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The YMCA Academy is an alternative middle school and high school serving youth with learning disabilities and learning style differences. The school's small class sizes, individual education plans, life skills counselling, and experiential learning opportunities support students in their pursuit of college preparation and workplace level courses in a state-of-the-art facility located in the Toronto Central Grosvenor Street YMCA Centre.
The very heart of private education is providing options for parents looking to support their learner, and YMCA Academy sits at the very heart of that concept. It was founded and developed to support learners with needs that may not be adequately met within other settings. Likewise, it comprises an academic environment in which those students aren’t constantly reminded of their exceptionality. Here, they participate in a community that is supportive, sympathetic, and socially oriented around their personal needs. That, in itself—irrespective of the programs or the curriculum—can be transformational. This isn’t a school for others, making a concession for them. Rather, it is a school for them. That’s huge.
Gallery showcasing school life and general photos of The YMCA Academy.
Gallery showcasing specific locations and facilities found at The YMCA Academy.
| Focus | Special needs |
|---|---|
| Academic | Special needs |
| 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 |
Full-time programming is offered for all students which is exclusively focused on one or more 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, YMCA Academy students perform an average of 30 mins of homework per night.
| 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YMCA Academy | 15 mins | 15 mins | 30 mins | 30 mins |
| Site Average | 69 mins | 80 mins | 96 mins | 109 mins |
| Lettered or numbered grades | Gr. 9 to Gr. 12 |
| Prose (narrative)-based feedback | Gr. 9 to Gr. 12 |
| Academic achievement reporting | Gr. 9 to Gr. 12 |
| Habits and behaviour reporting | Gr. 9 to Gr. 12 |
| Parent-teacher meetings | Gr. 9 to Gr. 12 |
| Sports Offered | Competitive | Recreational |
|---|---|---|
| Badminton | ||
| Baseball | ||
| Basketball | ||
| Cycling | ||
| Field Hockey | ||
| Football | ||
| Gymnastics | ||
| Ice Hockey | ||
| Ice Skating | ||
| Lacrosse | ||
| Martial Arts | ||
| Racquet Ball | ||
| Rowing | ||
| Rugby | ||
| Running | ||
| Soccer | ||
| Softball | ||
| Squash | ||
| Swimming | ||
| Tennis | ||
| Track & Field | ||
| Volleyball | ||
| Weightlifting |
| Clubs Offered |
|---|
| Habitat for Humanity |
| Outdoor Education |
| Student Council |
| Yearbook |
| Yoga |
| Astronomy Club |
| Band |
| Community Service |
| Dance Club |
| Drama Club |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | |
| Day | $24,500 | |||||
| Grade range that need-based aid is offered: | 9 to 12 |
| Percentage of grade-eligible students receiving financial aid | 30% |
| Average aid package size | $10,000 |
| Percentage of total enrollment on financial aid | 30% |
| Total aid available | $300,000 |
This school works with other. for processing financial applications
Please complete the application form found on our website.
This information is not currently available.
| Grades | Gender | Living Arrangement | Enrollment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 | Coed | Day | 80 |
| Total enrollment | 80 |
| Average enrollment per grade | 13 |
| Average class size | 8 to 12 |
| 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 | 9 - 12 | |
| SSAT | ||
| SSAT (out of province) | ||
| Entrance Exam(s) | ||
| Entrance Essay | ||
| Application Fee |
Day students: Rolling
For students entering our program at grade 9, we do an assessment of English and Mathematics to determine grade level and appropriate placement in our program
Student Entry Points
| Student Type | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day Acceptance (Acceptance rate) | 15 - 20 (50%) | 3 - 5 (60%) | 2 - 5 (80%) | 2 - 5 (80%) |
| 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 The YMCA Academy.
It was a year ago when a piece in SmartMoney shed some light on entrepreneurs with superpowers. Their superpower wasn’t flying or invisibility, though those are very cool superpowers indeed; their superpower was attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, commonly known as ADHD. Like those other superpowers, ADHD can either isolate or empower, and those who have this particular power find it to be either a curse or a blessing.
Just around the corner from MaRS, in the Education Centre of the Metro Central YMCA at Grosvenor and Bay Streets, I am the head of Toronto’s high school for superheroes. The YMCA Academy is a school for students in Grades 9 to 12 who have learning style differences and learning disabilities, with ADHD often part of the mix. The school’s essence is highlighted here.
Ignorance about learning disabilities is kryptonite. As our school has just kicked off our 10th year, we have (as a good startup does) quantified our successes here. A school population of students with above-average intelligence, who all learn differently, mirrors that of a startup where the founders have above-average intelligence and learn differently. In both cases, the challenge is in having the work fit the person, rather than making the person fit the work, as is done in traditional schools and companies.
