Boarding Life at Trinity College School

Grade	Boarding students as a percentage of total enrollment per grade
Trinity College School	Median of all other boarding schools
Gr. 9	34%	40%
Gr. 10	38%	48%
Gr. 11	37%	53%
Gr. 12	38%	60%

Grade	Boarding enrollment
Trinity College School	Median of all other boarding schools
Gr. 9	48	26
Gr. 10	70	28
Gr. 11	81	20
Gr. 12	82	11

Entry grade	Number of openings available: Boarding
Trinity College School	Median of all other boarding schools
Gr. 9	35 - 40	9
Gr. 10	25 - 30	8
Gr. 11	20 - 25	11
Gr. 12	-	8

Qualitative insights

These insights are based on conversations with parents, alumni, and school leadership. Handpicked and curated by our editor, they offer a close look at how the school is experienced and perceived by those who know it best.

The environment is designed for personal growth.

Observations from students highlight that attending Trinity College School is seen as an adventurous journey that fosters personal growth and unique life experiences.

Going to boarding school at any age can be a big step. Going through that experience and seeing that it can work out for you can be quite empowering. ... Trinity College School has given me a certain self-confidence.

—Sarah Gerwens, alum (see full interview)

Taking a bunch of 14-year-olds and dropping them into boarding is certainly a bit of a social experiment, and it has its ups and downs to be away from home and to be in a group of kids that are just trying to figure things out. The first year at Trinity College School is a real experiment that works out very well for many people who attend, but with its ups and downs. A challenge for new Trinity College School students to be aware of is that there will be tough parts of your first year as you're adjusting to this new environment. But it's certainly an adjustment worth making.

—Zack Chauvin, alum (see full interview)

If I had to pick three words to personify Trinity College School, I think the first one is adventurous. There's a sense of adventure to attending a boarding school. It is quite a change for a 14-year-old to leave home and attend a boarding school, but a worthwhile adventure. From there, the adventure continues. I think Trinity College School opens up many pretty wild doors.

—Zack Chauvin, alum (see full interview)

Being at Trinity College school is like moving away from home, feeling terrified and lost, then gradually finding your way to realize that you actually like this new found home. I can honestly say that I enjoy myself here, it's packed with challenges that are strengthening as you overcome them. One thing I wish I had known about the school before I arrived was the actual activities they had in store for the new students that were aimed at making them feel comfortable in the new school.

—Mariam Omilabu, student (see full review)

My daughter lives in Scott House, the dormitory is very strict, every night at 10:30, she has to hand in her cell phone in a box. If your academic record does not earn you a scholarship, you will have to concentrate on evening study every night. We are quite at ease with this arrangement. As the school's largest corporate leader, she led the community cultural fusion, has brought her a lot about the cultivation of the leadership, her from the team members to the assistant to the leadership, her from the activities, to organize, to lead, she presided over many large activities, including the lunar celebration, "my hometown" exhibition, the national costume parade... We were all amazed at her growth.

—Susan Zhang, parent (beginning 2016) (see full review)

Being an international student who lived in a completely different continent and had never left home I knew that coming to this strange place and calling it my home would prove difficult. As a result, during the first few months, I could not call this place "home". It all started when I first got to TCS, everyone really welcomed me with open arms and tried to reach out to me but I was a bit hesitant and slow to trust. ... I realized, in the middle of the year, that I could not expect everyone to constantly come to me if I did not go to them, I was not giving what I initially received. From then it became aware to me that I needed to show I was an open person in order to feel included, by doing that I found that many close circles of friends were willing to extend their circles to include me and even appreciate me. Therefore, it gradually started feeling more and more like home to me.

—Mariam Omilabu, student (see full review)

Students develop their independence.

Comments from former students suggest that Trinity College School prepares students for future independence by providing them with essential life skills during their boarding years.

