When you are looking for a home in Toronto and you have children, finding a neighbourhood that offers the best schools for their needs is an important consideration. How do you start looking when you aren’t familiar with what the local school board has to offer? 

Find the Neighbourhood with the Best Schools for your Children

Before you start locking at specific neighbourhoods, or even schools, look at your family and think about the type of educational programs that would most benefit your children. The Toronto School Board offers the following school choices for students and their parents:

• French Programs (French Immersion starting in Senior Kindergarten and Extended French starting in Grades 4)
• Alternative Schools offering a number of different program delivery models
• Boys Leadership Academy (One school)
• Girls Leadership Academy (One school)
• Vocal Music Academy (Two schools)
• Sports & Wellness Academy (Three schools)
• Health & Wellness Academy (Two schools)

All students have equal access for admission to the Academies, and there are no specific admission requirements that must be met. All that is required is interest and passion for the focus of the program offered by the school.

The Toronto School Board also offers a wide range special education programs in a Community Based Resource Model. It encourages inclusion by providing students with special needs with accommodations in their local school and offering support from Special Education support and resources to all teachers.

Check Out EQAO Profiles and Reports

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) is the provincial agency that tests Grade 3 and 6 students in reading, writing and mathematics. It tests Grade 9 students in mathematics; Grade 10 students are given a literacy test.

Visit the EQAO website to look of results for the Toronto District School Board or the Toronto Catholic District School Board. You can search by school to find out the number of students who wrote the tests and how many met or exceeded the provincial standard.

This information will help you make an informed decision about schools in the GTA. Keep in mind that your first option will be to send your children to the school in your district. If you are interested in sending your child to an out-of-district school, you will need to find out whether there is an opening available.

When you are looking for the right home for your family in the GTA, let Daniel and Bonnie Wan help you in your search. They have years of experience in this market and will save you time by directing you to properties that best fit your needs. Give them a call today – and start packing!