5 / 2 3 / 2 0 1 7 Secondary School Admissions Consultation – Detail Results P a g e 1 of 229 QUESTION 1. (a) Each grade 8 student shall be directed to one (1) secondary school based on the boundary of the elementary school to the secondary school. Each grade 8 student shall have the option of selecting two (2) other secondary schools, and may be considered for placement based on the proximity of the secondary school of choice to the home address of the student, program and space availability. I agree with (b) - students should have choices with regards to their school. I agree with (b) students should have options Should have 2 choices in (a) inclusive of Specialty program; Fixed boundaries should be based on the address to start with in (a) if you are truly going to move towards fixed boundaries. If you are at the outer edge of the elementary school boundary, you could be closer to a secondary school based on your home address and not the designated secondary school. I agree with #1 and disagree with #2. Optional high school Attendance should be applied as strict as a JK registrant. Parents should have the choice where their children attend - a program that is further may address the child's needs better than the school that is closer As long as schools must take students in their area FIRST over specialty programming at other schools. a) agree based on boundary of elementary school to the secondary school b) disagree. should have a choice based on programs, specialties and rating of school Part (b) above: for the 'other' schools, admission to a school should be based on the applicant's success in meeting the admission criteria of the program/school they are applying to, not based on the proximity to the school, in addition to available space To clarify, if two students apply from outside of boundaries, placement should be given to student who meets criteria, not who lives closer to prevent complications students should be initially presented with two (2) school option preferences Student attend single-gender schools for various reasons, not considerd by the Province nor the TCDSB. Catholics should have a choice By limiting choices, the TCDSB will lose hundreds of students to the TDSB and private schools. Parents want to be able to send their children to the school that best suits their child's potential. Student should be able to choose any single gender school (esp. girls school where there is more choice than boys schools) single gender schools are a special program. This policy will doom St Joseph's College School. Need to explain how the factors are weighed: are they all weighted the same? Is the effect of the policy that if there is space and the school has a special program then students closest to the school will have preference to get into the special program? If so, this does not seem to be fair or effective at reaching the best students - especially given that speciality programs which should be looking for talent rather than proximity to the school. Page 1 of 229 5 / 2 3 / 2 0 1 7 Secondary School Admissions Consultation – Detail Results P a g e 2 of 229 St Joseph’s College School has been educating girls from across the city for over 160 years - only 25% of St Joe’s students come from our designated feeder schools I don't disagree with limiting to two options. I do agree with limiting based on proximity. Sometines it is necessary for children to NOT attend the same schools as their grade 8 peers--bullying, programs, etc. This is current practice. I agree with (a). I disagree with (b). A student who has the academic standing to apply to a Regional Program of any sort, should be allowed to choose where he/she would like to attend. Having a student in grade 10 Regional Program and one in grade 8 this year, I can attest to the fact that each school is different, and has their own 'feel'. Not every student is comfortable in every school. They have earned 'choice' What happens if the elementary student is currently out of bounds and their high school is closer to their residence, are they not allowed to attend the secondary school closer to home even if they are not at the feeder school designated? Remember, a lot of kids attended daycare and because daycare was considered their 'caregiver' they attended the elementary school associated or nearby the daycare. Students should not be limited by geographic boundary as this is not always a choice. This limits their selection and opportunity. In order to give the best education that fits the needs of my child we as parents should be able to choose a secondary school that meets the child's unique needs. This should not be based on boundaries. Student should be allowed to attend school of their 1st choice. Only if they don't get admission from their choice, then they will be directed to the school within the home boundary school. It's shameful that kids and parents can bypass neighbourhood schools. This creates elitism and inequity and is contrary to Christian values. Students should be able to apply to all schools regardless of where they live. Students should be able to choose the high school that is the best fit for them based on the programs offered. Not all high schools have the same focus - e.g some have better arts programs, some sports and some are more academic Until the Board can guarantee the same quality of education is delivered at each school - I strongly disagree about the direction You have to be proactive and ensure that all decisions are made right away or else it will be a mess if a kid is waiting on a wait list. Great idea. This way students will save transportation money and time This will help balance the population of underutilized schools with those school that are overpopulated (requiring portables) at the secondary school level, the students can travel to school of choice. Boundary changes may drive students to non-Catholic schools Equal Access should be given for specialty programs what is appropriate learning style and school setting is not necessarily what is in a child's neighbourhood single gender schools school environment for LD children Neighbourhoods should not dictate where a child goes to school. This policy means students can go wherever they choose as an "option". This is a policy meant to direct students to their neighbourhood but doesn't really do that. I agree with 1b. I feel this may effect many schools who are unique i.e. single sexed schools. Page 2 of 229 5 / 2 3 / 2 0 1 7 Secondary School Admissions Consultation – Detail Results P a g e 3 of 229 Secondary schools should be chosen based on what is best for the child....not what is closest. It seems that fixed boundary have already been in placed with your secondary schools. Not sure how this is new. it's not fair to limit our children's choices. it's not fair to make our children go to a bad school just because we live close to it. This is fair HOWEVER -- do the international students who pay 20,000.00 per year to attend and PICK THE SCHOOL OF THEIR CHOICE - continue to take away spots from local students???? CURRENTLY THERE ARE OVER 150 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS AT AN OVERCROWDED ETOBICOKE HIGH SCHOOL - WHERE TORONTO RESIDENTS ARE TURNED AWAY!!!! students should be given a choice of at least 2 schools that they can be directed to. Then having 2 additional schools for consideration based on space etc would be a fair approach. With just one directed school students will have to be in the same school with all students from their elementary school. For some students this could be problematic. Secondary school is often a fresh start for students who may not have experienced the best personal relationships in elementary school Unfortunately downtown provides single gender schools not available for all areas, I live in The east end and are forced to mother Theresa where Not even teachers or school board members don't want to send their children. Single gender school are not given option to us out here and it should. I would like my daughter to go to St. Joseph's College Schhol at bay and Wellesley just as I did. Regardless of where we live. She is at St. Anthony now but if this comes into effect she will not be able too. I have done nothing but talk to her about it being such a good school. There are schools within the board that offer different academic and athletic focuses as well as learning environment. Students and parents should decide which school is best suited to their child's needs. Provided the options include: -Catholic and public school choices -Include teaching that does not obligate a child taught in English to suddenly have to adopt French Immersion (or vice-versa). -Consideration is given to students with distinguished education paths to ensure that they are not impeded from continuing specialized studies (such as music or athletics). there should be choice as to where to apply as long as qualifications of the child are met (ex. based on academic achievements, arts focus, etc). By having set boundaries, it may make some schools unattainable. You are breaking up families who have a child in a regional program at one school and who's sibling does not gain acceptance into that program.