Young people with ADHD think and move fast in a school system designed to move slowly. Our school fits their needs and challenges, and allows them, for the first time in their lives at any school, to experience success. What has worked well for us at the YMCA Academy is a concept not unfamiliar to devotees of Eric Ries and the Lean Startup movement. Each day, our students place little bets. They work toward success at school through affordable risks—in educational theory, the “zone of proximal development.” For a student with a learning disability, this keeps the cracks in the educational pavement very narrow, as opposed to the chasms that can open quickly in traditional schools.
I always wondered how superheroes dealt with the mundane. I assume that not everything in their world is exciting. What we—and many other entrepreneurs—have found is that daily exercise is a key factor in a person with ADHD’s ability to focus. Daily access to the Central Y helps keep our students productive and focused during the school day. A daily fitness regimen is also essential for entrepreneurs with ADHD. I know of several entrepreneurs who have learning disabilities and who spend a good portion of their days on a “walkputer,” a treadmill with a computer, which allows them to focus through activity in real time.
While I would guess that students at the Academy are no more entrepreneurial than any control group of students when they enter our school, they definitely become more so during their stay. We hold two public TEDx events at the school each year; the last one involved student speakers and was themed “The Art and Science of Learning Disabilities.” We have a partnership with Mindfulness Without Borders to teach, help nurture and allow time to practise some of the most fundamental human skills: kindness, sensitivity, self-awareness and compassion toward self and others. For our particular group of students, who often experience difficulties with attention and regulating emotion, the mindfulness practices are very helpful. We also have a partnership with Evergreen Brick Works that sees our students involved in such diverse activities as environmental stewardship, food production and preparation, and bike repair. And this year we will run a competition to have students with learning disabilities design their perfect school. We will all benefit from their ideas!
Recognizing our students’ superpowers is our specialty; teaching them to harness those superpowers for the good of all is our mission.
Original Article: http://www.marsdd.com/2012/09/12/torontos-high-school-for-superheroes-the-ymca-academy/
...Parent Testimonials from the 2015-2016 school year:
My daughter started in Grade 9 this year, and it is the first time in six years that she loves going to school. Her self-esteem and self-confidence has grown immensely. For the first time in her school life, she can tell me what she is studying in each class. Previously she was never given any homework or assignments, now she willingly sits and does any work needed, including wanting to study for upcoming tests. Her motivation to succeed has skyrocketed.
Until his mid-teens, our son struggled with school due to an unidentified learning disability and undiagnosed anxiety disorder. Achievement was elusive despite IEPs, accommodations, individual help from caring teachers, changing programs, changing schools, tutoring, attending summer school, and guidance counselling. Overwhelmed and unable to keep up, he developed low self-esteem and, ultimately, counterproductive coping strategies. Once his learning style differences were identified, we were fortunate enough to be referred to the YMCA Academy. Its small classes, interesting courses, individual attention, technological support, caring environment, emphasis on respect and mindfulness, modern attractive facility, and, most of all, terrific leadership, teachers and staff, made all the difference! They fostered his individuality, inspired his creativity, showed him how to be productive academically, and just plain let him to shine. His last semester was his best ever. He is looking forward to exploring everything that post-secondary education has to offer and towards an inspiring and fulfilling career. Thank you, YMCA Academy!
After spending her late elementary grades in a special school, our daughter struggled in high school. They just couldn't or wouldn't follow her IEP. Her psychologist suggested a few possibilities, including the YMCA Academy. We visited all of them with mixed results, until we visited the YMCA Academy. Our daughter exclaimed that she felt that she could succeed in this environment and she has - she has been accepted at every college program that she applied to. We are very pleased.
Really understand children with LDs-learning differences. Compassionate caring teachers who really go the extra mile for their students. Willing to work with parents to get our children on track so they can succeed both academically and socially. Can't say enough positive things about the school and it's teachers! They really care about the kids. It's not just a job to them it's a passion. Every school should share the same philosophy! It's about the kids and helping them succeed in life!
I am really pleased that my son was finally able to complete grade 12 and graduate high school. I was so appreciate of all the efforts of the teachers and other staff over the many years in trying to work with a difficult situation and help motivate my son to attend. When he attended, he did well. It's about staying power and working on a case-by-case basis. It's also about ensuring the student experience the consequence of his or her actions. I don't think there is another school in which my son could have gotten the education he did.
The YMCA Academy has exceeded our expectations for our child's high school experience. The staff's enthusiasm and genuine concern for each childs welfare is obvious and greatly appreciated. As well, the opportunities for the students to be invloved in community projects, student exchanges and the in school extracuricular activities further enhanced the experience. I would highly recommend the YMCA Academy, for us it was the best decision that we could have made for our daughter's high school.
YMCA Academy has been lifesaver for us. My son is more confident and happier than ever before. He gets full support by Staff and Students and has made a 100% turnaround. I was very frustrated with the Public school system and feared my son was going to be a high school drop out but he is trying things he would have never considered before and we finally see a positive future for him.
