School terms, explained

The high school diploma in Ontario. Students need 30 credits, 40 hours of community service and the literacy requirement (usually the OSSLT).

The provincial agency that runs Ontario’s standard tests in Grades 3, 6 and 9, and the Grade 10 literacy test. We rank schools on these results.

A reading and writing test most students write in Grade 10. Passing it is one way to meet the diploma’s literacy requirement.

A high school program that bundles courses, certifications and co-op in one field, such as health or business. It’s noted on the diploma.

An international program with its own courses and exams. In high school, the IB Diploma is usually taken in Grades 11 and 12.

University-level courses and exams from the US College Board. Some universities give credit for high AP marks.

An entrance test many private schools ask applicants to write, usually in the fall before they apply.

A program where most classes are taught in French. In TDSB it usually starts in Grade 1, and families apply in the fall of Senior Kindergarten.

French as a subject, for about 40 minutes a day. Every English-language public school offers it from Grade 4.

About half the day in French, starting in Grade 4 or later. Fewer schools offer it than French Immersion.

The two years of full-day kindergarten in Ontario. Children start JK in September of the year they turn 4.

A school day without classes, when teachers train or prepare report cards. Schools are closed to students.

Toronto’s English-language public school board, open to every family.

Toronto’s English-language Catholic school board. Elementary schools usually ask for proof that the child or a parent is Catholic.

The French-language public school board. It’s for children with a parent who has French-language rights, and others the board admits.

The French-language Catholic school board, with the same rules about French-language rights as Viamonde.

Applying to a TDSB school that isn’t your local school. Spaces depend on room at the school, and families apply in winter.

TDSB programs that choose students by application, audition or interview, such as arts, sports or gifted programs. Most apply in the fall.

Where Ontario students apply to university. Grade 12 students usually apply by mid-January.

Students live at the school during the term. Boarding fees include room and meals on top of day tuition.

Money a school gives to lower tuition, based on what a family can afford. Most schools ask families to apply through a separate financial review.

A national group of independent schools that review each other against shared standards every few years.

A group of private schools that set standards for members, such as CAIS or CIS Ontario. Membership is a sign of outside review, but many good schools don’t belong to one.

The number the Ontario Ministry of Education gives every school. Use it to look up a private school in the Ministry’s list.