Upper Canada College Student Makeup: Enrolment and Class Size

Grade	Enrollment
Upper Canada College	Median of all other schools
JK	20	16
SK	20	17
Gr. 1	20	17
Gr. 2	20	16
Gr. 3	40	17
Gr. 4	44	16
Gr. 5	66	18
Gr. 6	88	18
Gr. 7	130	18
Gr. 8	140	20
Gr. 9	176	35
Gr. 10	176	35
Gr. 11	171	40
Gr. 12	166	40

Grade	Boarding students as a percentage of total enrollment per grade
Upper Canada College	Median of all other boarding schools
Gr. 8	4%	19%
Gr. 9	7%	40%
Gr. 10	9%	48%
Gr. 11	15%	53%
Gr. 12	18%	60%

Grade	Percentage of students on financial aid
Gr. 5	19%
Gr. 6	19%
Gr. 7	19%
Gr. 8	19%
Gr. 9	19%
Gr. 10	19%
Gr. 11	19%
Gr. 12	19%

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.

Students actively take part in a culture of excellence.

Students and alumni note that the excellent facilities and vast resources at Upper Canada College enable them to achieve and excel in their passions while being part of a prestigious educational lineage that motivates them toward high achievement.

That drive and that desire to just want to do well, and it being so common, is something that I would say largely impacts and defines the student body at Upper Canada College. That also goes beyond academics. Athletics-wise, you would go to the gym, and you would see the football team or the hockey team working out, or getting ready for a game. Just seeing how hard they were working, and seeing how that translated on the field when it came to getting that last minute goal, or that last second touchdown was amazing.

—Darwin Jimal, alum (see full interview)

I would wholeheartedly recommend students to go to Upper Canada College if they have the opportunity. I suppose the biggest reasons are the facilities and resources to make dreams come true, to enable a student to accomplish things and gain excellence in things that they had not considered possible before. Another big thing is that you're walking in very big footsteps. You're walking in a very long and remarkable line of students. That feeling of the gravity of where you're attending pervades everything you do. It can be intimidating at first, but once you get used to it, it is a strong force that drives a person to achieve excellence.

—Chris Birks, alum (see full interview)

They develop holistically along individualized paths.

Insights from students and alumni reveal that Upper Canada College provides numerous opportunities for holistic development, allowing students to engage in a variety of co-curricular activities alongside academic learning, fostering well-rounded individuals.

The three words that I would use to describe Upper Canada College would be energetic, well-rounded, and passionate. At UCC, the focus is on making sure academics come first, but also on making sure that students are as well rounded as possible and that they find the thing that they will excel at, which is what separates us from other high schools.

—Sevion DaCosta, alum (see full interview)

There's no one unique model for an Upper Canada College student, but Upper Canada College as a whole helps to create the best students possible during their time there. The school explains, ‘yes, we have amazing opportunities, but it will be different when you go into the real world.’ We also have to understand, and we need to see what's going to be out there when we leave that Upper Canada College bubble.

—Sevion DaCosta, alum (see full interview)

There is a shared focus on well-being.

Testimonies from parents and administrators emphasize Upper Canada College's commitment to student well-being, focusing on physical, social, and emotional health through comprehensive support systems and life skills education that prepare students for life's challenges.

Yes, we are an all boys school, but I think this is imperative in education. It is true for an all-boys institution, but it is equally true for any school and even for our broader community. I think we're recognizing the importance of wellbeing, physical, social, and emotional health, and the important role that education plays in fostering well being, in supporting individual well-being, in responding when there are challenges, but also providing skills and abilities to individuals so that they can navigate those ups and downs that we all inevitably face.

—Sam McKinney, Principal (see full interview)

There are about 1150 students in the school. They are confident, happy, smart, well-educated, all-rounded. Some are eager for achievements, attending lots of clubs and extracurricular, even hiring private tutors. Many students have great family background, and the school provides a character development program and EQ trainings. Last academic year, there was a mindful course every other day. Students interact friendly and gently, no physical touch (fight) at anytime is the school policy, which is well implemented. They invite each other to birthday parties. School provides a cake once a month for the student birthdays in that month. Coach and mentoring is provided for students need social skill development and catch ups. There are lots of clubs, group projects and outdoor (Noval) educations to bond students together. There are many play dates as some students living further away.

