Why Thames Valley District School Board?
Families who want a high school away from big-city crowds but within reach of Toronto often look at London. The board suits parents who want their child to build a strong academic foundation and try out their interests during high school.
- Environment: A mid-sized, calm, English-speaking city.
- Content: Courses built around concrete interests such as aviation, robotics or performing arts.
- Flexibility: Students can start with a single semester instead of a full school year.
Reasons: what makes Thames Valley stand out
The board's international program offers full-year and single-semester options and hosts about 300 international students. The points below are based on information verified from the board's own materials.
- Scale: The board has 130 elementary schools and 27 high schools, which makes it easier to find a school that fits a student's interests and level.
- Applied programs: Aviation, cosmetology, robotics, film and publishing, so students can test a career idea before university.
- Arts and STEM: Performing arts, visual and digital arts, and STEM/STEAM programs give students with different talents a place to focus.
- Location: London is two hours from Toronto and from Detroit, USA, so students can live in a calm city and still reach larger centers.
- Transport: The city's airport is London International Airport, which makes arrivals and holiday travel easier to plan.
- Intake calendar: Students can enter in September or February. No formal application deadline has been announced, so families can prepare at their own pace.
- Fees: High school tuition is CAD 15,750 per year, so the budget is somewhat more comfortable than with Toronto-area boards.
Cost analysis: what one school year costs
| Item | CAD | As published on CAPS-I |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition, one school year | 15,750 | $15,500 Elementary (K-8); $16,000 Secondary (Grades 9-12) |
| Application fee | 250 | $250 |
| Health insurance | 500 | Medical Insurance: $500 |
| Homestay, full year | see text | varies by homestay provider, please confirm directly with them. |
| Total of the published items, without homestay | 16,500 | Homestay is priced by the homestay provider and is not included in this total. |
Tuition alone works out to about CAD 1,575 per school month over a 10-month year. Flights, pocket money, the study permit fee and biometrics are not included.
The district's own website lists CAD 15,750 for the 2026–27 school year, while its CAPS-I page shows CAD 16,000. This page uses the figure from the district's website.
The district has also published CAD 16,000 for the 2027–28 school year.
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 15,750, this fee is CAD 250 above the median of CAD 15,500 among 32 public school districts in Ontario.
Outcome: what it means for the student and family
Taken together, these features give the student a balanced high school experience, both academically and personally. For parents, the process is easy to follow and predictable. The board describes itself as an inclusive, safe environment. Recognition of the diploma in the student's home country is handled by that country's education authority.
- Language development: English is the only language of instruction, so students use it throughout the day.
- Direction: Applied programs help students make more informed choices of university program.
- Balanced living: In a city of about 450,000 people, the distances between school, home and social life are short.
- Family setting: Homestay accommodation lets students take part in everyday Canadian life.
Who it suits and what to consider
- Cost: On top of the CAD 15,750 tuition there is a CAD 250 application fee, a CAD 500 health insurance fee, a CAD 150 transcript evaluation fee and a homestay fee that varies by provider. Families should confirm the current fees with the school before applying.
- Program placement: Specialized programs may not be offered at every school. Which program is available at which high school should be confirmed at the application stage.
- Official requirements: Study longer than six months requires a Study Permit. Students under 17 need a custodian in Canada. IRCC makes the visa decision.
Do your child's interests and your budget match Thames Valley? Schedule a free preliminary consultation with Canadian Edu Centre, and we will work out the school choice and application timeline together.