Oshawa, Ontario is a beautiful city nestled along the shores of Lake Ontario. Home to roughly 160,000 residents, Oshawa falls just 60 km’s east of downtown Toronto and is considered the eastern anchor of the Greater Toronto Area. The thriving and diverse city has become increasingly popular with those looking to relocate out of the congested downtown Toronto area. Oshawa is full of beautiful neighbourhoods, scenic waterfronts, a vibrant central district and a number of well rated schools.
High school plays a vital role in student’s lives as it typically acts as the jumping off point to either post-secondary education or a career path. The aim of Oshawa high schools is to aptly prepare students, regardless of their next step, to be active and engaged citizens and reach their highest potential. Here is a brief glimpse at the best high schools in Oshawa, Ontario.
Maxwell Heights Secondary School
Address: 1100 Coldstream Drive, Oshawa, Ontario L1K 0N1
Phone Number: (905)440-4472
Website: maxwellheights.ddsb.ca
Maxwell Heights Secondary School is a newer school within the Durham District School Board, having opened its doors for the 2009-2010 school year. The top ranked secondary school in the city, Maxwell Heights wasted no time excelling both academically and in extracurriculars.
There are a number of different programs offered at Maxwell Heights that focus on areas such as Academics, The Arts, Athletics and Technology. Students that attend Maxwell Heights enjoy exploring their options and interests as they pursue their education.
Home to roughly 1,600 students, Maxwell Heights Secondary School runs a modified school calendar. Beginning a week earlier than other area schools, Maxwell Heights also closes down for a week during the month of November.
There is a wide range of extra academic help for students such as the Library Learning Commons, a free web based tutoring program called Mathify and usually daily during lunch breaks. Providing an inclusive student experience, Maxwell Heights offers Academic Resources which provides a learning environment designed to ensure each student has the tools and resources to reach their fullest academic potential.
Along with the ample resources and excellent education options provided, students who attend Maxwell Heights Secondary School also have the opportunity to participate in a number of extracurricular activities such as interscholastic sports teams, various arts programs, clubs and committees.
Mission: “Respect, Responsibility and Rigor in all we do”
Review: “Great school with a ton of resources for students!”
View All Homes For Sale Near Maxwell Heights Secondary School, Oshawa ON >>>
Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School
Address: 316 Conant Street, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 3S6
Phone Number: (905)432-8470
Website: pereyma.dcdsb.ca
Oshawa is home to a number of well ranking high schools and many of those are among the Durham Catholic District School Board. Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School offers students a number of different programs that are designed to allow students to pursue different interests all while meeting their academic needs. The catholic secondary school stands firm in its faith and emphasizes its beliefs throughout a number of different areas such as mass and religion courses.
A smaller school than many of the city’s high schools, students at Monsignor John Pereyma enjoy a tight knit community. The well qualified teachers provide students with excellent education as well as ample resources. The school offers its students a variety of additional options such as co-op placements, dual credit and independent studies.
Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School is also home to a range of after school extracurricular activities. Students attending the school have opportunities to join various sports teams, clubs, committees and more. Arts and cultural programs are also quite popular and are encouraged.
Motto: “We are called to celebrate and nurture the God-given talents of each student as we serve with excellence in the light of Christ”
Review: “Amazing teachers and newly renovated building to be at the forefront of technology”
View All Homes For Sale Near Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School, Oshawa ON >>>
Eastdale Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Address: 265 Harmony Road North, Oshawa, Ontario
Phone Number: (905)723-8157
Website: eastdalecvi.ddsb.ca
Eastdale C.V.I. is one of the most exciting secondary school options within Oshawa, especially for students who are geared towards the arts. The school is home to the Eastdale School of Theatre, Music and Dance, which is part of the performing arts program offered to students. This program is geared to allow students to follow their passions and focus on two areas of arts all while simultaneously completing their Ontario Secondary School requirements.
Another exciting opportunity that is exclusive to Eastdale C.V.I. is the Eastdale Theatre Company which was established within the school in the 1970’s. What began as an extracurricular activity up until 2012, finally turned into an accredited course in the fall of 2014. Some of the notable performancing put on by the Eastdale Theatre Company include Grease, The Sound of Music, Little Shop of Horrors and Guys & Dolls, which was a collaboration with Summerstock Calgary and performed at Parkwood and Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto.
Though a heavy focus on the arts is obvious for Eastdale C.V.I. the school also excels academically as well. Students who attend the secondary school enjoy excellent education options and a number of vocational courses such as construction, technical design, manufacturing technology and communications.
Originally opened in 1966, Eastdale C.V.I. is a staple in the Oshawa community and has been providing highly rated academic options as well as exciting extracurricular activities to community students for years.
