Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
- Why
- Proximity to a major city · Academic programs
- Because
- Scale · IB and AP · ESL and newcomer support
- Result
- Strong application profile · City experience · Clear cost
- Benefit
- Strong value · CAD 700 below the median, with IB, AP and homestay
- Cost
- CAD 15,800 (total of the published items, without homestay) · about CAD 1,580 per school month
Why Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board?
Families who want Toronto's opportunities without sending their child to the city centre often consider this board. It runs 150 schools on the Lake Ontario shore at Toronto's western edge, including 26 high schools. It also has 123 elementary schools and currently hosts about 100 international students.
- Proximity to a major city: Students can study within 30 minutes of Toronto. Niagara Falls is about 90 minutes away by car.
- Academic programs: Suited to students preparing for university through IB or Advanced Placement.
- Easy travel: Suited to families seeking a region that can be reached from abroad on a direct or single-connection flight.
Reasons: large scale, strong academic programs and easy travel
- Scale: With over 85,000 students and 26 high schools, students have a wide range of school and course options. As Ontario's second-largest publicly funded Catholic system, it also offers stable resources.
- IB and AP: Advanced courses in these programs can strengthen a university application.
- ESL and newcomer support: English support and integration services help intermediate-level students move gradually into academic classes.
- French Immersion: Students can develop a second language alongside English.
- Airport: Toronto Pearson International Airport, the nearest to the region, offers non-stop flights to 180 destinations, making travel and family visits easier.
- Three entry periods: Students can start in September, February or July, when a summer ESL program runs. The board also offers full-year and single-term enrolment, plus short programs and a summer camp.
- Sports and fine arts: Programs in these areas let students pursue interests outside the classroom.
Cost analysis: what one school year costs
| Item | CAD | As published on CAPS-I |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, one school year | 14,800 | $14,800; Elementary School (Kindergarten – Grade 8) Full Year: $13,800 |
| Application fee | 500 | $500 (Application/Administration Fee) |
| Health insurance | 500 | Student Medical Insurance Fees Full Year: $500; 1 Semester: $300 |
| Homestay, full year | see text | varies by homestay provider, please confirm directly with them. |
| Total of the published items, without homestay | 15,800 | Homestay is priced by the homestay provider and is not included in this total. |
Tuition alone works out to about CAD 1,480 per school month over a 10-month year.
The same tuition figure is published on the district's own website, read on 11 October 2026. That page does not state which school year it applies to.
The other items are taken from the district's CAPS-I member page, read on 11 October 2026. Items shown as "see text" could not be read as a single amount and are left out of the total.
How this fee compares
At CAD 14,800, this fee is CAD 700 below the median of CAD 15,500 among 32 public school districts in Ontario.
Outcome: a university-oriented high school path near Toronto
- Strong application profile: IB or AP courses show a student's academic level clearly to universities.
- City experience: Proximity to Toronto and to Niagara Falls, about an hour and a half away, gives students a rich social environment.
- Clear cost: Annual high school tuition is CAD 14,800, or CAD 7,400 per term. Elementary and middle school tuition is CAD 13,800 per year.
- Smooth transition: ESL support and the summer program ease students' adjustment in the first months. The international group of about 100 gives students room to connect with local peers.
Benefit analysis: what the investment buys
The student works toward the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) plus International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP), taught and assessed by certified Canadian teachers.
Classes in English every day, with French options that add a second official language.
A screened homestay family provides a private room, meals and daily support, and the district monitors the placement.
Sports Academies and Fine Arts 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 15,800 | Total of the published items, without homestay, from the cost analysis above |
| Per school month | CAD 1,580 | Over a 10-month school year |
| Price position | −CAD 700 | vs. median CAD 15,500 · 32 public school districts in Ontario |
| Specialty programs | 4 | International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), Sports Academies and Fine Arts |
| Living arrangement | Homestay | Included in the cost analysis where the school publishes it |
| Language support | Immersion | No separate ESL program in our data; we confirm with the school |
| Value verdict | Strong value |
CAD 700 below the median across 32 public school districts in Ontario, while still offering 4 specialty programs. Families get the full Canadian school experience for less.
Who it suits and what to consider
- Cost of living: The Toronto area is one of Canada's more expensive regions, and accommodation costs vary by provider. There is also a CAD 500 application/administration fee and a CAD 500 annual health insurance fee. Current fees should be confirmed with the school before applying. Term-based health insurance costs CAD 300.
- School character: The board is a Catholic school system. Large, crowded schools may not suit every student.
Let us identify together which Dufferin-Peel school suits your child. Request a free preliminary consultation from Canadian Edu Centre.