Toronto has more than 100 secondary schools across its public, Catholic, and independent systems — and the difference between the highest and lowest-ranked is significant. For families trying to navigate the options, the Fraser Institute’s annual report on Ontario secondary schools provides the most comprehensive publicly available comparison. But a ranking tells you about a school’s average student population. It says nothing about whether a specific school is the right fit for your specific child. This guide covers the top-performing Toronto high schools by category, what makes each one distinct, and how to judge fit rather than just reputation.
How Toronto high schools are ranked
The most widely used source for comparing Toronto high schools is the Fraser Institute’s Report Card on Ontario’s Secondary Schools. The 2025 edition ranks 747 public, Catholic, and independent schools using eight academic indicators derived from provincewide test results, including the Grade 9 EQAO math assessment and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT).
The ranking produces a score out of 10 for each school. Contrary to common misconceptions, the data suggest every school can improve regardless of type, location, and student characteristics. This matters for Toronto families: a school’s current ranking reflects its recent trajectory, not a fixed ceiling.
What the ranking measures — and what it doesn’t
The Fraser Institute ranking measures academic outcomes across a school’s entire student population. It does not measure:
- Whether a specific student would thrive at that school given their individual ability level
- The quality of specialist or enrichment programmes within the school
- School culture, co-curricular offerings, or student wellbeing
- Whether the school’s academic pace is the right challenge level for a high-performing student
A school with a strong Fraser rating is a useful starting point, not a final answer. The most important question for an ambitious family is not “what is this school’s rating” but “is my child ready for this school’s pace, and will this school genuinely challenge them.”
Top public high schools in Toronto
St. Michael’s Choir School — St. Michael’s holds a perfect 10/10 Fraser Institute rating and ranks as Toronto’s most academically prestigious school. It is a Catholic boys’ school with an internationally recognised music programme — every student sings in the choir and takes music theory alongside regular academic subjects. Entry requires an audition; tuition applies despite it being part of the Catholic system. For families whose son has both strong academic ability and musical talent, it represents a genuinely unique academic environment.
Ursula Franklin Academy — Consistently scores above 9.5 on Fraser Institute ratings, making it one of Toronto’s top-ranked public schools. A public alternative school in High Park with a curriculum centred on social justice, science, and equity. Strong university placement and a distinctive academic culture. Entry is competitive — students apply in Grade 8 for Grade 9 entry.
Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute — Known for its TOPS programme (Talented Overachievers Program in Science), which offers enriched mathematics, science, and technology courses. Highly regarded for students with a strong interest in math, science, and technology. TOPS has a separate application and entrance exam process. A genuinely strong option for mathematically gifted students who want enrichment within the public system.
Earl Haig Secondary School — A large North York public school known for the Claude Watson Arts Programme, among the most competitive arts programmes in Canada. Consistent strong Fraser Institute scores. The arts programme requires a competitive audition in January or February for September entry.
Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts — Located in North York, Cardinal Carter accepts students through competitive auditions in dance, drama, music, visual arts, and technical theatre. Students spend half their day in arts training and half in academic classes. Consistently strong Fraser Institute scores.
William Lyon Mackenzie Collegiate — A well-regarded North York public school with consistently strong academic results and an International Baccalaureate programme. Located in a neighbourhood that houses a concentration of top schools alongside Cardinal Carter and Earl Haig.
University of Toronto Schools (UTS): Toronto’s most selective public high school
University of Toronto Schools deserves separate mention because its admissions model is unlike any other public school in the city. UTS accepts only about 20% of applicants, making it Toronto’s most selective public school. It admits students in Grade 7 and Grade 9 through rigorous entrance exams in math, English, and abstract reasoning.
UTS is affiliated with the University of Toronto and runs a university-preparatory curriculum from Grade 7 through Grade 12. It is co-educational, free to attend as a public school, and places its graduates consistently at the most competitive Canadian and international universities.
For a mathematically strong student, UTS’s Grade 7 entry is one of the most meaningful opportunities available in Toronto — but it requires preparation that goes beyond school curriculum, and the entrance exam is genuinely demanding.
Top private (independent) high schools in Toronto
For the top independent schools in Toronto specifically — Upper Canada College, Branksome Hall, Bishop Strachan, Havergal College, and others — see our dedicated Toronto private schools guide, which covers each school in detail including tuition, admissions process, and SSAT requirements.
The short version: most of Toronto’s top private schools require the SSAT for Grade 7 or Grade 9 entry, expect scores in the 80th percentile or above from competitive applicants, and close applications by December 1 for September entry. For SSAT preparation resources, see our SSAT guide for Canadian parents.
Specialty programmes: what they are and how to apply
Several of Toronto’s top public high schools offer specialty programmes that draw students from across the city — not just from their neighbourhood catchment. These programmes have their own application processes, separate from standard public school registration.
IB (International Baccalaureate) — Available at several Toronto schools. Suits students who thrive in an inquiry-based, internationally recognised academic framework. Strong for university admissions both domestically and internationally.
TOPS at Marc Garneau — Specifically for students with strong mathematics, science, and technology interest. Requires a separate application and entrance assessment. One of the few public enrichment options for mathematically gifted students in Toronto.
