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St. Andrew's College

Canada, Aurora

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees CA$46,395 - 88,660
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 650
Type Boys School, Boys School (boarding)
Opened 1899
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Advanced Placement (AP)
Taught languages French, German
Strengths STEM, Languages, Performing Arts
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Community and Service
Stages Middle School, Secondary School
Introduction

St. Andrew's College is Canada's largest all-boys day and boarding school, set on a 126‑acre campus in Aurora, Ontario. The school teaches an AP program, with enriched Middle School French and Extended French in Upper School, plus additional French credits and a graduation certificate. Reach-Ahead Math in Middle School accelerates mathematics and can earn high school credit. The AP Capstone Diploma is offered, requiring AP Seminar, AP Research, and four additional AP courses. The McEwen Leadership program for Grades 11–12 emphasizes experiential leadership through DECA, Entrepreneurship and Investments clubs. A two‑storey Makerspace opened in 2021 supports project‑based learning, alongside Robotics (VEX and RoboCup) as a CS/engineering pathway. Arts, drama, and music are central, including Pipes & Drums, and ACPlus features debate and Model UN. Outdoor education and service, including SASSAW, round out the program, with three Upper School boarding houses and a Middle School house on campus, a vibrant community.

The Essentials

St. Andrew's College has 650 pupils, instruction in English.

Location
Aurora, Ontario, Canada. The campus is located at 15800 Yonge Street, Aurora, ON L4G 3H7. The site sits on a 126-acre campus in Aurora, about 40 minutes north of Toronto.

Stages
Grades 5–12; Middle School (Grades 5–8) and Upper School (Grades 9–12).

Type
Independent, all-boys boarding and day school.

Additional learning support
Academic supports including the Math Den and English Nook are available to boarders and day students.

Country affiliation
Canada

Bus service
A SAC shuttle provides local transport for boarding/day students; a Simcoe County morning bus route serves Barrie, Innisfil, Cookstown, and Bradford with stops at Costco Barrie, Hwy 400 & Innisfil Beach Road Carpool Lot, Tanger Outlets Cookstown, and Bob Fallis Sports Centre in Bradford.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Three Upper School boarding houses and one Middle School/Grade 9 house. Heads of House, Boarding Dons, duty teachers, House Captains, and dedicated staff supervise boarding life to create a safe, supportive environment. Boarding Life Curriculum includes a mandatory study prep with Math Den and English Nook, and student-led peer groups; the Complete Weekend Program offers weekend experiences such as trips to Niagara Falls and Mont-Tremblant, NBA games, Ripley's Aquarium, and a SAC shuttle.

Food Options
1,400 meals are prepared daily with menus designed to meet varying tastes, dietary preferences, and restrictions. Three protein options plus a vegetarian choice are offered, along with salad and sandwich bars, two homemade soups, and theme meals; on-site herbs and local sourcing support nutrition and variety; the program accommodates special diets and allergies.

House System
The school uses a house system with three Upper School boarding houses and one Middle School/Grade 9 house; each house has a Head of House, Boarding Dons, duty teachers, and House Captains supported by staff.

Governance and Ownership
The school is governed by a Board of Governors that sets policy and delegates to the Head of School and faculty. The Head of School is Kevin McHenry; the Board Chair is Mark Etherington, and Foundation Trustees (including the Chair of Foundation Trustees, David Lawrence) hold ex-officio roles.
Fees

Annual tuition at St. Andrew's College ranges from CAD 46,395 to CAD 88,660 for 2026/27.

Overview — Annual tuition by student type
- Day student: CAD 46,395 per academic year.
- Boarding student (residential): CAD 79,880 per academic year (composite fee covering tuition plus room and board).
- International day student (requires a study permit): CAD 50,210 per academic year.
- International boarding student (requires a study permit): CAD 88,660 per academic year.

Application and enrolment fees
- New-family Registration Fee: non-refundable CAD 7,000 for a family's first student.
- Subsequent new-family Registration Fee: non-refundable CAD 5,000 for each additional student from the same family.
- Refundable deposit for all new students: CAD 1,000 (held on account and refunded when the student leaves and the account is finalized).

Payment plans, billing schedule and per-term / per-payment amounts
- The school offers three payment plans: Annual, Instalment (default), and Monthly. Key payment dates and structure are set in the enrolment contract.