—Pierre Pong, parent (beginning 2017) (see full review)

They enjoy the unparalleled UCC school spirit.

Insights from students and alumni reveal that Upper Canada College's vibrant school spirit, expressed through activities like the 'Blue Army' and lively pre-event assemblies, significantly enhances the student experience by promoting camaraderie and enthusiasm.

Upper Canada College school spirit is one of the best. Upper Canada College would make sure that we had fans out at our varsity football, soccer, and basketball games. What we call the ‘Blue Army’ allows us to engage ourselves throughout these different activities. The Blue Army doesn't just stop at athletics; it also goes to band performances or drama. Upper Canada College makes sure that we're willing to uphold each other from our standpoint of never walking alone as an all-boys school, and makes sure that students are supporting each other.

—Sevion DaCosta, alum (see full interview)

When Upper Canada College would have an athletic event, students would always have this parade beforehand where we'd go through the school and get everybody excited for it. We have an assembly beforehand that would be almost like a party. We would all wear the same thing and go and cheer on the team. Things like that just made Upper Canada College so much more fun to attend, because it wasn't just this purely academic focused school. You were allowed to let loose a little bit and to have fun.

—Darwin Jimal, alum (see full interview)

Student life at Upper Canada College is engaging and rich. There is always something exciting going on, be it their next trip to Norval, a school play, a musical performance in assembly, or the next big sports game. Successes are celebrated school wide through assemblies, with a popular assembly to end the term at winter break, and year end with slide shows and memories. My boys both love going to school each day. Classroom learning is fun and varied and supplemented with great field trips which provide an opportunity for experiential learning. The two recesses along with one hour of physical education daily is key for boys and helps them not only stay active during the day, but helps them stay focused during the day. I think a few more colour house based activities and events would help build friendships across the grades, in addition to the academic buddy system that begins in SK. Upper Canada College is a warm welcoming environment supportive to all boys and as a result the boys are happy and love being a part of the school.

—Julia Pantalone, parent (beginning 2012) (see full review)

They benefit from dedicated teachers.

Parental feedback emphasizes the dedication and care of the faculty at Upper Canada College, who are committed to fostering both academic and personal growth in their students.

Upper Canada College always has one of the smallest football teams in our division. But we are always successful because we have coaches who care so much and are willing to dedicate that time. The students were dedicating that time as well.

—Sevion DaCosta, alum (see full interview)

I feel my child likes the teachers the best, they care, they are energetic, fully engaged, responsible, and resourceful. My child appreciates the learning experience and result the most: teacher took SK class out to sit on roadside to count car colors in tally marks, teacher gave mindful class every other day last year. One day, my son came back and said "Mom, I think patience is a virtue". And the end of SK, we were so surprised to found that our son were able to read lots of level 1 & 2 books. When I drop off my son in the morning, he immediately recognizes the boy in front him at a distance, calls him by name and they went to the class together. So kids have been advancing well not only in academic but also physical mental and social perspectives.

—Pierre Pong, parent (beginning 2017) (see full review)

They cultivate diverse passions through extracurriculars.

Reports from students highlight the extensive array of extracurricular activities at Upper Canada College, providing avenues for all students to discover and pursue their passions beyond the classroom.

The thing I would most appreciate about Upper Canada College is the ability to become extremely well-rounded. I think I came in in Grade 7 knowing that public speaking was one of the things that I enjoyed, and I also played soccer before, but I found that I was able to kind of expand my knowledge of different academic courses as well as the co-curriculars. I played volleyball and I was in the drama club the first year that I got there. I joined the rugby team for my first-ever time. I was able to join the debate club in the prep school, and then as I went and transitioned to the upper school, I was able to expand that knowledge a lot more. As it relates to my applications to universities, that's one of the things that stood out that I was a part of so many different things. I was also the co-president of the Black History Club at Upper Canada College. Upper Canada College allowed me to do many things that I don't think I would have particularly gotten at other schools, build my skill sets, and become very successful.

