International Education in Toronto

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The Canadian education system is widely regarded as one of the best in the world. Expat children can attend any public school in Canada for free and receive an exceptional standard of education.

So why bother with an international school?

The main difference between Toronto’s public, private and international schools is boarding. Private and international schools commonly offer campus accommodation where students can make the most of school life, from extra curricular clubs to sports facilities and so much more.

While the standards of education are similar, international schools place more emphasis on educating children to be ‘global citizens’. The student body is also made up of students from all over the world, rather than a majority of Canadian students with a small minority of international students.

The International Baccalaureate curriculum is well known all over the world, and is one of the most common curricula taught in international schools globally. While you will of course find a choice of international schools in Toronto offering the IB, the Canadian curriculum is equally popular. Given the country’s highly regarded education system, this should be no cause for concern - quite the opposite in fact.

Another one of Canada’s many talents is its bilingualism. The country’s two official languages - French and English - have equal standing in government and law. In reality English is more widely spoken in Toronto, and the city’s international schools mostly teach through English.

That said, if you want your child to learn through French many schools offer the option. French is also offered as an additional language in all schools, along with many others. Toronto is a true melting pot of a city with people from all over the globe calling it home; whatever language or culture your want your child to be exposed to, you’ll find it here.

Toronto’s international schools are scattered across a wide suburban and urban area. Heading from the northern suburbs to the downtown area, the majority of them are situated between the axis of Thornhill/North York (at the top) and Avenue Road, Yonge Street and Mount Pleasant Road (towards the bottom).

If you head east or west of the downtown area instead, you’ll find as many international schools in either direction too. Burlington and Hamilton to the west of Toronto and Whitby to the east each have an international school too, making a life away from the traffic and bustle even easier.

Below, we have compiled the top 10 international schools in Toronto according to our users. However, there are another 22 schools to choose from in the city. You can find the best international school for your child by personalising your results. Just fill in your search criteria, and we will calculate a personal score for every international school in Toronto based on your requirements.