- Annual Plan (pay in one payment):
- Payment due: April 1 (academic year before the year to which fees relate). Examples of amounts (excluding incidental charges):
- Day student: pay CAD 42,595 on April 1 (plus the non-refundable tuition deposit of CAD 3,250). Total shown including deposit: CAD 45,845.
- Boarding student: pay CAD 73,540 on April 1 (plus deposit CAD 5,500). Total shown including deposit: CAD 79,040.
- International day student (study permit): pay CAD 46,350 on April 1 (plus deposit CAD 3,250). Total shown including deposit: CAD 49,600.
- International boarding student (study permit): pay CAD 82,455 on April 1 (plus deposit CAD 5,500). Total shown including deposit: CAD 87,955.

- Instalment Plan (default):
- Payment schedule (example amounts for 2026–2027):
- Day student: non-refundable tuition deposit CAD 3,250 due January 1; instalments of CAD 6,045 due April 1, CAD 18,550 due June 1, CAD 18,550 due Oct 1; total annual amount CAD 46,395 (deposit + instalments).
- Boarding student: deposit CAD 5,500 due January 1; instalments of CAD 10,480 due April 1, CAD 31,950 due June 1, CAD 31,950 due Oct 1; total annual amount CAD 79,880 (deposit + instalments).
- International day student (study permit): deposit CAD 3,250; instalments of CAD 6,950 due April 1 and CAD 40,010 due June 1; total annual amount CAD 50,210. (Monthly plan is not available to students requiring a study permit.)
- International boarding student (study permit): deposit CAD 5,500; instalments of CAD 12,385 due April 1 and CAD 70,775 due June 1; total annual amount CAD 88,660.

- Monthly Plan (where available):
- Monthly Plan requires pre-authorized payment arrangements; if not completed by the listed deadline the account reverts to Instalment Plan. The Monthly Plan is not available to students requiring study permits. Example monthly breakdowns for 2026–2027 (deposit + April payment + eight monthly payments May–Dec):
- Day student: deposit CAD 3,250; April 1 payment CAD 6,365; eight monthly payments of CAD 4,790 (May–Dec); total CAD 47,935.
- Boarding student: deposit CAD 5,500; April 1 payment CAD 10,905; eight monthly payments of CAD 8,250 (May–Dec); total CAD 82,405.

Other mandatory fees and typical incidental costs
- Technology Fee: CAD 1,500 per year (covers a convertible touchscreen tablet, on-campus support, accidental damage/theft coverage, loaner program, protective backpack, selected educational software). Instalment and monthly breakdown options are available. CAD 1,550 total in an 8-payment monthly example.
- Personal Service Fee: CAD 1,250 per year (covers part of transportation to mandatory school events and trips, yearbook, some co-curricular programming and clubs). Monthly/instalment options available. Example 8-payment total CAD 1,300.
- Lunch Fee (day students only): CAD 2,000 per year. Monthly/instalment options available.
- Medical Insurance: students without OHIP must subscribe to the school medical plan; approximate annual cost charged in the Fall term for 2026–2027: CAD 600 (approximate).
- Uniforms, textbooks and supplies: purchased through the Campus Shop and charged to the account. Typical textbook and uniform costs are indicated in the School's financial materials and may range (examples provided in school financial materials). Textbook costs are shown in the financial guide as approximately CAD 400–900 per year.
- Co-curricular and program charges: fees may apply for specific athletics (team fees, equipment, tournaments), trips, arts and makerspace, music lessons, weekend programs, dry cleaning/alteration services, and rented or specialty equipment; such charges are billed to student accounts when incurred.
- Voluntary Parent Fund donation: a suggested voluntary gift of CAD 1,500 per family per year; the school places CAD 500 on the account three times during the fall term for convenience but the gift is voluntary and families may opt out. Charitable donation receipts are issued for Parent Fund gifts.

Boarding arrangements and boarding fee note
- Boarding fees are charged as a composite that includes tuition plus room and board; boarding totals listed above are the all-in annual amounts for residential students. Specific residence charges and terms for boarders are governed by the enrolment contract and residence regulations.

