How we see The York School
The 50-page review of The York School 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.
Read our in-depth reviewHow The York School sees itself
"The York School is located in midtown Toronto just steps away from Yonge and St.Clair. With 742 students enrolled across two campuses, we are a gender inclusive JK - Grade 12 IB World School that attracts a diverse group of students. Our students are represented from 35 countries worldwide with 20% of our student body having studied abroad prior to joining The York School. The York School welcomes a wide range of students who are curious, caring and passionate about learning. Our school prioritizes our students’ mental and emotional wellbeing while building their academic strengths in preparing them for the future. Whether a student joins our Junior School (JK-6), Middle School (Grade 6-8) or Senior School (Grade 9-12), they can be assured that there will be students, teachers and counsellors to welcome and support them on their journey. Our motto is Experience Teaches, and hence our students learn by doing. Being an IB World School, our graduates are sought after by leading Universities and Colleges around the world. 98% of our graduating class received offers to their first choice of program/school and 19% opted to study in the United States. Our students are inquiring, knowledgeable, caring and engaged world citizens. "
"The York School is a gender inclusive IB World School located in the heart of Toronto. Our innovative approach to education prepares our students to not only be exceptional problem solvers, but to be able to ask the right questions to get to the heart of an issue. At The York School, we teach our students to ask the right questions so that they can truly be in a position to guide their own study while being engaged in experiential learning within the community they live in and beyond."
"97% of our parents selected The York School to enhance their child's academic abilities.
91% say they enrolled their child at The York School to help them find their passions.
92% selected The York School because of the opportunities that they will have once they graduate from The York School."
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Middle & Senior School Gym
Junior School Playground
Junior School Gym
Middle & Senior School Campus (Grades 6-12)
Junior School Campus (JK-Grade 5)
Junior School Art Room
IB Science Lab
Middle & Senior School Science Classroom
Middle & Senior School - IB Science Lab Breakout Space
Middle & Senior School Turf
Middle & Senior School - Learning Commons
Middle & Senior School - Digital Lab
Junior School Cafeteria
How people from the school’s community see The York School
Top-down influence on the school’s direction and tone
Struan Robertson, Head of School
The York School is an International Baccalaureate, coeducational, non-denominational school located in midtown Toronto. The International Baccalaureate curriculum, in simple terms, helps guide students in the junior grades to ask lots of questions, in the middle grades to question their understanding of the world, and in the senior grades to challenge themselves to be the very best version of themselves as they look towards the opportunities available at The York School and beyond.
We work hard to ensure all of our students embody our mission statement which is to “develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who are engaged citizens of the world.”
Please read more about our fantastic programming and opportunities on our website. I encourage you to make an appointment with our Admissions team to come in and experience The York School's inclusive, international and exceptional community.
Most big schools provide your extroverted child with plenty of social opportunities and the ability to interact with different peer groups with a wide range of personalities, interests, values, etc. A larger student population and more extracurriculars—including activities like team sports, arts programs, and debate—will give them a broader scope of opportunities to participate in events that scratch their interpersonal itch. “This may also give them the opportunity to hone certain skills,” say Ann and Karen Wolff of Wolff Educational Services. “For instance, they might run for student council to develop leadership and public speaking skills and learn to be a voice for other students.”
Throughout the continuum—from the Primary Years Programme (PYP) to the Diploma Programme (DP)—the IB offers plenty of group work, projects, and activities, which can be great for extroverts who often enjoy social and collaborative learning. Also, “Since IB schools have a strong emphasis on community service and activism, your child will have great opportunities to harness their outgoing and collaborative personality,” says Stacey Jacobs, Director of Clear Path Educational Consulting. These schools will also give your child the chance to interact and spend time with a bright, motivated, and ambitious group of kids who may have interests similar to them.
However, given the challenging curriculum and heavy workload of the IB, it can sometimes leave less time for socializing. This makes it especially important to ask about social opportunities at the school, including the ability to interact with different peer groups, both in class and out.
Make sure any prospective school, no matter what size, provides the right social environment to help your child feel at home, make friends, and develop confidence. This is especially important at big schools, which are sometimes more socially overwhelming and challenging for an introvert to find their bearings in. Of course, “Because larger schools usually have a more diverse student population, introverted kids are more likely to find a small group of people like them, a peer group they can relate to and find acceptance from,” says Dona Matthews, Toronto-based education consultant and co-author (with Joanne Foster) of Beyond Intelligence.
Bigger schools often have a broader scope of extracurricular activities, which is another way to help your child meet the right group of friends. “This may also give them the opportunity to develop certain skills,” say Ann and Karen Wolff of Wolff Educational Services. “For instance, they might run for student council to develop leadership and public speaking skills and learn to be a voice for other students. Remember, though, each child is different—so what works for one may not work for another.”
IB schools give your child the opportunity to interact and spend time with a bright, motivated, and ambitious group of kids who may have interests similar to them. Due to the IB’s heavy focus on group work, the programme offers a social and collaborative learning environment, which can help your introverted child overcome their shyness and get to know their peers well. This can relieve some of the pressure associated with having to take the initiative outside of class to make friends.
Just make sure any school you're considering offers enough independent work time for your introverted child—something which can vary widely between IB schools.
THE OUR KIDS REPORT: The York School
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Continue researching The York School with OurKids.net, or visit school website.