—Sevion DaCosta, alum (see full interview)

There is no typical Upper Canada College student. The reason why I say that is because there are so many different aspects of the school. Some are extremely interested in computer science and robotics Myself, personally, I love literature courses and history courses. I kind of fell in love with economics. Some people are fully engaged in economics and were part of investing clubs and made sure that they were involved in Econ, and any other opportunities there. Some love public speaking, so they're in Model UN. Some are extremely sports-focused, and those who are really amazing at art. There's no typical Upper Canada College student just because there are so many different avenues for becoming your own true person. Still, within that same realm, students can interact with so many other people following their passions in different regards. Students can gain greater exposure to some of the things that make their fellow students extremely passionate.

—Sevion DaCosta, alum (see full interview)

I take part in many extracurriculars activities including many clubs and teams at school as well as outside sport teams. I have been fortunate enough for opportunities UCC has given me to play on the soccer, hockey, basketball, softball and volleyball teams. I also participate in both concert and jazz bands. I participate in a variety of activities and balancing school work and extracurriculars became very challenging. But, with the support of my family and friends I was able to manage all of my activities. UCC offers so many different opportunities that all students have the ability to access. The school allows students to actually create their own clubs for people to join. I myself am trying to participate in as many clubs as I can including debate, entrepreneurial, and marketing club. What is so great about extracurriculars at UCC is that everybody will have the chance to find something they are passionate about outside of school.

—Will Huang, student (beginning 2012) (see full review)

They benefit from a diverse and inclusive community.

Observations from administrators and parents highlight that Upper Canada College is celebrated for its inclusive and diverse community, welcoming students from various nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and neighborhoods, creating a rich and supportive environment.

So the forward focus has been something that perhaps has been pleasing, maybe not surprising. I would also say that the community of the College is a wonderfully inclusive community, one that is extraordinarily diverse. When we were speaking just before this call, we were talking about the circumstance that I've had personally to live and work outside of Canada and in fact, spending 20 years overseas. It was actually 23 years between leaving the city of Toronto and returning to Toronto and the incredible diversity of our city and our country.

—Sam McKinney, Principal (see full interview)

The wonderful inclusion that we feel in this city and country is something that also is experienced here at the College, with more than 40 different nationalities by birth represented in our student population, with a great range of individuals across socioeconomic statuses of our society supported by a financial assistance program in the school. Diversity is something that has been wonderfully pleasing, maybe not surprising, but incredibly pleasing about my experience at UCC.

—Sam McKinney, Principal (see full interview)

The student population annually approaches 1200 students. The boarders come from as many as 25 countries in last year's boarding population. They are a wonderful group coming from across Canada. We had individuals from Alberta through to the East Coast of Newfoundland in our boarding community, and that community, as I mentioned, is wonderfully vibrant, involved in the full breadth of school activities, very much interconnected with our day population. Our student population of 1170 begins with senior kindergarten students, and we have one class of senior kindergarten students. We have entry years in year three and year five, year six, year seven and into our high school. Our boarders don't begin until that high school age, typically starting in around year nine and progressing through to graduation. They are, through classroom experience, through co-creator activities, sports, drama, music and the like, all involved in the full program of the school.

—Sam McKinney, Principal (see full interview)

Students come to us from down towards the Lake, east towards Scarborough and beyond, west towards Mississauga, north towards Richmond Hill. They come from all spokes of that wheel. And many students travel a significant distance to come to school, some by public transit, some by personal transport, and others will walk or ride a bicycle to school. So there isn't one specific neighborhood for students in the school. We draw from all across the city, indeed with the boarding community and from across the country and globally. So there isn't one neighborhood for the school, that is for sure.

