A specialized independent high school · Midtown Toronto
A school built for the teen who does not fit the mould.
We founded AVRO Academy in 2010 to give Toronto an alternative high school, one that pairs a real Ontario education with the smaller classes and therapeutic support that struggling teens need to learn. If your teen is bright and capable but has not been thriving in a conventional school, this page is about the place we built for exactly that student.
Ontario curriculum · OSSD credits · Ministry-inspected · Grades 9 to 12 · Serving families since 2010
Who we serve
The students AVRO was built for
AVRO supports a specific group of teens who need a school that understands them.
Anxious in a big school
Teens who are not thriving in traditional schools because of stress, academic and social anxiety, bullying, or scheduling conflicts.
Learning differently
Teens with a complex Individual Education Plan (IEP), attention disorders alongside significant anxiety or depression, or family circumstances that complicate learning.
Atypical or gifted
Teens who are atypical, gifted, or on the spectrum (diagnosed or undiagnosed), including high-functioning Autism, Asperger’s, and ADHD.
Not sure whether your teen fits? Book a visit and let’s talk it through.
Our approach
The AVRO way
Every student needs a different mix of support, structure, and guidance to learn well. So instead of asking your teen to fit the school, we shape the school around your teen. Through individualized education, mentorship, and counselling, we build an environment where students feel comfortable and cared for, and stay engaged in their own learning.
In practice, that looks like this:
- Individualized education. Personalized assignment plans and curricula built around each student’s schedule, interests, and learning style, so credits can be completed beyond class time.
- Learning how to learn. We teach students to recognize and rely on their own strengths, a skill that outlasts any single course.
- Student ownership. Students help choose their courses and how each is delivered, which builds real commitment to their study schedule.
- A community atmosphere. Collaborative partnerships between peers and teachers, in a setting that is cooperative, supportive, and free from bullying.
- An ecological mindset. Environmental awareness and responsible attitudes that reach beyond school into the larger community, reinforcing each student’s self-confidence.
Small classes make all of this possible. With student-to-teacher ratios of 6:1, 2:1, and 1:1, every student is known, not just enrolled. Explore our programs to see how the day is structured.
The signature difference
Therapeutic support, built into the school day
At AVRO, wellbeing is not a service bolted on at the end of the day. We create a therapeutic milieu inside the educational setting, so that mental health support and academics move together rather than compete. On-site professional counselling is available to students, and to family members, within the school itself.
Alongside counselling, students have access to mental health resources and wellness activities that range from mindfulness practices to individualized therapy. It is this combination, real Ontario academics plus genuine therapeutic care, that helps anxious and struggling teens rebuild the confidence to move on to the college or university of their choice.
Our story
Where AVRO started, and why
AVRO Academy opened its doors in 2010 with a straightforward goal: to give Toronto families an alternative to the conventional high school, for teens who needed smaller classes and a therapeutic environment to learn. We were founded to serve a specific student, not the general market, and that focus has stayed at the centre of everything we do.
Today we are a small, Ministry-inspected independent school in midtown Toronto, near Avenue Road and Lawrence, teaching the full Ontario curriculum from Grade 9 to Grade 12 and granting OSSD credits. Over more than a decade, we have helped teens who were struggling, anxious, or simply misunderstood by a bigger system find their footing, engage on their own strengths, and finish strong.
Our team
The people behind AVRO
Our teachers and support staff have specialized training and years of experience with students who learn differently.
Jason Shaul Ellenbogen
Founder and Clinical Director · B.A., M.S.W., R.S.W.
Jason is a registered social worker and psychotherapist focused on helping adolescents and families, with clinical experience that includes work at the Pine River Institute. He founded AVRO to create a supportive learning environment that builds trust, growth, and resilience.
Efrat Shapir
Principal and Head of Humanities · M.A. Philosophy, M.A. History
With nearly a decade at AVRO as both teacher and principal, Efrat builds a personalized plan for each student and meets with them regularly to shape a high school career that fits their needs and capabilities. Under her leadership, students, teachers, and families work closely together.
Behind Jason and Efrat is a specialized team of teachers and support staff, including our academic coordinator, registrar, and special-education resource teacher, each trained to work with students who need a different path through high school.
Come see AVRO for yourself
The best way to understand what makes this school different is to visit, meet the team, and talk about your teen. We would love to start that conversation.