computer labs, art studio, theatre, cafeteria, library, gymnasium and complete fitness studio), meet the Principal (Wayne McKelvey) along with students and faculty. The event is a great way to learn more about our academic/university prep curriculum and experience the supportive environment first hand.
Walking into Metro Prep, you’ll quickly notice that it is not your "old-fashioned" private institution. The academics are structured and challenging, yet the environment is supportive and nurturing. Faculty and administration doors are open, encouraging strong relationships with students and their families. No uniforms are in sight, allowing young men and women to express their individuality. In this comfortable setting, Metro Prep’s students are taught to trust their instincts, to think both critically and creatively, ask questions, and seek the assistance they need to succeed. Extensive athletic and extracurricular opportunities foster the physical and social potential of each child.
Since 1982, Metro Prep has been preparing students for the academics of University with the skills needed for lifelong success.
| Focus |
|---|
| Academic |
| 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 |
| Expressive | |
| Disciplined |
| 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 |
Metro Prep offers no/limited support for students with learning difficulties or special needs.
| Subject Ttype | offered |
|---|---|
| Learning strategy and study counselling; habit formation | |
| Extra support and minor accommodations for children experiencing subclinical difficulties |
| Subject Ttype | 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) |
In grade Gr. 12, Metro Prep students perform an average of >2 hours of homework per night.
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Prep | 60 mins | 60 mins | 90 mins | 120 mins | 120 mins | 160 mins |
| Site Average | 52 mins | 56 mins | 69 mins | 80 mins | 96 mins | 109 mins |
| Lettered or numbered grades | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 |
| Prose (narrative)-based feedback | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 |
| Parent-teacher meetings | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 |
| Sports Offered | Competitive | Recreational |
|---|---|---|
| Badminton | ||
| Baseball | ||
| Basketball | ||
| Downhill skiing | ||
| Football | ||
| Golf | ||
| Ice Hockey | ||
| Ice Skating | ||
| Lacrosse | ||
| Mountain biking | ||
| Rowing | ||
| Rugby | ||
| Running | ||
| Snowboarding | ||
| Soccer | ||
| Softball | ||
| Swimming | ||
| Tennis | ||
| Track & Field | ||
| Volleyball | ||
| Weightlifting | ||
| Wrestling |
| Clubs Offered |
|---|
| Habitat for Humanity |
| Math Club |
| Outdoor Education |
| Photography |
| Robotics club |
| School newspaper |
| Student Council |
| Yearbook |
| Art Club |
| Band |
| Chess Club |
| Community Service |
| Computer Club |
| Debate Club |
| Drama Club |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
| Day (Domestic) | $20,730 | |||||
| Day (International) | $25,100 | |||||
Discounts
| Discount Type | Enrollment Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd child (sibling) | all students | 10% |
This information is not currently available.
This information is not currently available.
| Grades | Gender | Living Arrangement | Enrollment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Day | 250 |
| Total enrollment | 250 |
| Average enrollment per grade | 42 |
| Average class size | 12 to 18 |
| Gender (grades) | Gr. 7 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 | 7 - 12 | |
| SSAT | ||
| SSAT (out of province) | ||
| Entrance Exam(s) | N/A | |
| Entrance Essay | ||
| Application Fee |
Day students: Rolling
Transcripts/ Report Cards
Reference Letters
Student Entry Points
| Student Type | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Services | Offered |
|---|---|
| Career planning | |
| Internships | |
| Mentorship Program | |
| University counseling |
| Key Numbers | |
|---|---|
| Average graduating class size | 60 |
| *Canadian "Big 6" placements | 25 |
| **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)
| Alumnus | Grad Year | Accomplishment |
|---|---|---|
| John Brunswick | 2003 | A leading shoe designer for Gina Shoes (London, England), John has many credentials from London College of Fashion and completed a Master in Arts for Fashion Footwear from Cordwainers College. |
| Kate Ruby-Sachs | 2003 | Kate is Senior Addictions Counsellor at GreenStone Toronto. She graduated from McGill University and then completed her Master in Science in Social Work at Columbia University |
| Eden Grinshpan | 2004 | Eden, a famous foodie and current host on the Cooking Channel, graduated from Le Cordon Bleu London with a grand diplome in both pastry and cuisine. |
| Roxy Kirshenbaum | 2005 | Accomplished writer and photojournalist, Roxy currently works as an editor in NYC. After graduating from McGill, Roxy continued to complete a Master of Science in Journalism at Columbia University. |
| Brain Vadasz | 2008 | With a Masters in Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, Brian works to better understand heart attacks, strokes and blood disorders and contributes to the development of therapies, clinical management and prevention. |
Below, find stories and testimonials about Metropolitan Preparatory Academy.
