Choosing the right Kindergarten or Elementary School for your child can be an exciting but also daunting decision; think about the environment your child(ren) will do best in, and also which educational methods you prefer. Learn about neighbourhood schools by speaking to people knowledgeable about them, including local parents and real estate agents. Attending a Parent-Teacher Council meeting is also an excellent way to get a sense of a school’s environment.

In this blog you will find information on:

1. Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Registration
   • Kindergarten Registration
   • French Immersion and Extended French
   • Alternative Schools
   • Optional Attendance
   • Before and After School Programming
   • Special Education
2. Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) Registration
   • Kindergarten Registration
   • French Immersion and Extended French
3. School registration in the Region of Peel

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1. Applying to Kindergarten in the Toronto District School Board

Children who will be four years old by December 31st, 2020 are eligible for Junior Kindergarten starting in September 2020; children who will be five by December 31st are eligible for Senior Kindergarten starting in September 2020.

Kindergarten registration begins in February. To register, find a local school and visit it with the following documents:

• Proof of child’s age (birth certificate, Canadian passport, Canadian Citizenship card, or baptismal record)
• Proof of address (two pieces of identification that show your address, such as a residential phone bill)
• Proof of child’s immunization(this is a card provided to you by your doctor that shows a list of needles your child has received)
• Verification of date of arrival (if applicable)

You must contact your local school for its specific registration dates and times.

French Immersion in the TDSB

Early French Immersion begins in Senior Kindergarten. To locate the French Immersion school in your area, you must first confirm the English school for your home address. The application deadline for the September 2020 year has passed. It was on December 6, 2019.

The Junior Extended French program which has Grade 4 entry has an application deadline on January 31, 2020. The Intermediate Extended French program which has Grade 7 entry shares this deadline.

Alternative Schools

Admission to Alternative Schools is by lottery, but each school has its own admissions procedures and deadlines. You can apply to as many Alternative Schools as you want, anywhere in the city, but there is no busing service to these schools. Many schools have information nights in January and February. Make sure to attend a few so that you can get a feel for the school environment that would work best for your child.

Optional Attendance

Students have the right to attend a school which is designated to serve their residential address (‘local school’) but are permitted the opportunity to access schools outside of their district (‘optional attendance’). Acceptance to these schools is dependent on spaces being available as well as the program’s suitability. Schools accepting students on optional attendance are classified as ‘limited.’ If you are interested in a ‘limited’ school, contact its principal.

NOTE: The deadline to apply for optional attendance is February 14th, 2020. The deadline to accept an optional attendance offer with an elementary school is March 20, 2020. To accept the offer, you must contact the school directly.

Before and After School Programming

At the TDSB, Before and After School Programs are offered. These programs will be made available at schools where there is sufficient confirmed interest by families. In schools that do not currently have a Before and After School Program, parents/guardians will be asked to complete a Before and After School Program Parent Survey of Interest. Families receiving a child care subsidy are able to request that it be applied to the Before and After School Program fees. For more information, contact your local school.

Special Education

In addition to our Individual Education Plans in the TDSB Blog and the TDSB’s Special Education & Section Programs web page, you may also be interested in attending our upcoming workshop: Navigating Special Education in the TDSB on Tuesday, February 25, 2020. Participants will come away with a better understanding of the language and process of Special Education in the TDSB.

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2. Applying to Kindergarten in the Toronto Catholic District School Board

Children who will be four years old by December 31st, 2020 are eligible to attend Kindergarten in September 2020. NOTE: Non-Catholic children of non-Catholic parents who are not enrolled in the RCIA/RCIC program are not eligible for admission to a TCDSB elementary school.

Kindergarten registration begins on January 15th, 2020 at 10 a.m. To register, find a local Catholic school and visit it with the following documents:

• Child’s birth certificate
• Passport/immigration documents (if child not born in Canada)
• Child’s immunization record (this is a card provided to you by your doctor that shows a list of needles your child has received)
• Child’s Catholic Baptismal Certificate (or proof of parents’ Catholicity or RCIA/RCIC letter)
• Proof of residency in Toronto

The TCDSB recommends that you call your local Catholic school for an appointment. Otherwise, you are able to register your child through the online Application process. Application forms will be available on Wednesday, January 15^th, 2020 at 10 a.m.

If you are not able to register in person during the designated school day, most schools host extended hours for registration on one evening in January. Contact the Catholic school closest to you for more information. Registration remains open until August 2020, though parents/guardians are encouraged to apply early.

French Immersion in the TCDSB

The Toronto Catholic District School Board offers Core French, Elementary, and Secondary French Immersion. Contact the Catholic school nearest you which offers your desired program for more information or attend an Information Night in January 2020.

NOTE: You do not have to speak French in order for your child to be successful in a French Immersion program!

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3. School Registration in the Region of Peel

Check out our January 2020 blog post on registering for schools in the Peel Region.

Please note, Kindergarten registration is open in Peel. Public schools will hold a Kindergarten Registration Week with special registration activities January 13 – 17, 2020, and Catholic schools between January 6 – 17, 2020.

Originally published in 2014, updated and amended in 2020.