Elementary Alternative Schools Application and Admission

The online application form opens at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, January 6, 2025.

The deadline to apply is 4:00 p.m. on Friday, January 31, 2025. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.

Students applying for Elementary Alternative Schools Admissions in JK should also register at their local/designated school by address in case they are not selected at their requested school. If selected, the parent/guardian/caregiver must notify their local school.

Applicants can apply up to two (2) schools: a PRIMARY school choice and an ALTERNATE school choice. The Alternate choice is optional. A complete list of elementary alternative schools is available on the TDSB’s Alternative Schools webpage.

The Alternate school choice will only be considered after all primary school choice applications have been considered in accordance with our priorities (see section Elementary Alternative Schools Admission Priorities). 

Applicants from outside the TDSB, except for City of Toronto JK applicants, will only be considered after all TDSB applicants have been considered for their Primary and Alternate school choices.

Seats are generally available in the entry grades of each school, that is Junior Kindergarten (JK) (for JK-6 or JK-8) and Grade 7 (for grades 7 to 8).

There are very limited seats available in other grades. Applicants will be permitted to apply for other grades. If there are available seats in the non-entry grades, applicants will be entered into the random selection process. If there are no seats available, applicants will be contacted prior to the random selection process and informed that they will not be entered into the random selection process.

The TDSB will prioritize applicant admissions to elementary alternative schools in the following order:

• Priority 1: First Nations, Métis, or Inuit Peoples
• Priority 2: Applicants who have sibling(s) already at the school and returning in September 2024
• Priority 3*: After the placement of Indigenous students and applicants with siblings, 25% of any remaining spaces at every grade (where available) in each school will be allocated to applicants who are current TDSB students and self-identify in one or more of the following:
  • Black
  • Ethno-racial group (e.g., East Asian, Latinx, Middle Eastern, South Asian, Southeast Asian)
  • 2SLGBTQIA+ (only for students applying to Grades 7 and 8)
  • Students with a disability**

*Note for Priority 3: In order to maintain the minimum 25% of prioritized seats, if a Priority 3 student declines a seat, the first Priority 3 student on the waitlist will be offered this seat in advance of other students.

• Priority 4: TDSB Priority 3 applicants not yet placed will be combined with other TDSB applicants for the remaining spaces
• Priority 5: Other applicants whose parents’/legal guardians’/caregivers’ primary residence is in the City of Toronto (e.g., from independent/private schools, other school boards, home schooling, etc.) will be considered for placement if spaces are available.
• Priority 6: Applicants whose parents’/legal guardians’/caregivers’ primary residence is outside the City of Toronto will be considered for placement if spaces are available

**Note for students with a disability: According to the Human Rights Code, the term “disability” covers a broad range and degree of conditions. A disability may have been present at birth, caused by an accident, or developed over time. Section 10 of the Code defines “disability” as:

1. any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement that is caused by bodily injury, birth defect or illness and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, includes diabetes mellitus, epilepsy, a brain injury, any degree of paralysis, amputation, lack of physical coordination, blindness or visual impediment, deafness or hearing impediment, muteness or speech impediment, or physical reliance on a guide dog or other animal or on a wheelchair or other remedial appliance or device,
2. a condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability,
3. a learning disability, or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language,
4. a mental disorder, or
5. an injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997.

Random selection refers to a process/ program that is used to electronically select applicants for a placement in an elementary alternative school and grade. A random selection process will be implemented for the placement of all applicants.

 Please click on the following scenarios to understand the possible outcomes if your child is offered a seat OR is put on the waitlist(s):

Scenario 1: Applicant only applies to their Primary school choice and receives an offer – what happens? 

Scenario 2: Applicant only applies to a Primary school choice and does not receive an offer – what happens?

Scenario 3: Applicant applies to their Primary and Alternate school choices. Applicant receives an offer to their Primary school choice – what happens to the Alternate school choice?

Scenario 4: Applicant receives an offer to their Alternate school choice and accepts the Alternate school choice offer – what happens to the Primary school choice?

Scenario 5: Applicant receives an offer to their Alternate school choice and declines the Alternate school choice offer – what happens to the Primary school choice?

Scenario 6: Applicant receives an offer to their Alternate school choice and accepts the Alternate school choice offer and wants to be removed from their Primary school choice.

Information about which elementary alternative schools offer childcare can be found on the TDSB Before- and After- School Programs website.

How to Fill out the Application

Key Dates

Monday, January 6, 2025 Online applications open at 9:00 am

Friday, January 31, 2025 Online applications close at 4:00 pm. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.

Monday, February 24, 2025 Placement Offers, Round 1 will be sent before the end of the school day.

Thursday, February 27, 2025 Offers must be accepted or declined by 4:00 pm. If you do not accept or decline the offer of placement on or before the February 27, 2025 deadline, the offer will be automatically declined. The child will attend their designated school by home address

Friday, February 28, 2025 Placement Offers, Round 2 will be sent at the end of the school day. The Waitlist will then be closed.

Tuesday, March 4, 2025 Offers must be accepted or declined by 4:00 pm. If you do not accept or decline the offer of placement on or before the March 4, 2025 deadline, the offer will be automatically declined. The child will attend their designated school by home address

Questions?
Visit the Frequently Asked Questions page

Contact
EAS.Application@tdsb.on.ca

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