Why Simcoe County District School Board?
Families who want their child to study near Toronto, in a lakeside, natural setting with outdoor activities in all four seasons, look at Simcoe County. The board runs 104 schools serving about 58,000 students. It lies between Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe and accepts students from many countries.
- Nature and sports: Suited to students who enjoy skiing, canoeing and lake activities.
- Applied interests: Suited to teens who want hands-on exposure to a career sector while still in high school.
- Package accommodation: Suited to families who prefer one package covering housing, custodianship and insurance. Each student gets a private room and a study space.
Reasons: sector specializations, guidance and a comprehensive accommodation package
- Nine SHSM areas: Arts and culture, business, construction, environment, health, landscaping, tourism, ICT and transportation, so students can link their diploma to a field they care about.
- Guidance counselors: Each of the 15 schools that accept international students has one, helping with course selection and adjustment. International students are accepted in grades 9 to 12.
- ESL teachers: They provide language support so students can keep up with academic classes. A French Immersion option is also available.
- Comprehensive accommodation package: It includes host family placement, three meals a day, custodian registration, monthly monitoring, 24/7 emergency support, health insurance and airport pickup, so families do not need to arrange these separately.
- Established program: Founded in 1999, giving the board about 25 years of experience with international students.
- Sports and clubs: Skiing, hockey, rugby, wrestling, curling, canoe-kayak, orchestra, jazz band and dance team, at both competitive and recreational levels. Photography and chemistry clubs and a school musical are also offered.
- Location: Toronto Pearson Airport is one hour to the south, making arrivals and family visits easy.
Cost analysis: what one school year costs
| Item | CAD | As published on CAPS-I |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, one school year | 15,500 | $15,500 |
| Application fee | 300 | $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 1,550 per school month over a 10-month year. Flights, pocket money, the study permit fee and biometrics are not included.
The tuition figure for the 2026–27 school year was confirmed on the district's own website on 11 October 2026.
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 15,500, this fee equals the median among 32 public school districts in Ontario.
Outcome: a nature-centered high school experience with a clear direction
- Informed choice: Sector specialization helps students choose a college or university program.
- Parental confidence: Monthly monitoring and uninterrupted emergency support give families regular updates.
- Stated fees: Annual tuition is CAD 15,500; a single semester is CAD 7,750. Full-year, single-semester and short-term programs are offered, with intakes in September and February.
- Balanced environment: About 200 international students are spread across 15 high schools, so they mix with local peers.
Who it suits and what to consider
- Accommodation costs: The annual cost varies by provider. There is a CAD 700 non-refundable registration fee and a CAD 500 refundable damage deposit. The application fee is CAD 300. Families should confirm current fees with the school before applying.
- Climate and lifestyle: Winters are snowy and the towns are not large cities, so social life centers on school and sports. This suits students who love winter sports.
- Program and timeline: The page does not mention IB or AP. Applications close in May and November. A Study Permit is required for programs longer than six months and is decided by IRCC. High school study is exempt from the Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL). Recognition of the diploma in the student's home country is handled by that country's education authority.
Let us review together how Simcoe County fits your child's interests. Contact Canadian Edu Centre for a free preliminary consultation.