Motto: “To foster a supportive community that encourages students to be confident, self-reliant, lifelong learners”
Review: “Amazing school, especially for those into the arts programs! Teachers are super helpful and friendly as well”
View All Homes For Sale Near Eastdale Collegiate and Vocational Institute, Oshawa ON >>>
Related Article: The Best Elementary Schools in Oshawa Ontario
O’Neill Collegiate and Vocational Institute
Address: 301 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, Ontario L1G 4T2
Phone Number: (905)728-7531
Website: oneillcvi.ddsb.ca
O’Neill C.V.I. is the oldest secondary school in the city of Oshawa having been founded in 1909. The highly rated school is known for its excellent arts program that draws students from the city as well as other areas of the GTA. There are approximately 1,200 students that attend O’Neill from grades 9 through 12.
The school's official motto is “Let Talent Flourish” which they strongly encourage, especially when considering their extensive arts program. Offered at the school is a Performing Arts Program, Visual Arts Program and others for Gifted and Enriched students. Some of the arts programs are so sought after and specific that they require auditions to be approved for enrollment. Students in the Visual Arts Programs study various forms of media and visual art specific careers. Students within the Performing Arts Program study areas such as dance, drama and music.
Due to its high number of gifted and enriched students that attend O’Neill, the school far surpasses many of the Durham District Secondary School in the EQAO testing making it one of the top schools within the district. Students excel academically in many different areas of study.
Though O’Neill is known widely for its Arts and Academics, the school also offers its students a wide variety of extracurricular programs and clubs to be joined. From interscholastic sports teams to debate and social awareness, the school features a well rounded choice of additional programs.
Motto: “Let Talent Flourish”
Review: “The school is one of the better ones in the Durham Region and is definitely the school to go to if you're in the arts!”
View All Homes For Sale Near O’Neill Collegiate and Vocational Institute, Oshawa ON >>>
Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School
Address: 700 Stevenson Road North, Oshawa, Ontario L1J 5P5
Phone Number: (905)723-5255
Website: paudwyer-oshawa.dcdsb.ca
Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School, more commonly known as simply Dwyer Catholic High School, is a great education choice for those wishing to integrate their religious faith into their daily studies. A strong focus on morals, beliefs and values are taught alongside the standard curriculum offered at Dwyer Catholic High School.
The well rated Catholic secondary school is the oldest Catholic school in the Durham Catholic District School Board and was established in September 1962. Students from grades 9 through 12 are offered a variety of programs and a wide range of academic and extracurricular activities. Throughout the area Dwyer Catholic High School is known for its extensive athletic and arts programs.
There are nearly 1,000 students who attend Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School throughout the academic year. Students are held to a high standard when it comes to following their faith and modelling a warm and welcoming school environment. Many students who attend Dwyer High are part of a variety of councils such as the Indeginous Education. The school is constantly working to ensure each and every student who attends feels accepted and is treated with respect.
Motto: “We are called to celebrate and nurture the God-given talents of each student as we serve with excellence in the light of Christ”
Review: “Loved my time at Dwyer High - awesome athletic program and great teachers!”
View All Homes For Sale Near Monsignor Paul Dwyer Catholic High School, Oshawa ON >>>
Durham Alternative Secondary School
Address: 240 Simcoe Street South, Oshawa, Ontario L1H 4H4
Phone Number: (905)579-1990
Website: dass.ddsb.ca
Sometimes life doesn’t alway go as planned and when things happen and your high school educational journey is interrupted it can be hard to get back on track. Durham Alternative Secondary School’s goal is to ensure that every student is able to finish their education and receive their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.
Young adults from the age of 17 through 21 are able to attend the flexible Durham Alternative Secondary School which provides a variety of courses and programs. The purpose of the school is to re-engage students and support their aspirations whether that includes University, College or the workforce.
Students attending Durham Alternative Secondary School are offered a number of different supports and resources. The school provides alternative start times to accommodate various schedules, short 9 week programs, a variety of programs that cater to individual learning styles and needs and connection with city programs and supports.
Also offered at the school are features such as a Credit Recovery Program, courses that focus on social injustices such as Gender Studies, Women Studies, Black Studies and Indeginous Studies, Cooperative Education (both paid and unpaid), Dual Credit Programs and Workplace Certification Programs.
With all the resources and services available, students who have taken the untraditional path are still able to graduate and continue their education or enter into the workforce with confidence and pride!
Motto: “Ignite Learning”
Review: “A great school with teachers who genuinely care about their students lives and success”
View All Homes For Sale Near Durham Alternative Secondary School, Oshawa ON >>>
With all the amazing education options within Oshawa, secondary students throughout the city are ensured to have access to all the resources, support and programs in order to succeed. Whether attending a public, religious, private or alternative school, the Durham District School Board, along with the many caring staff, teachers and parents, strive to provide Oshawa high schoolers with warm and welcoming schools that foster a love of learning. The goal of the great high schools within Oshawa are not only to aptly educate students and send them on to their next adventure, it’s to produce globally aware and engaged citizens for a better tomorrow.
View All Homes For Sale in Oshawa, ON >>>