Transition to Grade 9 Timelines

Calendar

 

High School is a new and exciting milestone for students. Students have the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities that will create a richer high school experience. Students will also have the opportunity to work on their learning skills, learn outside of the classroom, and take a wide variety of courses.

For important dates and deadlines, please click here: Grade 8 to 9 Transitions Application Timelines

September
  • Meet your child’s teacher at Curriculum Night
  • Visit Transition to Grade 9 for all information about the transition from Grade 8 to Grade 9
  • Visit Central Programs Applications for information about Out-of-Area Admissions, Secondary School Without a Boundary (SSWAB), High Performing Athletes, Intensive French Language Programs, Alternative Schools, Indigenous Education, IB Program, and more.

October
  • Review Choices for Grade 9 planning

November
  • Visit Open Houses & Information Nights.
  • Etobicoke School of the Arts: Nov. 3rd, 6:30-8:00PM

  • Humberside CI: Dec 11th, 6:30-8:30PM

  • Runnymede CI: Nov. 18th, 6-8PM

  • Ursula Franklin Academy: Nov. 11th, 5-8:30PM

  • Western Tech-C S: Nov. 4th, 6:30-9:00PM

  • York Memorial CI: Nov. 26th, 6:15-8:30PM

  • Specialized Programs (focused on the Arts, Math, Science & Technology, Leadership and more) Applications open Nov. 24th and close on Dec. 1st. Check the links carefully as the rules for application requirements have changed this year.

  • Families of students with special needs may participate in meetings regarding changes in Special Education program for Grade 9 program considerations

December 

January
  • Continue to attend Open Houses & Information Nights 
  • In class, students complete Individual Pathways Plan (IPP) tasks about goal setting, reflections, learning styles, occupations, and planning for Grade 9 course selection. They will use MyBlueprint.
  • Out-of-Area Admissions applications open on January 5, 2026
  • Out-of-Area Online Applications due Monday January 23, 2026 at 4:00PM

  • Grade 8 to 9 Annual Review for students with an Exceptionality

February 
  • Grade 8 Course Selection opens Monday February 9, 2026. 
  • Students will complete Grade 9 course selections in class with teachers. 

        Out-of-Area Admissions

        First Round:

  • Offer placements made on February 11,2026
  • Offer placements expire February 17, 2026 at 4:00PM

Second Round: 

  • Offer placements made on February 18, 2026 at 4:00PM
  • Offer placements expire on February 24, 2026

Final Round:

  • Offer placements made on February 25, 2026
  • Offer placements expire on February 27, 2026 at 4:00PM

  • Waitlists expire February 25, 2026

  • Grade 8 Course Selection closes on February 26, 2026 at 4:00PM

May/June

  • Grade 8 Transition Meetings take place for some students

  • Grade 8 Graduation 
  • Inquire with your high school regarding Grade 9 Head Start to High School event 

  • Register for the Grade 8 Reach Ahead Program Summer School course if interested

 

Applying to High Schools

Every TDSB student has a “home school” or a designated school by address. There is no application required to attend your home school or your designated school by address.

In order to identify what your home school is, click on “Find Your School” 🠞 “By Home Address”.

Students have the opportunity to access schools outside of their home school if they are interested in attending a school which has a specialized program that their home school does not offer.  

Some Application Program Options include:

  • Arts Focus 

  • Exceptional Athlete

  • Integrated Technology 

  • International Baccalaureate Program

  • Leadership Pathway

  • Math, Science, and Technology

  • Africentric Secondary Programs (located at The Leonard Braithwaite Program at Winston Churchill CI and Africentric Secondary Program at Downsview SS)

  • Alternative Schools 22 available locations for Grade 9 programming 

  • Indigenous Education (located at Kapapamahchakwew - Wandering Spirit School of Toronto, The Native Learning Centre, and The Native Learning Centre East)