The Best Public Elementary Schools in Toronto
When deciding where to live in Toronto, there are many great areas to choose from which makes the decision very challenging. If you have children, or plan on having them, being in a good school district makes it even more complicated. Now, in addition to looking for a house that meet your criteria for things like proximity to work, friends, amenities and family, you need to consider your children’s education.
Considering how important education is, it’s no wonder that families are looking to find areas with the schools which offer the best education for their children. In this blog we will look at the best public elementary schools in Toronto based on the Fraser Institute’s ranking system. The ranking is based on grade three and six standardized testing results for reading, math and writing.
Our next blog will cover the best public high schools in Toronto so stay tuned for that.
#1 Whitney Junior Public School
Whitney Junior Public School is located in a well-established residential district in the Rosedale/Moore Park area. The first school was built in 1926 and the current building in 1964. Some parents and grandparents of the students also attended the school. In May 2001, the school celebrated its 75th anniversary.
The school population is approximately 280 and most students live in the school's catchment area.
· The school has a childcare centre and an outstanding record of parental involvement.
· Staff and parents work together to support school improvement
· Many unique initiatives provide enrichment opportunities and experiences for all students.
· There are many opportunities for students to be involved in outreach programs and give to other communities.
The school has many different initiatives in place to support literacy and numeracy and they continue to be a focus of the School Improvement Planning process. The Principal works with the staff and parents to develop a School Improvement Plan that clearly identifies specific areas requiring improvement and the programs and resources required to improve student success.
#2 Avondale Alternative Elementary School
It was Avondale graduate Nazanin N., class of 2015, who first proposed the school’s motto, Unire: One Puzzle, Many Pieces. This motto is a reflection of what the school is: many students, parents and staff from every corner of the world coming together in two different school programs together as one Avondale school, and of the very exciting future of possibilities that lie ahead. Unire is from the Latin meaning to unite, to come together.
Avondale serves children from diverse language and cultural backgrounds. The school is proud of their students and welcome their enthusiasm, their divergent experiences, their creativity, and their commitment to learning. The staff of Avondale feel privileged to serve the Avondale neighbourhood by helping to create a tradition of excellence and joy in learning.
#3 Rosedale Junior Public School
Rosedale Junior Public School’s motto is Integrity and Scholarship and has been providing a high level of academics, artistic enrichment and community involvement for the children of Rosedale and nearby neighbourhoods for over a century. Founded in 1891, the kindergarten through grade six community school was re-constructed to its present location in 1957.
They school's motto, "Integrity and Scholarship" is evidenced in the school's safe and nurturing environment. The parents, who are very involved with the schooling of their children, work closely with the staff in mutual advocacy for happy, healthy children who take pride in being independent learners, well-informed citizens and responsible leaders.
#4 Cottingham Junior Public School
Cottingham Public Schools’s motto is: "The Heart of the Community”. The school was established in 1890. This small school has a long history of providing excellent programs to a well-established and involved parent community. Cottingham aspires to providing a learning environment that fosters academic excellence in literacy and numeracy through collaborative inquiry and differentiated instruction. They are committed to enhancing each child's sense of self-worth, appreciation and understanding of their diverse Canadian culture. They endeavour to support all children by providing a rich, enhanced learning environment with a very keen focus on the arts, technology and sports. Cottingham’s staff and parents work in mutual advocacy to ensure the children are happy and appreciate the love of life-long learning.
During the 2015/2016 school year, Cottingham became a member of the WE organization. The Cottingham World Changers foster social awareness by THINKING GLOBALLY and ACTING LOCALLY. During the year, students participate in several endeavours helping those in need locally and around the world.
Cottingham Public School believes in creating optimistic classrooms. They use the MIND UP curriculum to help students become resilient, and mindful learners in and out of the classroom. The school helps students develop skills to live smarter, healthier and happier lives. They also offer yoga monthly to help students cope with the stresses they may face in school, at home and in their communities.
#5 John Ross Robertson Junior Public School
Since first opening its doors in 1921, John Ross Robertson Public School has offered stimulating academic and enrichment programs for elementary students. The school's motto is "Learning Together". The word “learning” reflects the school's focus on high academic standards and on helping students reach their full potential. The word “together” reflects the school's collaborative culture where students, teachers, parents and community members work as a team. The mission of the school is "To build the best within ourselves and find the good within each other".
The school serves approximately 600 students from JK to Grade 6 and is a dual-track school with Mid-Immersion French starting at Grade 4.
JRR hosts International Languages Elementary Programs providing opportunities for students to learn and appreciate additional languages, traditions, customs and cultures.
There is an on-site childcare centre and nursery school that accommodates families with pre-school-aged children to students in grade six.
#6 Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School
https://www.tcdsb.org/schools/ourladyofperpetualhelp/Pages/Default.aspx
The history of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School is tied closely to the history of two “parks”, the adjoining Toronto neighbourhoods of Deer Park and Moore Park.
When St. Basil’s parish was established in 1856 the parish decided to build a one-room wood-frame schoolhouse for the Catholic children in the Yonge Street, Deer Park area. At the present-day 1414 Yonge Street, just next to the cemetery, on Wednesday, April 28, 1858, St. Charles School opened. It was named for Charles B. Vincent, second Superior of the Basilian Community, who came from France.
