Answers for families · Midtown Toronto
If you are wondering whether AVRO is the right place for your teen, you are in good company. Here are the questions families ask us most, answered plainly. If you do not see yours, we would love to talk it through in person.
Who AVRO is for
Who is AVRO Academy for?
AVRO is a small independent high school in midtown Toronto for teens in Grades 9 to 12 who learn differently. If anxiety, attention, or a learning difference has made a big mainstream school feel like the wrong fit, your teen can find their footing in a calmer, more personal setting here.
What kind of support is built into the day?
Academic and wellbeing support are part of every school day at AVRO, not an add-on. Small classes, patient teachers, and steady one-to-one attention give your teen the structure and encouragement to rebuild confidence, stay engaged, and do their best work.
Curriculum, credits, and the OSSD
Is AVRO a real Ontario high school?
Yes. AVRO is a Ministry-inspected independent school that has served families since 2010. We teach the full Ontario curriculum for Grades 9 to 12 and grant OSSD credits, so the courses your teen earns here count toward the Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
Are your graduates accepted to university?
Yes. AVRO students have gone on to strong programs at universities including the University of Toronto and its Rotman School of Management, York, McGill, McMaster, Waterloo, Concordia, and OCAD. The OSSD credits earned here open the same doors as any Ontario high school.
How much time does one credit take?
Every AVRO course runs at least 110 hours of scheduled instruction, the minimum the Ontario Ministry of Education sets for one credit. Regular attendance matters: a student who misses a large share of a course may not have enough assessment to earn the credit, so we keep families in the loop early.
How many credits do full-time students carry?
Full-time students work toward eight credits across the school year, focusing on just two or three at a time in short, two-month terms. That works out to about five two-hour blocks a week per course. Students who are managing their time well can add a further course during a term.
Class size and daily life
How small are your classes?
Small on purpose. AVRO keeps classes small enough that teachers can teach to each student rather than to a room of thirty. Because numbers shift a little year to year, the clearest picture comes from a visit. Book a time and we will show you what a class actually looks like.
How flexible is the schedule?
Quite flexible. Alongside our full-time program, students can take part-time or evening courses, including while attending another high school. Part-time and evening courses run over sixteen weeks, six days a week. If your timing is tight, contact us and we will look at a more intensive schedule that fits.
Does my teen need a laptop?
Yes. Each student needs their own laptop. AVRO uses a blended format, so students can join class in person or online, logging into the same virtual space either way. That keeps teaching and learning connected whether your teen is in the building or working from home on a given day.
Admissions, fees, and finding us
How does admission work, and when should we apply?
Admissions run year-round, and we build in flexibility as families’ needs change. For a Grade 9 student starting in September, we aim to finalize registration by August 1 so the right resources are in place. The process starts simply, with a conversation and a visit.
What does AVRO cost?
Tuition depends on the program and course load your teen needs, so the clearest answer comes from a short conversation. See our tuition page for an overview, or contact us and we will walk you through the options and what each one includes.
Where are you located?
AVRO Academy is in midtown Toronto, near Avenue Road and Lawrence, an easy trip from across the city and the surrounding neighbourhoods. The best way to get a feel for the school is to come see it, meet the team, and picture your teen here. Book a visit and we will find a time.
Still have a question?
The best answers come from seeing AVRO in person. Come meet the team, walk the halls, and talk through what your teen needs. We will take it from there.