When I went to the United States for university, and I lived in dorms, I realized I had two years ahead. Other people were experiencing not living at home for the first time in their life whereas I had already experienced that independence from the boarding program at Trinity College School. There are tough things to learn when you live on your own from, ‘how do I feed myself?’ to, ‘how do I structure my day if there's no parent there all moments of the day guiding me, nudging me and telling me what to do?’ I think that was immensely helpful going into university. When I was there, I didn't realize that I was acquiring all these skills. I was just living my life.

—Sarah Gerwens, alum (see full interview)

There are lots of benefits to boarding. They learn independence, they find their way to everywhere they need to be, and I think this is amazing. They have, I think, the right amount of structure, but also freedom. My daughter's got a friend who is from the Middle East. I'll be happy to have her come over for the long weekend. And I wouldn't be surprised if I wanted to go visit her in Dubai.

—Lola Obomighie, parent (see full discussion)

The biggest impact Trinity College School has had on my children is their sense of independence.

—Alex, alum (see full discussion)

That’s one thing parents may be surprised by. They may think ‘Oh, my kids will call me all the time.’ But I call my mom more now than when I was at TCS. Back in TCS I’d be so busy, and you’d feel the day move past you like a wave, and you were so immersed; you were making connections; you were having such a good time. Parents may be surprised thinking that your kids will call you more often, but they may not. Not because they don’t want to talk to you, but because every moment of the day is very much prioritized for a function.

—Paula, parent (see full discussion)

As a parent, puberty is the hardest stage. The best solution, in my opinion, is to send your child to boarding school. If you want to keep a good relationship with your child, send them to boarding school for those four years. Believe me, when they come back, they will love you forever and you will love them. I mean, it's the antidote to puberty.

—Paula, parent (see full discussion)

They form lifelong friendships.

Insights from alumni reveal that the boarding experience at Trinity College School cultivates deeply-rooted friendships that last well beyond high school years.

One interesting thing about boarding at Trinity College School is that while, of course, high school leads to deep friendships, I think living with your peers at all times leads to a depth of friendship that is amazing and has served me well. There are still friends from high school that I've kept in touch with during Covid, and we video chat each other. Now, I live in San Francisco, and whenever I return to Ontario, there are people that I'm keen to see. That experience of essentially having grown up together, and living on the same campus, really leads to some amazing friendships. That's something special about Trinity College School that might not be apparent from the outside.

—Zack Chauvin, alum (see full interview)

My daughter found friendship in school, she has three friends circle, four friends circle, six friends circle. In her own circle of friends, she is very relaxed and enjoys the friendships. She felt that among all the international students, she was the fastest and best student to assimilate into Canadian culture. Half of her best friends are Chinese kids and half are Canadian kids. They can mix very well. She often attends Canadian children's birthday parties, long weekends, is invited to the home, she and her classmates participate in family activities, go camping or treehouse, she enjoys life in the home of her classmates. In the dormitory, she likes her two roommates very much, they live like sisters, they have many common topics together, take photos together, participate in competitions together, help each other and grow together.

—Susan Zhang, parent (beginning 2016) (see full review)

They enjoy a warm and inclusive community.

Insights from the school's community highlight the supportive and inclusive atmosphere at Trinity College School, noting how diverse backgrounds and friendly attitudes make it feel like home for everyone.

Three words that describe Trinity College School are community-minded, courageous and warm, and wise at the same time. I would put an emphasis on the warm part, too. I think that every staff member, and especially for kids who are going away from home for the first time, it's amazing that you know the people who are helping clean your clothes, but you feel like they're an aunt or an uncle, and everyone in that whole community is amazing.

—Alex, alum (see full discussion)

Trinity College School makes the kids feel so relaxed from day one, and they walk them through the whole boarding school opportunity.

—Alex, alum (see full discussion)

We looked at a boarding school in Ottawa, but touring the school, I sort of went, ‘But it’s not TCS.’ I just didn’t feel the sense of a community; what I felt was instilled in me when I was at TCS. There was just something missing there, though it is a very rigorous and a very great school, with wonderful people.

