The York School is a co-educational JK to Grade 12independent school located in the heart of Toronto, Ontario. The York School was founded in 1965 and is the first school in Canada accredited to offer the International Baccalaureate from Junior Kindergarten to university entrance. The York School has three mottos "Experientia Docet" "Be yourself be great" and "York is co-ed life is co-ed".
History
In 1965, Barbara Goodwin-Zeibots established The York School as a nursery school, recognizing the need for quality preschool education within a caring community. In 1978, the school added a toddler program as well as an elementary school. The first Grade 8 class graduated in 1985. The Senior School was founded in 1995 with the addition of a Grade 9 class. In the late 1990s, 1320 Yonge Street was purchased through the "Home of Our Own" capital campaign. Goodwin-Zeibots remained the Head of School until retiring in the spring of 2006. She was succeeded by Ezio Crescenzi. In 2011 Conor Jones became Head of School. In September 2010, The York School opened a second campus at 1639 Yonge Street which houses the Junior School. The location at 1320 Yonge Street houses the Middle and Senior School campus for Grades 6-12. In 2015, The York School celebrated its 50th anniversary and announced a Capital Campaign to raise $5 million for the renovation of the Middle and Senior School campus at 1320 Yonge Street. The renovation is now complete. In April 2019 Conor Jones resigned as head of school and Struan Robertson stepped in as interim head of school until December 2019 where he was appointed as full time head of school.
Program
The York School is an IB World School and was the first in Canada to offer all three levels of the International Baccalaureate Programme,also known as the IB Continuum. The school also offers a variety of outdoor education programmes and excursions both locally and internationally.
Campuses
The York School has two campuses. JK-Grade 5 students are located at 1639 Yonge Street. Grades 6-12 are at 1320 Yonge Street, in the Summerhill district. The Principal of the Junior School is Valerie Turner. The Principal of the Middle School is Helen Gin. The Principal of the Senior School is David Hamilton. The interim Head of School is Struan Robertson.
Curricular and Co-Curricular Programmes
The York School offers a programme for Grade 9 students called ICE, exploring Canadian history, geography, civics and literature and what it means to be Canadian. All Grade 9 students participate in this intensive programme and produce a documentary to reflect on their learning at the end of the year. The documentary is screened by parents and educators. The York School sends a group of Grade 11 student volunteers to the in India, which was co-founded by Barbara Goodwin-Zeibots. There is a one week excursion for all students grade 6 through 10 called challenge week where students travel somewhere in Canada or the United states and do a week of learning about a specific subject. |left|140x140px All students and staff are part of a house system named after four important figures in Canadian history including two women and two men to reflect the co-ed nature of the school. The houses include McClung, Champlain, Simcoe and Johnson, named after Nellie McClung, Samuel de Champlain, John Simcoe and Pauline Johnson. |left|151x151px The school's Gladiator Athletics programme is a part of the Conference of Independent Schools of Ontario Athletic Association. Athletic Programmes at the school include basketball, soccer, volleyball, cross-country, track and field, ultimate frisbee, squash, curling and swimming. The York School has won 25 CISAA Championships since 2012. Approximately 20% of The York School's families are international. The school has provided support for students and families moving from abroad.
Tuition
As of 2018/2019, tuition is $31,100 for Grades 1-12, $26,100 for Senior Kindergarten and $24,100 for Junior Kindergarten. There is also a $8,000 one-time fee for registration.
