Best Elementary and Middle Schools in Toronto: 2025 Rankings
Picking a school for a young child can feel like a bigger decision than picking the house. The good news is that Toronto has a lot of excellent elementary and middle schools, in every part of the city, not just the expensive pockets.
Here's the short answer. In the latest Fraser Institute report card on Ontario's elementary schools, ten Toronto schools earned a perfect 10 out of 10, tying for first place out of 3,047 schools in Ontario. They include Avondale Alternative in North York, which has scored a perfect 10 on average for five years, plus Cottingham, High Park Alternative and St. Sebastian, and three Scarborough public schools: Iroquois, Heritage Park and Poplar Road.
Below you'll find the 40 highest-rated schools in Toronto, the best picks in each part of the city, and what to check before you buy a home for a school.
Last updated November 2026. Ratings come from the Fraser Institute Report Card on Ontario's Elementary Schools 2025, based on 2023-24 results. A rank of 42/3047 means 42nd out of 3,047 schools in Ontario.
A quick note on "middle schools" in Toronto
Toronto doesn't have one simple middle school system. Many schools run from kindergarten to Grade 8, some stop at Grade 5 or 6, and some (often called junior high or middle schools) run Grades 6 to 8 or 7 to 8. The Fraser Institute ranks elementary schools using the Grade 3 and Grade 6 provincial tests, so this list is the best guide to how strong a school is through the middle grades. If your child is starting Grade 7, ask the school or board which school they'll attend for Grades 7 and 8.
The 40 best elementary and middle schools in Toronto
| Ontario rank | School | 2023-24 rating | 5-year rank | 5-year average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/3047 | Avondale Alternative | 10.0 | 1 | 10.0 |
| 1/3047 | Northmount | 10.0 | 4 | 9.9 |
| 1/3047 | St Sebastian | 10.0 | 10 | 9.5 |
| 1/3047 | High Park Alternative | 10.0 | n/a | n/a |
| 1/3047 | Cottingham | 10.0 | n/a | n/a |
| 1/3047 | Sathya Sai | 10.0 | n/a | n/a |
| 1/3047 | Islamic Institute of Toronto | 10.0 | n/a | n/a |
| 1/3047 | Iroquois | 10.0 | 31 | 9.1 |
| 1/3047 | Heritage Park | 10.0 | 209 | 8.0 |
| 1/3047 | Poplar Road | 10.0 | 231 | 8.0 |
| 32/3047 | Bessborough Drive | 9.9 | 76 | 8.6 |
| 38/3047 | Laure-Rièse | 9.8 | 208 | 8.0 |
| 42/3047 | Whitney | 9.7 | 6 | 9.6 |
| 42/3047 | Our Lady of Perpetual Help | 9.7 | 13 | 9.5 |
| 42/3047 | Courcelette | 9.7 | 40 | 8.9 |
| 42/3047 | Pape Avenue | 9.7 | 69 | 8.7 |
| 51/3047 | St Michael's Choir | 9.6 | 8 | 9.5 |
| 56/3047 | Ossington/Old Orchard | 9.5 | 18 | 9.2 |
| 67/3047 | Blythwood | 9.4 | 19 | 9.2 |
| 74/3047 | Lambton Kingsway | 9.3 | 35 | 9.0 |
| 74/3047 | Bedford Park | 9.3 | 42 | 8.9 |
| 74/3047 | Charles-Sauriol | 9.3 | 47 | 8.8 |
| 88/3047 | Balmy Beach | 9.2 | 81 | 8.5 |
| 110/3047 | Prince of Peace | 9.0 | 65 | 8.7 |
| 110/3047 | Percy Williams | 9.0 | 97 | 8.5 |
| 110/3047 | Charles G Fraser | 9.0 | 591 | 7.2 |
| 110/3047 | St Edward | 9.0 | 203 | 8.0 |
| 110/3047 | Paul-Demers | 9.0 | n/a | n/a |
| 126/3047 | Our Lady of Sorrows | 8.9 | 143 | 8.3 |
| 126/3047 | St Vincent de Paul | 8.9 | 165 | 8.2 |
| 126/3047 | Gabrielle-Roy | 8.9 | 361 | 7.7 |
| 126/3047 | St Anthony | 8.9 | 703 | 7.1 |
| 126/3047 | St Sylvester | 8.9 | n/a | n/a |
| 161/3047 | Allenby | 8.7 | 73 | 8.6 |
| 161/3047 | John Wanless | 8.7 | 73 | 8.6 |
| 161/3047 | St Anselm | 8.7 | 209 | 8.0 |
| 161/3047 | Bishop Macdonell | 8.7 | n/a | n/a |
| 182/3047 | Holy Rosary | 8.6 | 78 | 8.6 |
| 182/3047 | Chine Drive | 8.6 | 86 | 8.5 |
| 182/3047 | Father Serra | 8.6 | 172 | 8.1 |
"n/a" means the school doesn't have five years of results yet. Schools with the same rating share a rank.
