William Academy
- Why
- Those seeking small-town safety · Those seeking very small classes
- Because
- Cobourg boarding campus · Toronto campus · Four intakes
- Result
- Full package · Language development · Close supervision
- Benefit
- Budget-friendly · CAD 6,550 below the median, with AP, boarding with supervised study and ESL support
- Cost
- CAD 45,800 (headline annual fee with boarding) · about CAD 4,580 per school month
Why William Academy?
Some parents want a calm town where their child can focus on studies and English, away from the distractions of a big city. The two-campus structure lets families choose between two lifestyles within one school. Cobourg is a small lakeside town; the school offers boarding there and day education in Toronto.
- Those seeking small-town safety: Families who prefer their child to live in a quiet, walkable community.
- Those seeking very small classes: Students who expect close, one-to-one work with teachers.
- Those seeking boarding on a reasonable budget: Parents who want a predictable all-in cost.
Reasons: what makes William Academy suitable for these families
The figures in this section come from the school's admissions page and its September 2026 to June 2027 fee schedule. Each point is followed by what it means for families.
- 1:8 teacher-student ratio: The school advertises this ratio, so gaps in a student's learning are spotted and addressed quickly.
- Cobourg boarding campus: Housing is on campus, supervised and includes meals, so students live in a safe and regular routine.
- Toronto campus: The Scarborough campus offers homestay accommodation, giving an option to students who prefer the city.
- Four intakes: Intakes are in September, November, January and March, so students can start at a suitable point in the year.
- 5-level ESL: The program is graded, with the highest level roughly equal to IELTS 6. The school offers a free ESL assessment so students start at the right level.
- OSSD and AP: Alongside the Ontario diploma, AP courses are offered so strong students can deepen their transcripts.
- Transparent fee schedule: Tuition, boarding and mandatory costs for 2026-27 are published in one table, which reduces the risk of surprise expenses.
Cost analysis: what one school year costs
For 2026-27, tuition is CAD 24,800 and boarding (shared room and meals) is CAD 16,000; the full-year package is CAD 45,800 including custodianship, insurance, activities, materials and uniform.
| Item | CAD | When |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | 24,800 | listed with the annual fees |
| Boarding (shared room and meals) | 16,000 | listed with the annual fees |
| Full-year package (tuition, boarding, custodianship, insurance, activities, materials, uniform) | 45,800 | listed with the annual fees |
| Headline annual fee with boarding | 45,800 | 2026-27 |
The headline fee works out to about CAD 4,580 per school month over a 10-month year, accommodation and meals included.
The page does not itemise the package components beyond tuition and boarding; the custodianship letter is a separate item and bank transfer charges may apply; confirm with the school.
Fees were compiled in October 2026 and change every school year; confirm the amount with the school before applying.
How this fee compares
At CAD 45,800, this fee is CAD 6,550 below the median of CAD 52,350 among 12 private schools with boarding included.
Outcome: what it means for the student and parents
A small class, on-campus boarding and a clear fee schedule let families see both the costs and daily life in advance. Key outcomes:
- Full package: Tuition, boarding, custodianship, insurance, activities, materials and uniform total CAD 45,800 for the full year.
- Language development: In a small town, daily life is conducted in English, which makes practice unavoidable.
- Close supervision: The small class and on-campus housing make it easier for parents to follow progress from a distance.
- Switching campuses: Students can move to the school's other campus if their needs change.
Benefit analysis: what the investment buys
The student works toward the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) plus Advanced Placement (AP), taught and assessed by certified Canadian teachers.
ESL/ELL support builds academic English step by step, so subject marks are not held back by language.
A choice of on-campus boarding or a carefully placed homestay, with staff responsible for the student’s daily routine.
Clubs, teams and community activities let the student build a profile beyond grades.
A Canadian transcript, teacher references and extracurricular record that Canadian and international universities review directly.
Cost–benefit at a glance
| Measure | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Annual investment | CAD 45,800 | Headline annual fee with boarding, from the cost analysis above |
| Per school month | CAD 4,580 | Over a 10-month school year |
| Price position | −CAD 6,550 | vs. median CAD 52,350 · 12 private schools with boarding included |
| Specialty programs | 1 | Advanced Placement (AP) |
| Living arrangement | Boarding & homestay | Included in the cost analysis where the school publishes it |
| Language support | ESL/ELL | Structured English support listed by the school |
| Value verdict | Budget-friendly |
CAD 6,550 below the median across 12 private schools with boarding included. Families get the full Canadian school experience for less.
Who it suits and what to consider
- Location: Cobourg is a small town east of Toronto. Students who want a busy city life may find it dull.
- Room type: The published boarding fee is for a shared room. Families who want a single room should ask about availability beforehand.
- Fee currency: Bank transfers may incur extra charges. Families should confirm current fees with the school before applying.
- Winter conditions: Winters in Ontario are long and cold, so students need to be prepared.
For admission, the applicant's transcripts are reviewed, any English proficiency documents are checked and an interview is held. The fee schedule lists the custodian service and the custodianship document costs separately. Recognition of the studies in the student's home country is handled by that country's education authority. We can decide together whether Cobourg's boarding campus or the Toronto campus better suits your child; you can book a free preliminary assessment meeting with Canadian Edu Centre.