e move they make, to the city they choose, at the exact moment they do. This guide gives you the data to back up that instinct. Ratings are drawn from standardized assessments on a 10-point scale: 9.0+ is exceptional, 8.0–8.9 is strong, 7.0–7.9 is solid. But the real value here isn't the number, it's knowing which streets fall inside which catchment zones, and what that means for your child's future and your home's long-term value.
Schools span public, Catholic, French-language, arts, and independent streams. Use these ratings as one key factor alongside proximity, program specialization, and community fit when evaluating neighbourhoods for your family.
- 9.5 – 10.0 — Elite tier
- 9.0 – 9.4 — Exceptional
- 8.0 – 8.9 — Strong performer
- 7.0 – 7.9 — Above average
Toronto's secondary school landscape is anchored by St Michael's Choir at a perfect 10.0, with a strong cluster of elite performers across arts, academic, and Catholic streams. Ursula Franklin (9.7), Cardinal Carter-Arts (9.3), Bloor (9.2), and a group of 9.0–9.1 schools including Lawrence Park, Leaside, Malvern, Collège Français, Humberside, and York Mills round out the city's finest.
- St Michael's Choir
- Ursula Franklin — 9.7
- Cardinal Carter-Arts — 9.3
- Bloor — 9.2
- Lawrence Park — 9.1
- Leaside — 9.1
- Malvern — 9.1
- Collège Français — 9.0
- Humberside — 9.0
- York Mills — 9.0
A strong mid-tier of Toronto secondary schools spans arts programs, public academics, and Catholic institutions. Notable performers include AY Jackson and Earl Haig (8.9), Toronto Quest (8.8), and a cluster of 8.7s: Bishop Allen, Richview, Riverdale, and William Lyon Mackenzie.
Toronto's 7.0–7.9 tier covers a wide range of public, Catholic, and French-language secondary schools across all districts — from Scarborough to Etobicoke. These schools offer solid academic foundations and diverse program options for families across the city.
- Dr Norman Bethune — 7.9
- W A Porter — 7.9
- Neil McNeil — 7.7
- Notre Dame — 7.7
- St.-Frère-André — 7.7
- Loretto Abbey — 7.6
- Forest Hill — 7.5
- Harbord — 7.5
- RH King — 7.3
- Senator O'Connor — 7.3
- Étienne-Brûlé — 7.2
- Francis Libermann — 7.2
- Marshall McLuhan — 7.2
- Mary Ward — 7.2
- St. Joseph's — 7.2
- Albert Campbell — 7.1
- Michael Power/St. Joseph — 7.1
- St. Patrick — 7.1
Peel Region is where ambition lives. Built largely by immigrant families over the last two generations, Mississauga and Brampton now have some of the highest-rated schools in the entire country. Peel Region's secondary school landscape is led by Mississauga, where Olive Grove High School tops the list at 9.4, followed by ISNA High School (8.9) and John Fraser SS (8.8). Brampton and Caledon offer a solid selection of public and Catholic options rounding out the region.
- Olive Grove High School — 9.4
- ISNA High School — 8.9
- John Fraser SS — 8.8
- The Woodlands School — 8.3
- St. Joseph — 8.2
- Al-Manarat Islamic School — 7.9
- St. Marcellinus — 7.9
- Streetsville SS — 7.9
- St. Aloysius Gonzaga — 7.7
- St. Paul — 7.7
- Lorne Park SS — 7.6
- St.-Famille — 7.3
- Port Credit SS — 7.2
- Cawthra Park SS — 7.1
- Jeunes sans frontières — 7.8
- Holy Name of Mary — 7.2
- North Park SS — 7.2
- Turner Fenton SS — 7.1
- Mayfield SS (Caledon) — 7.2
If you've talked to other immigrant families in the GTA, chances are Markham came up. There's a reason. York Region has built a concentration of top-tier schools that's nearly unmatched anywhere in Canada, and the communities surrounding them reflect exactly the kind of neighbours most families are looking for. Richmond Hill and Markham are where long-term thinking lives.