Refunds, cancellation and withdrawal terms
- The non-refundable tuition deposit is charged on returning student accounts (date noted in the contract cycle) and is not refundable or transferable under any circumstances. The refundable CAD 1,000 new-student deposit is held until the student leaves and the account is finalized.
- Cancellation deadlines and financial obligations (examples for the contract cycle shown):
- Cancellation Notice received by January 1 (in the academic year before the year to which cancellation applies): no fees owed.
- Cancellation Notice received January 2 to March 31: the non-refundable tuition deposit is owed.
- Cancellation Notice received after March 31: the full tuition and mandatory fees for the upcoming academic year are owed.
- If a student is withdrawn, absent, or voluntarily or involuntarily separated during the academic year, families remain liable for the entire academic year's tuition and mandatory fees (and, for boarders, the entire academic year's room and board). No portion of tuition or fees paid or outstanding will be refunded or cancelled for voluntary or involuntary absence, withdrawal or expulsion.

Payment terms, late fees and account policies
- Payment deadlines: amounts are due as shown in the chosen payment plan schedule; other incidental charges are due when posted to the student account. Payments must be received no later than 30 days from the due date.
- Finance charges: outstanding balances more than 30 days incur finance charges at 1.5% per month (18% per annum). The school may accelerate the unpaid balance if an account is more than 90 days in arrears and may restrict participation in school activities or withhold reports, grades, or transcripts until accounts are brought into good standing. Accounts in arrears on November 30 must have acceptable payment arrangements before the student can return after the December break.

Accepted payment methods and instructions
- Accepted methods for tuition and mandatory fees: cheque (payable to St. Andrew's College), online bill payment (use the student ID as the account number), pre-authorized bank withdrawal (PAD), or Pay-My-Tuition for international payments. Credit cards may be used for incidental charges; the Business Office will process credit card payments for tuition and mandatory fees only if the Monthly Payment Plan is selected and pre-authorized. Cash is not accepted. Always include the student ID number on payments.

Other payment-related notes
- The Monthly Payment Plan requires enrolment in a pre-authorized payment method or post-dated cheques by the stated deadline; if that is not completed the account will revert to the Instalment Plan. Students requiring study permits are not eligible for the Monthly Plan and must have fees paid in full by June 1. The Annual Plan is not available to new students enrolled after May 1 for the upcoming year.

(Values and dates shown reflect the school's published 2026–2027 tuition and financial schedule and the school's Financial Guide for that academic year.)
Academics

St. Andrew's College teaches Advanced Placement (AP).

Curriculum
Enriched French in Middle School and Extended French in Upper School, with additional French credits and a certificate upon graduation. Reach-Ahead Math in Middle School accelerates mathematics and enables high school credit (MTH1W) for some Grade 8 students, with potential progression to AP mathematics in Grade 11. AP Capstone Diploma is offered: two year-long AP courses (AP Seminar and AP Research) plus four additional AP courses to earn the diploma. McEwen Leadership is a Grades 11–12 program focusing on experiential leadership, with participation in DECA, Entrepreneurship and Investments clubs. Makerspace Education (two-storey Makerspace opened in 2021) integrates constructivist learning across disciplines, while Robotics (VEX and RoboCup) provides a CS/engineering pathway for Grades 10–12. Middle School Project-Based Learning (IGNITE Days) and Arts & Co-Curricular Plus (ACPlus) offer hands-on experiences in arts, robotics, debate, Model UN, and more; Pipes & Drums and Bagpiping begin in Grade 5; Physical Fitness and Outdoor Education, including service initiatives like SASSAW, round out the program.

Higher Education Progression
University Counselling supports students from entry into Upper School through graduation, guiding university and program research, standardized tests (SAT/ACT), and applications. The Live the Vision program emphasizes self-exploration, decision-making, transitions, and mental health to support post-secondary planning. The department hosts the fall Canadian Universities Fair, university campus visits, career day and alumni panels, and small-group visits with admissions representatives.

Gifted and Talented
The school provides accelerated and advanced options, including Reach-Ahead Math, Enriched/Extended French, AP Capstone, and a Makerspace/robotics pathway. ACPlus and a broad arts and STEM program offer enrichment beyond the core curriculum.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The Health and Wellness Centre supports the total well-being of students and staff—physically, spiritually, emotionally, and psychologically. A school nurse is available in-person and on call 24 hours a day. Counselling services are available. The Circle of Care program is run through the Health Centre to identify student concerns and address health and mental well-being. Discussions with students are private, and information is not shared with others without the student's permission unless there is a concern that someone is in danger.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Academic Support is provided through the Guided Learning Centre (GLC) to help students flourish in the classroom. The GLC supports students who have trouble keeping up, who hand in work late, or face other challenges that affect their schedules. Students have access to extra help after school in math, science, and writing. Time management and completion of missed assignments are supported. Faculty members can receive support through the centre for students who miss assessment opportunities.