Arts programmes (Claude Watson at Earl Haig, Cardinal Carter, Rosedale Heights) — All require competitive auditions, typically held in January and February. Application deadlines usually fall in late November or early December of Grade 8.
Application timing for specialty programmes: Application deadlines for specialized programmes typically fall in late November or early December of Grade 8. You submit applications through your current school’s guidance office, which forwards materials to the specialized programme. Notification letters usually arrive in March or April.
This timeline means preparation for Grade 9 specialty programme entry should begin in Grade 7 — not in Grade 8 when the application window opens.
What a ranking doesn’t tell you about Toronto high schools
The Fraser Institute explicitly advises against using rankings as the sole criterion for school selection. This is especially relevant for families whose child is mathematically strong and academically ambitious.
A school’s Fraser rating reflects the average performance of all its students. A high-performing student at a school with a modest overall rating may be in the top 1% of that school’s cohort — but may also be under-challenged and coasting. A high-performing student at a top-rated school may be genuinely stretched and developing in ways the classroom alone can’t measure.
For families thinking about competition mathematics, university admissions to competitive programmes, and long-term academic development, the right question isn’t which school has the highest rating — it’s which environment will genuinely push your child to perform at their ceiling.
For a deeper look at this distinction, see our guides to math enrichment and signs of mathematical giftedness.
How Think Academy Canada supports Toronto high school preparation
Think Academy Canada works with motivated, high-performing students across Canada from Grade 1 through Grade 12, fully online. For Toronto families preparing for high school applications — whether that’s a UTS entrance exam, a TOPS application, an arts programme audition prep, or an independent school requiring SSAT — our starting point is always a diagnostic.
Our free assessment gives you an independent, objective picture of your child’s current academic ability — separate from school grades, which can vary in rigour between schools. For families targeting selective public programmes or independent schools, this is the clearest starting point before formal preparation begins.
FAQ
What are the best high schools in Toronto?
Top-ranked public options include St. Michael’s Choir School (perfect 10/10 Fraser rating), Ursula Franklin Academy (consistently above 9.5), Marc Garneau Collegiate’s TOPS programme, Earl Haig Secondary (Claude Watson Arts), and Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts. University of Toronto Schools is the most selective public school. Top private options include Upper Canada College, Branksome Hall, Bishop Strachan, and Havergal College.
What is the most academically prestigious high school in Toronto?
St. Michael’s Choir School holds a perfect 10/10 Fraser Institute rating and is consistently regarded as one of the most academically rigorous schools in the province. University of Toronto Schools is the most selective by admission rate, accepting approximately 20% of applicants.
How does University of Toronto Schools admissions work?
UTS admits students in Grade 7 and Grade 9 through entrance exams in math, English, and abstract reasoning. It is a public school — free to attend — but highly selective. Its acceptance rate is approximately 20%.
What is the TOPS programme at Marc Garneau?
TOPS (Talented Overachievers Program in Science) is an enriched programme at Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute for students with strong interest and ability in mathematics, science, and technology. It requires a separate application and entrance assessment, and accepts students from across the city.
When do Toronto high school specialty programme applications open?
Application deadlines for most specialty programmes (IB, arts, enrichment) fall in late November or early December of Grade 8 for September Grade 9 entry. Arts programme auditions typically occur in January and February, with notification in March or April.
Do Toronto private schools require the SSAT?
Most of Toronto’s top independent schools require the SSAT for Grade 7 or Grade 9 entry, typically expecting scores in the 80th percentile or above for competitive applicants. See our Toronto private schools guide for school-specific requirements.
How does the Fraser Institute rank Toronto high schools?
The Fraser Institute ranks 747 Ontario schools out of 10 using eight academic indicators from provincewide test results, including Grade 9 EQAO math scores and OSSLT literacy test results. The ranking reflects a school’s average student performance, not the performance of any individual student.
What is the hardest high school to get into in Toronto?
University of Toronto Schools, with a roughly 20% acceptance rate, is the most selective public high school. Among private schools, Upper Canada College and Havergal College also have highly competitive admissions processes.
Are there good high schools in Toronto outside the downtown core?
Yes. North York has a strong concentration of high-performing schools including Cardinal Carter Academy, Earl Haig Secondary, William Lyon Mackenzie, and York Mills Collegiate Institute. Many of the city’s top-performing schools are in North York and the inner suburbs rather than downtown.
How can Think Academy Canada help with Toronto high school preparation?
Think Academy Canada offers a free diagnostic assessment for students in Grades 1 to 12. The assessment gives an objective picture of a student’s current academic ability, useful preparation before UTS entrance exams, TOPS applications, arts programme auditions, or independent school SSAT requirements.
About Think Academy Canada Think Academy Canada is a K-12 mathematics tutoring programme, part of TAL Education Group. We work with motivated, high-performing students across Canada from Grade 1 through Grade 12, with a focus on curriculum enrichment, SSAT preparation, and competition mathematics including CEMC and AMC. All lessons are delivered online. Follow us on Instagram at @thinkacademyca.
