REVIEW OF Ontario eSecondary School BY parent, Yuji Onai
- Date of Review
August 11, 2026 - Child 1
Gr. 10 - Gr. 12 (Male, eSchool Student)
(5) Student Experience
My son, who lives in Japan, recently graduated from OES, a Canadian online high school. Overall, the school was exceptionally kind, warm, and supportive. All of the teachers were cooperative and encouraging. There was only one teacher whose communication was occasionally slow, but the admin team and other staff stepped in promptly and helped resolve the issue. Because of that experience, my son decided to take one credit at another online school to compare. The other school felt very bureaucratic, and he quickly returned to OES. Despite being an online institution, OES has a genuine human warmth that sets it apart. For my son, studying from overseas, meeting two remarkable teachers was truly a gift. One was a male teacher whom he came to think of as a “Canadian father,” and the other was a female teacher he considered his “Canadian mother.” Both were outstanding individuals, and they kindly wrote his university recommendation letters. Thanks to their support, he was accepted into every top Canadian university he applied to. Online schools certainly require a significant amount of coursework, but that is true everywhere. The fact that my son was able to earn his OSSD from abroad is clear proof that OES is a trustworthy and reliable online school.
Why Ontario eSecondary School?
We chose Ontario eSecondary School because it was the most accessible and welcoming option from the very beginning. While searching for online schools, OES stood out because we were able to book a free consultation immediately and effortlessly. Being able to speak directly with the principal during that first meeting gave us a strong sense of trust and confidence in the school. This initial experience matched everything that followed: warm communication, supportive teachers, and a school culture that truly values students as individuals. That is why we felt OES was the right choice.
Expectations vs. Reality
In terms of expectations versus reality, the workload was far heavier than we initially imagined. However, this is something you can only truly understand after beginning an online OSSD program. In Ontario, the academic standards and curriculum requirements are set uniformly by the province, not by individual schools. Because of this, the level of rigour is consistently high everywhere, and the actual difficulty of earning the OSSD was far beyond what we expected. A traditional in‑person school might feel easier in some ways, but for students studying from overseas, an online school was the only realistic option. The amount of coursework was certainly surprising at first, yet we now believe that this level of challenge is exactly what builds real academic strength. The assignments our son completed will undoubtedly serve as a solid foundation for his future studies.
Your Advice
Be ready for a demanding workload, but don’t worry—OES offers strong support. Communicate often, stay organized, and ask for help when needed. The challenge will strengthen your academic abilities and prepare you well for university.