—Paula, parent (see full discussion)

It’s not a posh school. Wealth is not exhibited. Everyone’s equal. I think that’s something we in the TCS community have in common. When I was looking for boarding schools, and I would go to the United States to see their boarding schools, that would scare me. Wealth was exposed; they were very posh. Not TCS: everyone’s equal. It’s very democratic.

—Paula, parent (see full discussion)

They become familiar with different cultures.

Accounts from alumni and students indicate that Trinity College School offers a uniquely diverse environment, providing exposure to various cultures and fostering strong international friendships.

Being in another country as an international student can be overwhelming, and that's okay. It will probably pass, but you should talk to someone because it's not embarrassing, and it's not something to laugh about, although eventually, you might. At that moment, people will take you seriously because they have probably been there themselves. I recommend that a new Trinity College School student makes the most of it. Join a club, and if you don't like it, you can stop showing up, but try it. They won’t make you join a sport but join a sport anyways. I did one semester of yoga. It was a sport for the people that didn't want to do sports.

—Sarah Gerwens, alum (see full interview)

TCS is a very international, global school. I have Nigerian heritage, and it was so nice to meet people who actually grew up in Nigeria and live in Nigeria and are coming over to TCS to be a boarder and meet people from other countries who I never would have had the chance to meet before — that would be the highlight for me.

—Lade Adeusi, alum (see full interview)

When I was at Trinity College School my first roommate was from Taiwan, and then my second roommate was from Hong Kong in my second year. It's funny now, looking back. I only now realized that I actually picked up a lot of different cultural cues, and just little things that I never thought of at the moment. Now, looking back, it's like, ‘wow, this is amazing.’ I've now gone to Australia to see a Trinity College School friend, Hong Kong, and throughout Europe to three different places.

—Alex, alum (see full discussion)

I appreciate how well-prepared I was socially. I was around such a diverse group of students. I had classmates from Mexico, Germany, Japan, China, Zimbabwe, Namibia. And then I lived with these people 24/7. So you learn to be your authentic self.

—Paula, parent (see full discussion)

Beyond academic rigour and stellar athletics and arts programs, I'll never forget my first day of Grade 9, looking up in Osler Hall and seeing some forty flags hanging from the ceiling. Around me was this incredible mini United Nations of kids and I felt like the luckiest person in the world. My exposure at such a young age to a diverse, multi-cultural, multi-lingual student body taught me understanding and compassion and opened my heart to the beauty of our differences. To that end, if I am to answer whether or not I feel that the school prepared me well for my life's next steps - that I currently work in humanitarian diplomacy among the 'real' United Nations in some of the most challenging countries in the world should be evidence enough. Prospective students should expect to find a community that will become their extended family. They'll find caring teachers and coaches, unlikely friendships that will span a lifetime and the most beautiful campus in Ontario.

—Jocelyn Murphy, alum (see full review)

Trinity College School has an outstanding student body. The variety of students, the size of the student body and spirit add together to make a wonderful environment for learning and living. Students come from all over Canada, plus different countries, which adds to the richness and diversity of the student body. The students learn about other countries, languages, and the greatness of other cultures. There are boarding students and day students, which makes a perfect size of the school. Each student is a part of a "House," which encourages being part of a smaller group within the larger student body. Each House consists of all four grades of students and encourages students of different ages to interact and get along with each other. Smaller House events and larger full student body events do an outstanding job of creating a spirit of fun and understanding of each other.

—Erica Brown, parent (beginning 2020) (see full review)

They benefit from a balanced living and learning environment.

Insights from students, parents, and faculty reveal that Trinity College School's balanced approach to academics, sports, the arts, and downtime creates a holistic and enriching living and learning environment.