My son was anxiety ridden and terrified about attending high school.I have noticed a huge improvement in his confidence since he started at the YMCA academy. He enjoys attending school for the first time ever in his school career.
The YMCA Academy provided an opportunity for my son to take applied level courses with the support that he needs to succeed. Small class sizes, great teachers and a supportive environment all help to make the YMCA Academy a great school to learn and prepare for higher levels of learning.
The Academy was THE answer for us. We went through numerous organizations and schools and no one could offer anything even close to what the Academy offers. My child blossomed and finally started to achieve success after enrolling in the Academy. I have been telling anyone who would listen about the great work that the Academy does.
Our son was floundering in every way at his previous highschool. We have seen him grow in a number of different ways since starting at the Academyt three years ago. He has matured socially, his grades have improved, he has come to have a far better understanding of his own challenges and is beginning to find ways to overcome them.
...Who knew high school would be such an uneventful transition! Our son is thriving academically, socially and emotionally thanks to the passionate, supportive and caring staff at the YMCA Academy, who have cultivated school culture richly steeped in the YMCA core values of respect, responsibility, inclusiveness, honesty, caring and health. We have a happy, connected, empowered teen! Thank you YMCA Academy!!
Located with the Central YMCA, in downtown Toronto, you’ll discover a unique and innovative learning environment.
“The YMCA Academy is a high school for students that learn differently,” said Don Adams, head of school at the YMCA Academy.
The Academy is a high school of 42 students and seven teachers, which allows for smaller class sizes, and more one-on-one time between students and teachers.
Inspired and supported by the YMCA, the school integrates the Ontario Ministry of Education’s secondary school curriculum with practical life skills.
At the Academy, each student is given an individualized education plan.
“Every one of our students we look at in detail,” said Adams. “We look at how they learn best, what their learning weaknesses are, and we design a program to support their weaknesses and to enhance their strengths.”
Clayton Dimech, a grade 11 student at the YMCA Academy, has experienced learning at a traditional high school compared to an alternative.
“At my old school, it wasn’t good for me,” said Dimech. “I wasn’t being treated fairly. I was bullied; it wasn’t helpful towards my ADHD. My marks started dropping. I starting losing friends and it just became very stressful on me. And then I heard about this school and I gave it a try, and it was a such a great change. The Academy has opened so many doors for me.”
The Academy also includes the YMCA values of respect, responsibility, inclusiveness, caring, health and honesty.
“I think every single one of these kind of goes back to what we are trying to achieve having the Academy in here,” said Mehdi Zobeiry, vice-president of the Central YMCA.
In 2013, the YMCA Academy will be celebrating its 10th year of operation.
By Shylo Adams | Global News
Original Article: http://globalnews.ca/news/310248/making-a-difference-ymca-academy/
...
I have spent a quarter of a century working in independent schools in Ontario, having focused my career on curriculum development and research on learning and the adolescent brain. The following judgment, then, must carry some weight: The Academy is a uniquely impressive school, one that profoundly improves the quality of life of its students, and promises to multiply such improvement as they move on successfully to post-secondary studies or meaningful work placements. Of course, these are large claims, but they are supported by the achievements of our graduates. We have taken approved Ontario Ministry of Education courses and incorporated them into unique programs to meet the needs of our student population. Our goal is to give our students the skills to graduate from The Academy with their Ontario Secondary School Diploma in hand, ready to face the challenges of university, college or vocational endeavors.
Our personal, differentiated approach, specialized programs and individualized use of assistive technology are ideally suited to those students with mild learning disabilities or learning style differences. Our students typically have communication exceptionalities such as: learning disabilities, autism, giftedness and/or medical conditions that affect learning such as ADD and ADHD which have impacted their achievements in school settings. At the Academy we support our students from their first day of school with an Individual Education Plan outlining supports and accommodations specific to their needs.
The Academy team is made up of experienced teaching professionals with accreditation in their professional fields. They bring varied backgrounds and expertise in special education, IT, counseling, mentorship, curriculum development, guidance and career counseling, cooperative education, and many others.
Given its history in education, and its wide-ranging social programs for youth, the YMCA connection enhances The Academy in many ways. We recognize that our students can benefit from the “wrap-around” services our connection to the YMCA of Greater Toronto makes possible. For example, each of our students has year-round access to all Health, Fitness and Recreation centres with the Central Y being the facility for all school-related fitness education. Co-operative education opportunities are readily at hand as well. Our students experience school-wide overnight leadership and outdoor education sessions at camp Wanakita and/or Camp Cedar Glen, and access to Canada Youth Exchanges through the YMCA Student Youth Exchanges program, amongst a large variety of supports.
Finally, The Academy has been, and will continue to be, a school in which all students know that they are part of a supportive, safe and challenging community, dedicated to enrich their present and their future. We pride ourselves in our students’ success!
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