Homes near the top 10 schools
Love one of the top 10? Here are the homes for sale in each school's neighbourhood right now:
- Avondale Alternative: homes for sale in Willowdale East
- Northmount: homes for sale in Banbury-Don Mills
- St. Sebastian: homes for sale in Dovercourt-Wallace Emerson-Junction
- High Park Alternative: homes for sale in Junction Area
- Cottingham: homes for sale in Yonge-St. Clair
- Sathya Sai: homes for sale in Wexford-Maryvale
- Islamic Institute of Toronto: homes for sale in Rouge E11
- Iroquois: homes for sale in Agincourt North
- Heritage Park: homes for sale in Malvern
- Poplar Road: homes for sale in Guildwood
The most consistent schools
One great year is nice. Five great years is better. These Toronto schools have been at the top for the whole five-year period:
- Avondale Alternative (North York): 10.0 average, 1st in Ontario over five years.
- Northmount (North York): 9.9 average.
- Whitney: 9.6 average.
- St. Sebastian, Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St. Michael's Choir: 9.5 average each.
- Ossington/Old Orchard and Blythwood: 9.2 average each.
The best public elementary schools in Toronto
These are Toronto District School Board (TDSB) schools. Avondale Alternative and High Park Alternative are alternative schools that take students by application; the rest are mostly neighbourhood schools.
- Avondale Alternative, Cottingham, High Park Alternative, Iroquois, Heritage Park and Poplar Road: all 10.0.
- Bessborough Drive: 9.9, in Leaside.
- Whitney, Courcelette and Pape Avenue: 9.7 each.
- Ossington/Old Orchard (9.5), Blythwood (9.4), Lambton Kingsway and Bedford Park (9.3 each), and Balmy Beach (9.2).
The best Catholic elementary schools in Toronto
These are Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) schools.
- St. Sebastian: 10.0.
- Our Lady of Perpetual Help: 9.7.
- St. Michael's Choir: 9.6 (entry by audition).
- Prince of Peace and St. Edward: 9.0 each.
- Our Lady of Sorrows, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Anthony and St. Sylvester: 8.9 each.
The best French-language elementary schools in Toronto
- Laure-Rièse (Scarborough): 9.8.
- Charles-Sauriol: 9.3.
- Paul-Demers (North York): 9.0.
- Gabrielle-Roy: 8.9.
French-language schools usually require the family to qualify under the French-language rights rules. French Immersion inside the English boards is a separate program with its own application.
Top schools in each part of Toronto
- Scarborough: some of the best news in this report. Iroquois, Heritage Park and Poplar Road all scored a perfect 10, Laure-Rièse earned 9.8, Courcelette 9.7 and Chine Drive 8.6. Scarborough also has some of the best value on family homes in the city.
- North York: Avondale Alternative and Northmount (10.0) and Paul-Demers (9.0).
- East York: Bessborough Drive (9.9).
- Etobicoke: Lambton Kingsway (9.3).
- Downtown and Old Toronto: Cottingham, High Park Alternative and St. Sebastian (10.0), plus Whitney, Pape Avenue, Blythwood, Bedford Park and Balmy Beach.
Not sure which area fits your family? My guide to the best neighbourhoods in and around Toronto is a good place to start.
Want to live close to one of these schools? Browse all Toronto homes for sale, or go straight to detached houses, semis, townhouses or condos.
How the rankings work
The Fraser Institute rates elementary schools mainly on the Grade 3 and Grade 6 EQAO reading, writing and math tests, plus how many students meet the provincial standard and the gaps between groups of students. Very small schools can swing a lot from year to year, which is why the five-year average is worth a look. Rankings don't measure arts, sports, before- and after-school care, or how a school feels, so use them as a starting point, not the final word.
Buying a home for a school: what to check first
- Check the boundary for the exact address with the TDSB or TCDSB school locator before you make an offer. Boundaries don't always follow the neighbourhood name.
- Ask about capacity. Some popular schools are full, and new families in the boundary can be sent to another school.
- Find out where Grades 7 and 8 happen. A JK-6 school feeds into a different middle school, and that school matters too.
- Know which programs need an application, such as alternative schools, French Immersion and gifted programs.
- Visit. Walk by at pickup time and talk to a couple of parents. You'll learn a lot.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best elementary school in Toronto?
Ten Toronto schools tied for first in Ontario with a perfect 10. Avondale Alternative in North York stands out because it has averaged a perfect 10 over five years.
What is the best public elementary school in Toronto?
Avondale Alternative, Cottingham, High Park Alternative, Iroquois, Heritage Park and Poplar Road all scored 10.0. Among neighbourhood schools with a long track record, Whitney (9.6 five-year average) is one of the most consistent.
What is the best Catholic elementary school in Toronto?
St. Sebastian at 10.0, followed by Our Lady of Perpetual Help at 9.7.
What is the best elementary school in Scarborough?
Iroquois, Heritage Park and Poplar Road all scored a perfect 10.
What is the best elementary school in North York?
Avondale Alternative and Northmount, both at 10.0.
Looking for high schools?
See my full list of the best high schools in Toronto.
Thinking of moving closer to a great school?
A lot of the families I work with sell first so they can buy in the right school boundary. If that sounds like you, start by finding out what your home is worth today. Get your free home evaluation, or call me at 647-576-2100.
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