On September 1, 1873 the Sisters of St. Joseph took charge of the school. In 1880 a new two-room brick school building replaced the wood-frame schoolhouse. On January 9, 1923 the school relocated to its present site in Moore Park, staffed by the Sisters of the Loretto Community. On September 8, 1925 Father Francis J. Morrissey was appointed pastor and immediately changed the name of the school to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School has won many awards over the years. In 2005 and again in 2007 the Garfield Weston Foundation recognized the school for Overall Academic Excellence in being among the top one percent of elementary schools in Ontario for sustained academic achievement. The Toronto Catholic District School Board Exemplary Practice Awards were first introduced for the 1999-2000 academic year, recognizing local school initiatives that are exceptional examples of innovative and dynamic approaches to program and service delivery. For 2001-2002 Our Lady of Perpetual Help School was awarded an Exemplary Practice Award for its program formally recognized as Volunteers, Making a Difference, to promote the partnership between school, parent and child. In 2005 the school again was recognized with an Exemplary Practice Award for the collaborative effort its staff brings to the school continually to improve student achievement. In October 2005 the school was honoured for its participation in the Licensed to Learn [L2L] tutor training certificate program, a student peer tutoring program.
#7 Summit Heights Public School
Summit Heights is a small, dynamic school of approximately 380 students and 40 staff members. A third of the students walk to school. Approximately 100 students come from neighbouring schools and are bussed to Summit daily for their Gifted ISP programs. The small size of their school allows for school administration and staff to get to know their students on a personal level very quickly. The small school atmosphere also affords us the opportunity to develop ongoing positive relationships with families, school council and community agencies. Teaching staff at Summit Heights are committed to providing the very best learning environment for their students.
The school believes in helping children:
• Increase feelings of self-worth
• Encourage respect and friendship of other
• Contribute to a classroom atmosphere where everyone can learn
• Give opportunities to participate in extra-curricular activities and field trips
• Promote opportunities to take a leadership role in school organizations and teams
• Obtain recognition through assemblies, certificates and awards
#8 St Bonaventure Catholic School
https://www.tcdsb.org/schools/stbonaventure/Pages/default.aspx
St. Bonaventure is a community of faith and learning, which prides itself on nurturing the spiritual, intellectual, physical and social growth of each member. Faith is interwoven into all aspects of the day, through celebration of the virtues of the month, prayer tables, monthly Masses and visits from the Apostolate of the Rosary. There is a strong parish presence at the school with weekly Friar visits and youth programs. The school is committed to ensure each child feels that they are an important and valued member of the school community. The numerous social justice activities provide opportunities for students to reach out to others and become familiar with the larger world. In addition, the Catholic Graduate Expectations are embedded into the curriculum and school philosophy.
St. Bonaventure offers regular classes from JK-8 and also the opportunity to take Extended French from grades 5 to 8 for half of the day. Art, Physical education, Drama, Music, Social Studies and French Language are taught on the Extended French half of the day. Math, English, Science, Religion and Music are taught on the English half of the day.
Through a collaborative environment teachers meet on a regular basis to identify needs and strengths of each student in order to better frame the learning environment to meet individual needs. This year, 91% of students in grade 3 and 80% of students in grade 6 achieved the provincial standard in mathematics. The school will continue to focus on strategies that will lead to improvements in math results at all grade levels, through detailed analysis focused on student success.
The parent community provides ongoing support through theme based activity days for the children, funding for Scientist in School program, classroom fund, workshop for parents, support for resources for classroom use through the enhancement fee
#9 Blythwood Junior Public School
Blythwood is located in a North Toronto residential area. The school was built over 85 years ago. In 1992, a multi-purpose room was added that serves as a recreational and meeting facility in the community. The school serves over 400 students from JK to Grade 6. Most of the children are from English speaking homes with a low rate of mobility. The school has a small Early Language Learner population. The school grounds border a ravine and are used extensively by the community all year round for sporting and other group activities. Staff work collaboratively to provide a positive and enriching learning environment for students. Parent volunteers work in partnership with staff to provide a rich variety of activities for students.
#10 Lambton Kingsway Junior Middle School
Lambton-Kingsway has enjoyed a long-standing tradition of community involvement and educational excellence. The current building (1993) is the fourth school to be located in this community since the village of Lambton was founded Dating back to 1845, Lambton Mills Public School was Etobicoke's first two-room school. By 1875 a one-room, red brick school was built at the corner of Lambton Road (now Prince Edward Drive) and Government Road. Increasing enrolment resulted in the construction of a four-room school adjacent to the old school in 1916. The new Lambton-Kingsway Junior Middle School opened its doors to 551 enthusiastic learners on January 4, 1993.
Lambton-Kingsway Junior Middle School is committed to promoting high academic achievement and fostering the social and emotional development of each student through collaboration, mutual respect and community partnerships.
The school is committed to:
• Fostering a safe, positive and respectful learning environment
• Providing an equitable and inclusive learning environment
• Promoting social responsibility through character development
• Developing life-long learners