They lied, they cheated, they manipulated…in short, they played politics. With each challenge the best teams emerge victorious, whether they were physical or mental tests. And with each victory they began to realize that without the manipulation and back room deals it did not matter. We saw Corey outwit himself, we stood by and watched Andrew master the eating challenge and we were blown away by Ben and Carlisle’s victories. However, nothing compared to Sujin and her impressive strength of fortitude in the final Survivor challenge – her rendition of “Call Me Maybe” is one for the ages. In the end those back room deals, countless manipulations and impressive loyalties were overshadowed by one simple lesson – “Money is always the trump card in politics”. With that in mind, we crowned our first Survivor – Ali. Can’t wait until next year!
...
Fifty Metro Prep students across all grade levels attended an educational program presented by Playdium called, “Choices Into Action: Guidance and Career Education Program”. The program included a video that contained interviews with Canadian Industry leaders who discussed the various positions and educational requirements for career opportunities within the video game industry. After attending the educational seminar students were then able to explore the video games for the remainder of the day. The games included a newly released Nintendo arcade version of Mario Kart, which was a fan-favourite amongst the students. The highlight for most of the students who attended was being able to interact with not only the games but also their classmates and teachers. This was an excellent culmination activity to end off the year and everyone had fun.
While other hills in Ontario became icy and busy, Calabogie had soft snow for us and nearly the whole mountain to ourselves. There were no lift lines and there was nice snow. We started off with a nice evening game of hockey on the frozen pond outside our hotel. The next day we were all up early to get in fresh lines and for the ski/snowboard lessons. Skyler & Chris were among the many who were taking advantage of the beginner areas of the mountain. They showed great improvement over just 2 days of practice. Randy and Tiffany quickly found the terrain park and began to session the jumps. Adam, while quick, was not quite quick enough to beat Jonathan in a friendly race. Adam used his skiing experience to help out some of the other skiers.It was a great weekend and well-timed for the break between semesters.
...It was a cold, foggy rainy morning when Metro Prep’s Fishing Club set sail. Their destination? Lake Ontario! For most people, Lake Ontario would seem to be the least likely place to go fishing but a few brave anglers took advantage of this challenge and rare opportunity to experience world class fishing waters! A total of ten students chartered a 26’ fishing vessel and were able to experience the anticipation and thrill of a catch. Eight of the ten student caught fish but everyone got to take home fresh fish fillets.
...Fifty Metro Prep students participated in Halloween Haunt at Canada’s Wonderland. “Drama Days:” Scare School at Canada’s Wonderland presented students with an exclusive opportunity to work with Canada’s Wonderland Entertainment department and go behind the scenes of Halloween Haunt. Scare School taught the Metro students about all the different aspects of production – from a scary make-up tutorial, to a set design seminar with the creative directors behind the Haunt. This haunting experience was truly unique and combined all aspects of the theatre in one thrilling trip. The students had early access to the park and enjoyed the evening exploring all the rides, haunted houses and various other attractions.
...On Friday, September 12, sixteen Metro Prep students attended a Wakeboarding field trip to Spray Lake Watersports and Activity Centre. The facility is situated on a one-of-a-kind, private freshwater lake, in King Township, Ontario. The students rode on an industry leading straight-line cable park (“The Ranch”) and learned the basics of wakeboarding. For many of these students it was a premiere experience that enabled them the opportunity to try a fun and challenging activity. The park catered to all ages and abilities and their team of professional coaches with decades of combined experience were committed to providing the best training in a safe environment. The students enjoyed the day even though it was a little chilly. They all mustered up the courage to try it and had a great time.
