REVIEW OF Royal Ontario Academy BY student, Awatif Khan

(5) Student Experience

My experience at the Royal Ontario Academy was honestly a mix of both good and challenging moments. What I appreciated most was the flexibility. It gave me a chance to complete the courses I needed and focus on my academic goals without feeling stuck. That was very helpful for me, especially when I was trying to meet deadlines and move forward with my college applications. At the same time, this school works best for students who are independent and can keep themselves on track. You really do need to keep checking in, following up and making sure everything is going well. At times, that part was a bit stressful, especially when it came to marks, updates or official documents. I also liked that there were opportunities to discuss work and show how we got our answers, especially in courses like maths. So overall, I would say it was helpful, but I definitely had to stay on top of everything myself. This school is good for students who know what they need and are willing to be proactive.

The Best Part

The best part was definitely the flexibility. It made it easier to focus on the courses I needed and work toward my goals without being stuck in a traditional system

Suggested Improvements

One thing I think could be improved is the communication and overall admin support. I feel like students would have a much smoother experience if updates, grading and important document-related processes were handled a bit faster.

Hidden Details

One thing a new student might not realize is how much independent you have to be. It's not hard if you stay on top of things, but you do need to be responsible and make sure you are checking in and following up when needed.

(4.5) School Leadership

I do respect the school leadership overall. From my experience, they were professional and did help when something important came up, especially with documents, school records, and academic progress. I also appreciated that the school seemed focused on helping students complete what they needed for graduation and future plans. What I think they do well is that they take academics seriously, and they do try to support students when needed. At the same time, I think communication could sometimes be faster and a bit more organized, especially when students are waiting for updates that affect applications or deadlines. Overall, though, I had a positive impression, and I do think the leadership wants students to succeed.

(4) Teaching

The teaching experience was good overall, especially if you are a student who is willing to stay responsible and put in your effort. I felt that the expectations were generally clear, and I liked that in some classes, especially math, there was room to actually show your work, explain your thinking, and discuss how you got your answers instead of only focusing on the final result. I think the school works best for students who are self-motivated and can manage their time well. It is not really the kind of place where everything is constantly being pushed on you, so you have to stay on top of your own progress. That can be a good thing because it builds independence, but it can also feel overwhelming at times. Overall, the teachers and course structure were helpful, and I did feel like the learning was meaningful.

(4.5) Academics

Academically, I think the school was solid overall. The work was not extremely easy, but it also was not impossible if you stayed consistent and actually took the courses seriously. Some subjects definitely required more effort than others, but I felt like the workload was manageable. What I liked is that the courses felt purposeful, especially because they helped me work toward a university application. In subjects like math, it was helpful to not just get an answer but also understand the process behind it. I think that part made the learning more useful in the long run. The school is probably best for students who can work independently, because if you wait too long or fall behind, you really feel it. Overall, I’d say the academics were useful and worth it.

(4) School Life

School life at the Royal Ontario Academy is a bit different from a traditional in-person high school, so I think that is something students should understand from the beginning. It is not really about big school events or a typical campus vibe. For me, it was more focused on academics, flexibility, and completing the courses I needed. If I were giving someone a tour, I would probably first show them how the academic side of the school works, because that is really the main part of the experience. I would explain how courses, communication, assignments, and progress tracking work, since that matters more here than things like school spirit or social activities. I think the best part of the experience is the flexibility, but students should know that they need to be independent and organized to do well.

(4) Admissions

The admissions and overall document process was okay, but I think this is one area where students should be prepared to stay organized and follow up when needed. My advice to anyone applying would be to keep copies of everything, check your email often, and make sure your documents are sent properly and clearly. From my experience, the process was not impossible, but it could definitely feel stressful at times, especially when you are waiting for confirmations, report cards, transcripts, or official emails that are important for university applications. Once things were handled, it was fine, but I do think it would be better if communication were a little smoother and faster in some cases. Overall, it worked out, but staying proactive makes a big difference.