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Toronto boarding schools

Find the top boarding schools in Toronto

Here’s OUR KIDS guide to boarding schools in Toronto. This includes boarding schools in downtown Toronto (such as the Annex and Bloor West), midtown (such as St. Clair West and Forest Hill), North York, Scarborough, Vaughan, Mississauga, Etobicoke, Markham, Thornhill, Richmond Hill, Newmarket, and Aurora.

Toronto hosts a selection of distinguished boarding schools nestled in both urban and neighbourhood settings. These institutions—ranging from historic girls’ academies to elite co-ed schools—offer an immersive educational experience backed by strong academics, vibrant student life, and diverse extracurricular opportunities.

Annual boarding fees in Toronto typically fall between CAD $15,000 and $85,000, depending on the school, grade level, and whether the option is available year‑round or part-time. For a complete guide to boarding in Canada, including information about admissions, please see our introductory guide to boarding schools.

Heading to university, I’ve been so well prepared, especially with the study skills that boarding teaches you. As a boarding student, I have mandatory study periods every day for a certain amount of time. It really builds that routine and self-discipline in your own academics.
—Ashley, alum, Bishop Strachan School

2. Choosing a boarding school in Toronto

Our boarding school guide has advice specific to finding boarding schools in Canada. For insights that are more general (on how to evaluate school options) we recommend you review our hub on choosing a school. You can also read our guides to questions to ask private schools and questions students get asked at school interviews.

Private school expos

Private school expos are ideal launching pads for your school-finding journey. The Toronto private school expo allows you to speak with administrators from leading Toronto boarding schools. If you live in the west end of the GTA, we also host an expo for Halton-Peel, where schools from that region exhibit. Both expos are held in the fall.

Upcoming open house events

Attending open houses is obviously a great way to learn more about a school and get a feel for the environment. For some advice on open house visits, go here. For questions to ask that are specific to boarding programs, refer to our main boarding school hub.

3. Tuition overview for boarding schools in Toronto

Tuition at Toronto boarding schools generally falls within the broader spectrum of private school tuition in Ontario, with additional costs to cover housing, meals, and residential services.

Many boarding schools in Toronto offer financial assistance, including needs-based bursaries and merit-based scholarships. These programs aim to attract a diverse group of students who will enrich the school community. Larger or more established institutions typically offer more substantial financial aid options.

For a detailed overview of funding opportunities, visit our dedicated guide on financial aid and scholarships.

Below is an overview of current tuition ranges at boarding schools in Toronto:

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Tuition at Toronto boarding schools

Toronto is home to some of Canada’s most established and prestigious educational institutions, alongside newer, highly innovative schools. While Upper Canada College stands as Ontario’s oldest independent school, Columbia International College—just outside Toronto—is North America’s largest boarding school.

Both day students and those attending Toronto boarding schools benefit from access to world-class universities, colleges, museums, galleries, and financial and cultural institutions. It’s Canada’s financial and cultural hub, hosting the Toronto Stock Exchange, CBC, National Ballet, the Royal Ontario Museum, and major international events like TIFF.

Graduation requirements in Toronto boarding schools

The Ontario Ministry of Education mandates that all private secondary schools register annually and are subject to inspection before being allowed to issue credits toward the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

To earn the OSSD, students must complete a minimum of 30 credits in grades 9–12—18 mandatory courses, including English, math, science, history, geography, arts, health and physical education, French, career studies, and civics. The remaining 12 credits are electives, allowing students to pursue diverse interests like technology, arts, languages, and cooperative education. In addition, all students must complete 40 hours of community service throughout high school.

Toronto boarding schools: common additional requirements

Many boarding schools in Toronto add their own graduation requirements beyond the provincial ones. For example, Columbia International College requires 36 credits to graduate, while at Appleby College, students must study an additional international language beyond English and French. Some schools also require extra volunteer hours or community service projects.