Toronto families can choose between four publicly funded school boards: the Toronto District School Board (TDSB, English public), the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB, English Catholic), the Conseil scolaire Viamonde (French public) and the Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir (French Catholic). Public education is free for residents. Your choice of board, your address and your child’s age determine where and when you register. Here is how the process works.
| Board | Language | Who can attend |
|---|---|---|
| TDSB | English (with French Immersion) | Toronto residents |
| TCDSB | English Catholic (with French Immersion) | According to the board’s Catholic admission policy |
| Conseil scolaire Viamonde | French, public | French-language rights holders, or by admissions committee |
| CSC MonAvenir | French, Catholic | French-language rights holders, or by admissions committee |
Your home school is generally determined by your address, and each board has an online school locator. If you are still choosing where to live, school boundaries are worth checking alongside the factors in our best neighbourhoods in Toronto guide.
The TDSB runs kindergarten registration in the winter for the following September. For September 2026, registration for English kindergarten began January 6, 2026. You pre-register online and school staff then contact you to review documents, or you register in person by appointment at your local school.
New students in Kindergarten to Grade 2 also complete a developmental history form. Newcomers should bring their immigration documents as well.
The TDSB’s Early French Immersion begins in Senior Kindergarten, and families apply online through the board’s Program Application and Registration System (PARS) during the fall application window in the year the child is in JK. The window is short (in 2025 it ran in November), and placement is not guaranteed. A Middle French Immersion entry point starts in Grade 4, with applications in Grade 3 (January 2026 for the 2026-27 year). Transportation to another school may be required.
The TCDSB uses an online application system (SOAR) for kindergarten and new students. After you begin, you receive a file number and an application date and time, which you should keep. Catholic elementary schools have faith-based admission criteria; confirm the current policy and document list with the TCDSB’s admissions department (416-397-6900) before you apply. TCDSB French Immersion begins in Junior Kindergarten, and applications follow the kindergarten registration timeline.
French-language schools are different from French Immersion: all instruction is in French and they are designed for francophone families. Under section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, a Canadian citizen parent has the right to French-language education for their child if at least one of these applies:
Families who do not meet these criteria can still request admission. At Viamonde, an admissions committee (the principal, a teacher and a French-language superintendent) reviews the request, which includes an interview and French oral and written testing. Rights holders register by finding their regional school, completing an online pre-enrolment form and providing proof of citizenship, the child’s birth certificate, proof of address and any school record. MonAvenir runs its own registration process for French Catholic schools. Families moving from Quebec should keep their Quebec school records, which help establish rights and placement.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Fall of the year before | Research boards and programs; TDSB Early French Immersion applications (for SK entry) |
| January | TDSB kindergarten registration opens; out-of-area and Middle French Immersion applications |
| Winter to spring | Submit documents, complete developmental history form, attend school orientation |
| Summer | Confirm placement, transportation and before- and after-school care |
Exact dates change each year and differ by board, so check each board’s registration page in the fall.
You can register a child during the school year, not only in September. Bring every document you have, including passports and permits, and the school or board will guide you. Our newcomer checklist and OHIP application guide cover the other paperwork for your first months.
School bus service is limited to students who meet each board’s distance or program criteria. Most Toronto students walk or take the TTC; children 12 and under ride the TTC free. See our TTC guide for youth fares and PRESTO.
No. Full-day kindergarten is offered free, but compulsory school attendance starts at age 6.
Boards have out-of-area admission processes with deadlines (for the TDSB, January 30, 2026 for the 2026-27 year). Space is not guaranteed.
No. French Immersion is designed for students learning French as a second language.
Dates change every year. Confirm deadlines with your board before applying.
Last updated: November 2026
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