This fall, the York Catholic District School Board will host a series of in-person high school open houses for parents and graduating elementary school students starting secondary school next September. All Grade 8 students and their parents who reside in York Region, as well as Grade 6-8 students and their parents who reside in the towns of Georgina and Whitchurch-Stouffville, are encouraged to review the list of high school open houses and attend the open house for their local Catholic high school and its regular program, as well as any others with regional programs of interest.
The open houses will highlight important key aspects of each school, including administration, programs, graduation requirements, uniforms, school structure, student opportunities and more. Information about the registration process, including registration dates, deadlines and documents needed to enrol, will also be discussed at the open houses. This information is also available through the Board’s Admissions Department. Admission to York Catholic high schools is open to all students residing in York Region, in accordance with the rules governing open access and a student’s right to attend.
York Catholic high schools are highly sought after for their academic programs focusing on well-being, equity and inclusion. York Catholic District School Board has the highest English-language graduation rates in the province, and admission is competitive. Our high schools are well-known for their innovative programming, caring staff who help guide students, leadership opportunities, engaging student life and our Board’s consistency as one of the top-performing school boards in Ontario.
Parents and students wondering which York Catholic high school serves their local community can enter their residential address into the Board’s School Locator at: http://locator.ycdsb.ca/. Following is a list of all high school open houses.
York Catholic High School Open Houses
Please note:
- A description of regional programs can be found below the following chart.
- All schools have a Specialty High Skills Major (SHSM) program (St. Katharine Drexel’s SHSM program will commence with its first grade 11 class in 2025-26)
School | Date / Regional Programs |
Cardinal Carter Catholic High School
210 Bloomington Road West, Aurora, ON, L4G 0P9 |
Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
Regular Program / IB |
Father Bressani Catholic High School
250 Ansley Grove Road, Woodbridge, ON, L4L 3W4 |
Wednesday, November 29, 2023 at 6:45 p.m. Regular Program / AP / FI |
Father Michael McGivney Catholic Academy
5300 – 14th Avenue, Markham, ON, L3S 3K8 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
Regular Program / IB / ESL |
Holy Cross Catholic Academy
7501 Martin Grove Road, Woodbridge, ON, L4L 1A5 |
Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
Regular Program / IB / HPA |
Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Academy
185 Glenwoods Avenue, Keswick, ON, L4P 2W6 Open House is for Grade 6 – 8 students |
Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Regular Program / AP / FI |
Our Lady Queen of the World Catholic Academy
10475 Bayview Avenue, Richmond Hill, ON, L4C 3P2 |
Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
Regular Program / AP/ FI / ESL |
Sacred Heart Catholic High School
908 Lemar Road, Newmarket, ON, L3Y 6R2 |
Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
Regular Program / AP / iRAP / ESL |
St. Augustine Catholic High School
2188 Rodick Road, Markham, ON, L6C 1S3 |
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
Regular Program / STREAM |
St. Brother Andre Catholic High School
6160 – 16th Avenue East, Markham, ON, L3P 3K8 |
Thursday, November 23, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Regular Program / FI / AP |
St. Elizabeth Catholic High School
525 New Westminster Drive, Thornhill, ON, L4J 7X3 |
Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Regular Program / RAP / ESL |
St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic High School
2 Davos Road, Woodbridge, ON, L4H 2Y1 |
Thursday, November 9, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Regular Program |
St. Joan of Arc Catholic High School
1 St. Joan of Arc Avenue, Maple, ON, L6A 1W9 |
Wednesday, November 8, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Regular Program / AP / ESL |
St. Katharine Drexel Catholic High School
Session held at: |
Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. Regular Program / FI |
St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic High School
278 Wellington Street East, Aurora, Ont., L4G 1J5 |
Tuesday, November 28, 2023 at 6:00 p.m.
Regular Program / AP / FI / HPA |
St. Robert Catholic High School
8101 Leslie Street, Thornhill, ON, L3T 7P4 School enrolment is capped. See school website for details. |
Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.
Regular Program / ESL Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 6:30 p.m. IB |
St. Theresa of Lisieux Catholic High School
230 Shaftsbury Avenue, Richmond Hill, ON, L4C 0E8 School enrolment is capped. See school website for details. |
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 at 7:00 p.m.
Regular Program / AP |
York Catholic offers seven regional programs and ten Specialist High Skills Major programs as follows:
- Advanced Placement (AP) / Program for Academic and Creative Extension (PACE) – Programs with an extended and enriched curriculum that allow students to earn credits or advanced standing at most universities.
- English as a Second Language (ESL) and English Literacy Development (ELD) – English as a Second Language and English Literacy Development programs assist English language learners from diverse linguistic and educational backgrounds in attaining English language proficiency.
- French Immersion (FI) – Students who completed the Elementary French Immersion program or equivalent, can continue with the immersion program to earn a French Immersion certificate upon graduation.
- High Performer Athlete (HPA) – An academic-based program for student-athletes participating in competitive-level athletics. Students benefit from a flexible timetable to help balance their academic and athletic commitments and earn high school credits for the work they put into their training.
- International Baccalaureate (IB) – A rigorous and intellectually challenging pre-university course of study that allows students to earn an IB Diploma upon graduation, recognized in Canada and abroad.
- Regional Arts (RAP)/ Integrated Regional Arts Program (iRAP) – Students specialize in drama, dance, visual arts, digital media arts, instrumental music or vocal music, while obtaining their high school diploma. In the Integrated Regional Arts Program (iRAP), students experience their learning through an integrated model where the curriculum is explored in relation to the interconnectedness of the individual, the community and the world.
- STREAM Program – This academic program uses an interdisciplinary approach to inquiry and problem-based learning. Real-world challenges and design-thinking processes foster critical thinking, creativity, collaboration and communication skills, guided by the traditional principles of Catholic social teachings.
- Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) – Students can obtain a diploma with a specialist in either: Arts and Culture; Aviation and Aerospace; Business; Construction; Health and Wellness; Hospitality and Tourism; Information and Communications Technology; Justice, Community Safety and Emergency Services; Manufacturing; or the Non-Profit. All YCDSB schools have a SHSM program (St. Katharine Drexel’s SHSM program will commence with its first grade 11 class in 2025-26).
Secondary Student Registration (9-12)
– Students New to YCDSB
available as of Nov. 1, 2023
YCDSB Grade 8 students registering for Grade 9
A school selection form was distributed to parents/guardians on Nov. 1, 2023, with a submission deadline of Dec. 13, 2023