YMCA Academy students engaging in a hands-on learning opportunityThe YMCA Academy is more than just a school, and tuition goes above and beyond academic learning.

Academy fees include a wide range of services, including:

  • access to laptops and other assistive technologies
  • a YMCA of Greater Toronto membership
  • on-site counselling
  • an overnight outdoor education excursion
  • services for parents/guardians, and much more.

Tuition for the 2024-2025 school year is as follows:

  • Full year (2 semesters): $27,825

Tuition for the 2025-2026 school year is as follows:

  • Full year (2 semesters): $29,216

Incidental Fee: There is a one-time, non-refundable Incidental Fee of $2,756 for new students.
Application Fee: The Academy has a one-time Application fee of $250.

Computers and Technology

During school hours students have access to personalized profiles on individual Lenovo Thinkpad Laptops provided by the school. Laptops are replaced regularly, allowing the Academy to be on the cutting edge of IT change. Laptops are loaded with industry-leading software: productivity software, multimedia, digital design, 3D design, educational programs, science simulators as well as assistive technology.

The Academy is a fully wireless environment. Students can access a wealth of select information on the internet through our broadband connection.

Apple computer-driven editing suites with audio video production capabilities including Final Cut, GarageBand and iMovie, are available for cross curricular assignments.

All classrooms house an LCD projector or Smartboard allowing teachers to differentiate instruction for students who learn best through visual enrichment.

YMCA Membership

Students receive a full-year YMCA of Greater Toronto membership. This allows them access to any YMCA in the world. Their primary YMCA location is the Toronto Central Grosvenor Street YMCA Centre. In addition to hosting the YMCA Academy, this facility includes a full Health and Fitness Centre.

On-site Counselling

The Academy has a full-time on-site counsellor available to support students to make informed choices that will lead toward their personal growth/development and well being. Students and their families and guardians have access to our confidential counselling services.

After-School Support

The Academy hosts a homework club that is supported by Academy staff. Students have the opportunity to receive one-on-one teacher assistance. Staff is also available for individual support upon request.

Exchange

The Academy invites students to participate in an exchange to help form strong links between their own communities and communities elsewhere in Canada. Through the YMCA’s Youth Exchanges Canada program our young people are twinned with peers from another province or territory.

The exchange typically occurs near the end of second semester. Students fundraise to host their visiting peers.

Outdoor Leadership and Skills Training

Once a year The Academy takes an overnight trip to a YMCA outdoor education facility to participate in team and leadership skills development. Students and staff, with the guidance of outdoor education counselors, participate in such activities as: rock-climbing, high ropes, low-ropes, archery and mountain biking.

Co-operative Education

Cooperative Education is a planned learning experience that integrates classroom theory and learning experiences in a community placement to enable students to apply, expand, and refine knowledge and skills acquired through a related curriculum course or a locally developed course. The knowledge and skills of the in-school course are applied in a practical work environment.

School-Wide Personal Development Assemblies

The entire school meets for an hour once a month for "VOICES," a gathering in which they are invited to share their ideas about school life at The Academy. Discussions may be stimulated by a staff presentation, a guest speaker, a performance or some other activity. The goal of VOICES is to create opportunity for students to experience community and exchange their thoughts in an open forum. The Academy's collaboration with Mindfulness Without Borders also takes place during VOICES gatherings.

In addition, students come together once a month in small groups with a staff facilitator for "TAPs" (Taking a Pause), where they have a chance to exchange ideas on their learning from the VOICES experience. Our goal is to encourage students to take a pause and develop the skill of reflection.

Resource

The Academy's non-credit Resource course enables students to get their individualized needs met and get assistance with their regular classroom work with a focus on skill building. This might include, but is not limited to, extra time for projects, tests and quizzes, additional one-to-one attention/instruction, access to and instruction in the use of computers and software programs such as Dragon, Kurzweil, SMART Ideas, Notebook, typing programs, access to a scribe and organizational support. Recommendations for this course may be made by students, staff or parents/guardians. Content is determined on an individual basis.

Remediation

Remediation is offered as a non-credit class for students requiring remediation in two areas: language and mathematics. In this class a language and mathematics remediation specialist on staff works with students who have demonstrated difficulties with language, mathematics or both on a daily basis to help the student achieve grade level literacy and numeracy.

Extra-Curricular Programming

Each year, the Academy plans and initiates a suite of student-centred clubs. Popular clubs in past years have included: Guitar Club, Basketball Club, Astronomy Club, Queer-Straight Alliance, Drama Club, and more.

Guidance and Career Planning

A guidance counsellor is on staff to assist students in navigating secondary and post-secondary options towards their goals of university, college, apprenticeship or the workplace.

The best decision

The Academy has exceeded our expectations. The staff’s genuine concern for each child is obvious and greatly appreciated. The opportunities to be involved in community projects, exchanges, and extracurricular activities further enhance the experience. It was the best decision that we could have made for our daughter’s high school.

A YMCA Academy parent