- St. Augustine — 10.0
- Pierre Elliott Trudeau — 9.5
- Markville — 9.0
- Bur Oak — 8.9
- Father Michael McGivney — 8.5
- Bill Hogarth — 8.3
- Markham — 8.3
- St. Brother André — 7.9
- Middlefield — 7.4
- Unionville — 9.0
- Milliken Mills — 8.8
- Bill Crothers — 8.3
- St. Therese of Lisieux — 10.0
- Bayview — 9.2
- Alexander Mackenzie — 8.5
- Norval-Morrisseau — 8.3
- Richmond Green — 8.3
- Richmond Hill — 8.3
- Jean Vanier — 7.9
- St. Robert — 10.0
- Thornlea — 8.9
- Stephen Lewis — 8.2
- Thornhill — 8.2
- Vaughan — 8.1
- Westmount — 7.9
- St. Elizabeth — 7.2
The northern communities of York Region offer a solid range of secondary options. Newmarket leads its cluster at 8.5, while Aurora's top school comes in at 8.4. Vaughan/Woodbridge/Maple and Whitchurch-Stouffville round out the region with a mix of public, Catholic, and French-language schools.
- Father Bressani (Woodbridge) — 7.6
- Maple (Maple) — 7.6
- Tommy Douglas (Woodbridge) — 7.1
- Aurora — 8.4
- Dr G W Williams — 8.3
- Renaissance — 8.1
- Cardinal Carter — 7.6
- St. Maximilian Kolbe — 7.1
- Newmarket — 8.5
- Sacred Heart — 7.2
- ESC Pape-François — 7.8
- Stouffville — 7.2
Durham Region's secondary schools are led by Donald A. Wilson in Whitby (8.4), with solid performers across Whitby, Ajax, and Pickering. Halton Region shines with Oakville's top tier — Abbey Park, Gaétan Gervais, and Iroquois Ridge all at 9.3 — followed by strong Burlington and Milton options.
- Donald A. Wilson — 8.4
- All Saints — 7.9
- Anderson — 7.9
- Brooklin — 7.4
- Sinclair — 7.3
- Pickering — 7.8
- J Clarke Richardson — 7.2
- Notre Dame — 7.1
- Dunbarton — 7.3
- St. Mary — 7.1
- Abbey Park — 9.3
- Gaétan Gervais — 9.3
- Iroquois Ridge — 9.3
- Oakville Trafalgar — 9.2
- White Oaks — 8.8
- Garth Webb — 8.5
- St.-Trinité — 8.3
- St. Thomas Aquinas — 8.2
- St. Ignatius of Loyola — 8.1
- Thomas A Blakelock — 8.1
- Holy Trinity — 7.1
- Nelson — 8.2
- Corpus Christi — 8.1
- Dr. Frank J. Hayden — 8.0
- Assumption — 7.7
- Aldershot — 7.6
- Burlington Central — 7.4
- Bishop Paul Francis Reding — 8.2
- Milton — 8.0
- Georgetown — 7.7
You worked too hard to get here to leave this decision to chance — let's make sure your next move is the right one.
You've already done the hard part, you're here, you're earning, and you're thinking ahead. Now it's about making sure the neighbourhood you choose actually delivers on what matters most: great schools, safe streets, and a home that grows in value as your family does. The Portnoi Team works almost exclusively with professionals like you: analytical, intentional, and unwilling to leave something this important to chance.
We know which streets fall inside which school catchments — and what that means for your investment and your family's future.
Honest advice, no pressure. We're here to make sure every decision you make is informed, strategic, and aligned with your goals.
Whether you're upsizing for your growing family or making a smart investment in a high-rated school zone, we guide you every step of the way.
The right school can define a childhood. This guide helps families find neighbourhoods where education actually delivers.