...The Manhattan annual started off with Ryan losing his passport. This was not good. We rallied like true travellers do and somehow everything worked out for the best. A special thanks to Mark M. for his fear of flying and love of Michael Jackson. This eclectic, hilarious group led by real estate tycoon, Ali, and comedy duo Aidan and Brooke, were in top form. We walked the streets, took in some incredible theatre, and enjoyed 4 days of great weather and great company. The Museum of Natural History is also great, if you like dinosaur bones and waiting in line for an hour to see other dead things. I preferred Bill Nighy in his navy suit, moving across the stage like Mick Jagger in Skylight. I also enjoyed a rather disturbing play about puppetry as a form of therapy. Only in New York. Until next year, Manhattan.
...This classic tale of survival and loyalty is rarely performed on a stage. With a dedicated cast and crew of over 30 people, Ryan and the gang recreated this island tragedy to splendid reviews. Set to the music of U2, a soundscape by Madison and original orchestration by Andrew and Sean, the goal of this production was to create an environment, not just a show and to lift the words of William Golding off of the page and into the air of the theatre. Alumnus Jonathan Hirsh dazzled the audience with an LED extravaganza of light, shadow, smoke, and fire and lit the talented cast of actors like never before. Thanks to everyone who came out to see the show! It will not soon be forgotten. And Amanda, watch out for dry ice.
...The Faculty at Metro Prep would like to commend MPA students for their contributions to all our fundraising endeavors; thank you for giving to our annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, for providing toys for Sunnybrook Hospital’s Toy Mountain Drive, and for donating so generously to Global Medic’s Philippine Typhoon Relief Fund. Through our efforts, GlobalMedic received approximately $5000 to equip households with portable water purification units. A special thanks to GlobalMedic for inviting Metro Prep to participate in their bucket drilling day, where students assembled and shipped a total of 1000 purification units.
Also, a special thanks to all students who made CTV’s Toy Mountain Broadcast at Sunnybrook Hospital an amazing success. It was a truly magical event and your support and generosity really captured what the initiative- and season- are all about. To view the full newscast, click here: http://toronto.ctvnews.ca/more/toy-mountain
...
Despite an opening night blackout, the cast and crew of Metropolitan Preparatory Academy’s 2014 school play, A Lie of The Mind, was ultimately a success due to six months of preparation, sweat and tears.
Due to a power outage, the opening night of Metro Prep’s annual school play was called off only three hours before it was set to blast off.
Cast, crew and audience members were all disappointed to hear that May 3rd opening night was going to be postponed.
“I was devastated because we had worked so hard and it felt like the same thing was going to happen that had happened last year” said cast member Madison when asked about the subject.
The previous year’s play had been cancelled due to various injuries and sicknesses, which left a glooming curse type feeling on Metro Prep’s theatre production.
Despite the play’s initial bad luck, the play was a huge success for the next four shows and impressed schoolmates, teachers, and relatives alike.
When the play came to its last performance, the cast and crew were left with an empty feeling, realizing that six months of hard work ended with just three days of performance. “I didn’t know what to do for a while. No more staying after school till six joking around and having fun” said Dan, actor in the play.
In the end the actors and crew built a connection that will last a lifetime, despite the roadblocks they experienced during the six months.
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Metro Prep’s Past Productions
A cordial welcome to those contemplating enrolment at Metropolitan Preparatory Academy. As we plan for the future, I ask you all to think about the challenges and opportunities that lie in the years ahead. To be successful, it’s essential to set attainable goals and develop the ambition to achieve those targets. In other words, decide where you want to go and establish how much time and energy it will take to get there. This may sound old fashioned, but little happens unless you believe in yourself and what you are doing. You don’t want to look back on your life one day and dream about what could have been. Set inspiring goals and work toward them now. When doors to opportunity open, walk through without hesitation.
Consider our program if you are looking for a structured and caring environment. At Metro Prep Academy, we highly value involvement, new ideas and enthusiasm. We are committed to fostering the intellectual, physical, social and creative potential of university-oriented students through a supportive yet challenging academic environment. We believe young men and women flourish in a safe, inviting, learning atmosphere where they feel confident expressing their individuality, asking questions, and seeking the help they need to thrive. Because of this Metro Prep operates without uniforms and with open faculty doors. In preparation for both university and future careers, students are encouraged to trust their instincts and think both critically and creatively.
I wish the best to all students in the upcoming academic year.
August 31, 2016
Resounding Success For Metro Prep's Lord of the Flies
The reviews are in and Lord of the Flies was a resounding success. "The best high school production I have ever seen", said Lisa W. ...