—Sam McKinney, Principal (see full interview)

Our community is all shapes and sizes, all levels of engagement and less engagement. So really, it's about opportunity. And again, like a student, there are plenty of opportunities for a student to be involved in. And while I believe that in many ways the students who have gained the greatest outcomes from the school have been those who've been most involved, I think, in many ways, families. Families find ways to become involved, and that can be in any multiple of ways. It might be helping on Grandparents Day here at the College, volunteering or Remembrance Day or on open houses or things of that nature. It might be helping a child at home bake something for a bake sale, and not coming into the school for that, but helping their child in support of an activity in the school.

—Sam McKinney, Principal (see full interview)

Being a student at Upper Canada College gives you a sense that you are receiving the best education that money can buy. I think when you're young, and you're made aware of that, you must also be made aware that your view is not the only view, that there are people from all walks of life in the real world who have not had the same experience as you. You need to be open-minded to those people, and to the very different experiences they've had. So while I was at Upper Canada College, I can't think of any particular incidents of boys being made to feel that their opinion is special, but I think there needs to be a very robust reminder, and a regular reminder that you are very lucky, and that out there, your view is not the only view.

—Chris Birks, alum (see full interview)

The sense of community is 100% what I appreciate the most from attending Upper Canada College to this day, my best friends are people from Upper Canada College. When I look back on my experience, it is all very, very positive. Talking to other people who came from other schools, generally, that's not the kind of the sense that they have. High school isn't necessarily the time where they made the most amount of friends or those kinds of things. For me, from immediately going there, to this day, I still talk to my best friends who are people that I met at Upper Canada College.

—Darwin Jimal, alum (see full interview)

There was never a time at Upper Canada College when I felt like I didn't belong or I was an outsider. There was always a way that a friend, teacher, or somebody on the faculty would make me feel like I was a part of something bigger.

—Darwin Jimal, alum (see full interview)

A large number of my friends came from other faraway places. They would come in from Pickering, from Brampton, from Scarborough. It allowed for a more diverse population. That made me feel more welcome, and that I wasn't the odd one out of this group of wealthier, generally upper class, or what the common perception is of kids who go to private school.

—Darwin Jimal, alum (see full interview)

The diversity of Upper Canada College made me feel more welcome and more engaged. From going to other schools, whether it be for a tournament or for an event, I didn't see that. It was much more of the generic type of wealthy student. I'm not trying to put down any other school or anything like that, I’m just kind of going off of my experiences.

—Darwin Jimal, alum (see full interview)

I think that Upper Canada College has a great student atmosphere. We have a very diverse culture at UCC and I am very fortunate to interact with such a great group of people at a young age. A lot of the people that thrive at UCC are students who are not afraid to socialize. Making a lot of connections with different people everyday is natural for a student at UCC because you interact with many other students in your own year but also younger and older boys as well with regularity. I think everyone feels included at the school because there are always opportunities for people to participate. These activities can appeal to a wide variety of people and usually a lot of shy students can thrive in these activities. At UCC we have a saying called 'Never Walk Alone'. Our school motto is a great way to represent our student body. Students at UCC never feel like they are alone because there is always someone to have their back. This saying translates to all grades of the school and is something that all students abide by.

—Will Huang, student (beginning 2012) (see full review)

Upper Canada College has an extremely diverse student body. There are boys that excel at all different interests, there is no one typical boy. Although it is a large school the boys begin in one small class, and it remains this way until grade 3. The grades gradually get larger as the years move on. The school spirit is extremely strong, as the boys have several opportunities to support school teams, watch music performances, plays etc. The school is also divided into colour houses which provides smaller group interaction between the grades, participating in events such as soccerfest. From my experience, the boys have interacted well, successfully worked together in groups inside of the classroom as well as games outside of the classroom. There are also several 'buddy' systems with the older grades such as reading buddies from the early years.

—Julia Pantalone, parent (beginning 2012) (see full review)

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EVALUATE YOUR SCHOOLS

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Student Body

Page Contents

Insider community voices

Darwin Jimal

Facts and analysis

Total enrollment

Breakdown by grade

Why it matters

Gender

Why it matters

Boarding Population

Breakdown by grade

Why it matters

International Students

Why it matters

STUDENTS ON FINANCIAL AID

Breakdown by grade

Why it matters

Qualitative insights

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