The application and admissions processes for Specialized Programs have changed. Please review the information below.
Applicant Eligibility
Applicants are eligible to apply for Specialized Programs if, at the time of application, they:
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meet the age, residency, and citizenship or eligible immigration status requirements to attend a TDSB school as set out in the Admission Eligibility Requirements (PR518); or
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are currently registered at a TDSB school.
Applicants for Secondary Specialized Programs will have their February and June 2025 report card data included in the application.
Secondary Mark Eligibility
Applicants for Grades 9 and 10
In order to be eligible, applicants can have no more than 2 of the following marks below the Provincial standard (70%)
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Language
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Math
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Science & Technology
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Geography
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History
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French (Average of 4 areas of achievement)
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Arts (Average of 4 areas of achievement)
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Physical and Health Education (Average of 2 areas of achievement)
Prior to applying, applicants can use the Benchmark Calculator (LINK TO FOLLOW) to verify their eligibility.
Meeting the report card benchmark does not guarantee placement in a program. Only eligible applicants will have their demonstration of knowledge and skills evaluated and will be considered for seating based on their overall applicant score.
Applicants not meeting the report card benchmark will be notified by email.
Fee-paying students who are registered at a TDSB school at the time of application are eligible to apply for Specialized Programs. Please contact CentralPrograms@tdsb.on.ca if you have questions about eligibility.
Students are encouraged to attend Open House events and research the programs and schools before submitting their application. Applications are not considered on a first come, first served basis. Please take your time and carefully consider your choices before submitting.
Please note that transportation is the responsibility of the applicant.
Application Choices
Students can select one type of Specialized Program in their application.
Applicants select one primary choice program and may also include an alternate choice.
Alternate choices will only be considered after all primary applications from the city of Toronto have been considered.
If an applicant is accepted to their primary application, they will not be considered for their alternate choice.
If an applicant is offered a spot in their alternate choice, they will remain on the waitlist for their primary choice until the waitlists close.
Selection Process for Specialized Programs
All applicants must participate in a demonstration of knowledge and skills.
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Arts: applicants must submit either a portfolio or a recorded audition with their application submission using the templates provided.
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All other Programs: applicants meeting the report card eligibility requirements must participate in an in-person demonstration of knowledge and skills at their requested school.
Applicants will be scored based on their previous year’s report card results (30%) and their demonstration of knowledge and skills (70%). Applicants will be seated based on their application score. Elementary applicants will be scored only on their portfolio/audition video.
Seating of Applicants Process
Please do not contact schools directly for selection results.
January 7, 2026:
Acceptances and waitlist status will be sent via email to all applicants. Offers expire January 13, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. If you do not accept your placement by the deadline, the placement will be automatically declined.
Secondary offers will continue to be made each Wednesday in 2026 until February 25, 2026.
No offers will be made after this date and all Central Waitlists will expire on this date.
Applicants not seated in a program will have the opportunity prior to the end of February to accept a seat in a Specialized Program of the same type that has vacant seats. These seats will be made available; interested applicants will be seated in order of their applicant score. In accepting a seat, the applicant will no longer be eligible for their primary or alternate choice program.