Something that stood out to my family and me about private school, boarding school, and Trinity College School, is the depth that it gives you across all of the pillars of education and academics, athletics, arts, and service. Coming into Trinity College School, I didn't have any particular stronghold. To be fair to myself, I was definitely academically inclined, but in terms of the other three I had very little exposure. That was a real excitement for my family and me, to be in an environment where I could fully immerse myself in athletics, three different sports, trumpet and singing, as well as being immersed in service.

—Zack Chauvin, alum (see full interview)

When your schedule is that tight, you're not on your phone as much. You’re not checking it other than during that one hour between dinner and study, where you’re more likely to play at the basketball court with your friends or be with them in their rooms.

—Paula, parent (see full discussion)

TCS is like a little village in and of itself. And living in a village gives you lots of opportunities for downtime and sports, athletics and arts. We often say here that learning takes place twenty four hours a day. It’s almost like how a lot of kids look at camp. You can tell that kids who went to camp loved it. The big surprise [at TCS] is how much people love the school, and how much the alumni love the school.

—Stuart Grainger, Head of School (see full interview)

A cool thing about boarding school, in particular at Trinity College School, is just how high quality the teachers are. Since many of them are living on campus and you spend so much time on campus, they really are peers and friends. I remember in particular, my housemaster was an incredible guy and somebody that I really looked up to as I was in his residential house. It's a great example of the number of role models that you can have at Trinity College School.

—Zack Chauvin, alum (see full interview)

They benefit from impressive resources and facilities.

According to current students and their parents, the school offers excellent sports and recreational facilities, coupled with a variety of engaging activities and meaningful events that contribute to a well-rounded educational experience.

I'm very happy to say that I was very, very surprised by how good the food really is at Trinity College School. Even since I've graduated, I've made some friends, went to other boarding schools in the Toronto area, and they were all saying that they always love coming to Trinity College School to play sports because then they'd get to stay for lunch or dinner.

—Alex, alum (see full discussion)

The food is the biggest differentiator of Trinity College School from other schools. Also, the relationship with my teachers. I never felt like people from other schools had the same connection that I had with my teachers and house masters. It even went as far as I would sit down with my house masters at night, and they'd even be open to talking about my girl problems with me.

—Alex, alum (see full discussion)

The day students benefit from being part of a boarding school. Everything from teachers who live on campus and are available throughout the day, early morning, or even to the evening for extra help; our teachers and coaches are here throughout the day. Our meals had better be good, whether you’re a day student staying for lunch or whether you’re having three meals a day, seven days a week: the food had better be good. And just the level of support that’s available to a student at any time — whether you’re a day student or not — including on weekends. So while there’s a different [formal] classification of day students and boarding students, the experience is actually very similar.

—Stuart Grainger, Head of School (see full interview)

For her, who loves Chinese food, we hope to provide more Asian food in the canteen of the school. The school uniform is also very, very beautiful and comfortable. The dormitory was comfortable and she liked it. The campus is very large and beautiful, with perfect facilities and friendly administrators. The school sports facilities are very good, children can use the gym, tennis court, skating rink, football field, baseball court, squash court, basketball court, swimming pool and so on. Every day after school, we must take part in sports. There are also long runs and meaningful anniversaries every year, and these days, the children have a lot of reflection, in the process of thinking about the meaning of life, such activities. We also learn with our daughter. We also have a lot of harvests.

—Susan Zhang, parent (beginning 2016) (see full review)

Since my husband was a TCS alumnus, he wanted to ensure that our children visited TCS plus other boarding schools and make their own decision on where to attend high school. Boarding school had to be the right fit, then the school had to be the right fit. Each child chose TCS independently of their father's attendance at the school. The way that TCS conducted their admissions process really gave the children every opportunity to see all great aspects and opportunities within the TCS school life.

—Erica Brown, parent (beginning 2020) (see full review)

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Boarding Life

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Boarding Life

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Facts and analysis

Boarding Population

Breakdown by grade

Why it matters

Boarding grades

Breakdown by grade

Why it matters

ENTRY GRADES FOR BOARDING

Breakdown by grade

Why it matters

Qualitative insights

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