Mental Wellbeing
The school prioritizes mental wellbeing through the Health and Wellness Centre, which focuses on physical, spiritual, emotional, and psychological health. Counselling services are available to support students experiencing stress, anxiety, or other concerns. The Circle of Care program involves all staff to identify student concerns and support health and well-being. Discussions with students are private, and information is not shared without the student's permission unless there is a concern that someone is in danger. Staff receive CPR, AED, and first aid training every two years, and a Medical Response Team is trained twice yearly.

Safeguarding
The Health Centre is a safe space where dignity and confidentiality are honoured. Discussions with students are private, and information is not shared without the student's permission unless there is a concern that someone is in danger. The Circle of Care program uses all staff to identify student concerns and safeguard health and well-being. CPR, AED, and first aid training are provided to all staff every two years. A Medical Response Team comprising staff from various departments receives more intensive training twice yearly.
Parent Experience

History
St. Andrew's College began on September 10, 1899 as a boarding and day school in Chestnut Park, Toronto, founded by Rev. Dr. George Bruce. The early campus moved to Rosedale in 1905, the same year the Highland Cadet Corps was established. Pipes & Drums joined the Cadet program in 1915, and the school spent 1918–1920 at Knox College when Rosedale was used as a military hospital. In 1926 the school moved to its present 126-acre campus in Aurora, with Memorial Chapel consecrated in 1931. Today St. Andrew's has more than 650 students, including over 360 day students and 260 boarders from Canada and 30 other countries; Kevin McHenry became the eighth Head of School on July 1, 2009.

Community
Parade Week is a signature spring tradition anchored by Church Parade, Head of School's Parade, and the Cadet Inspection. It expresses heritage, discipline, service, and school spirit across generations. Church Parade dates back to the 1899–1900 school year and includes a procession through Aurora with the Pipes & Drums and Wind Ensemble, preceded by the Concert in the Park. The Head of School's Parade features a musical tattoo and ceremonial review, and the Cadet Inspection culminates with a full parade, awards, and performances by the Pipes & Drums and Wind Ensemble.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The Parents Guild has supported St. Andrew's College since 1934. All parents become members upon enrolling a child, and the Guild is led by an executive committee. The Guild runs programs such as Family Mentor, Class Ambassador, Boarding Life, New Family Orientation Days, and the annual Gala. It also organizes Homecoming, a Fall Social, and operates the SAC Rack selling gently used uniforms. The Alumni Parents Association helps keep parents of Old Boys connected through Fall Reception, Christmas Carols & Dinner, and Spring Gathering, coordinated by a Parent Liaison & Events Manager.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The school offers boarding facilities as part of its campus, including three Upper School boarding houses and one Middle School/Grade 9 house, with dedicated staff and house leadership to support boarding life. The dining program serves meals daily to both boarders and day students; menus are designed to meet varying dietary needs and are prepared with locally sourced ingredients where possible. The campus provides a range of spaces and programs to support academics, arts, and athletics, including study resources and a shuttle for weekend activities. Address: 15800 Yonge Street, Aurora, ON L4G 3H7, Canada. The school is Canada's largest all-boys day and boarding school.

Sports Facilities
The school supports a broad athletics and fitness program with various activities and facilities to participate in field sports, team practices, and fitness education as part of its physical education and co-curricular offerings.

Academic Facilities
The school hosts a two-storey makerspace and specialized facilities for robotics, computer science, and engineering education, alongside a range of project-based and inquiry-driven programs in the Upper and Middle Schools.

Extra Curricular Facilities
A wide array of arts, music, debate, leadership, outdoor education, and service programs are offered, including a Middle School Arts program, Pipes & Drums, and the Arts and Co-Curricular Plus (ACPlus) electives, with opportunities across terms and grades.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
AP Capstone is offered as a diploma program, guiding students through AP Seminar and AP Research. The McEwen Leadership program builds leadership capacity for Grades 11 and 12, with participation in DECA, Entrepreneurship, and Investments clubs. A Makerspace supports project-based learning with a two-storey facility that opened in 2021, promoting engineering, design, and hands-on exploration. The Robotics program is a center of excellence at SAC, emphasizing VEX robotics and RoboCup, complemented by a robust set of co-curriculars such as Middle School Project-Based Learning and the Arts and Co-Curricular Plus offerings that include robotics, debate, and Model UN.

Arts & Creative
The arts program is centered on music, drama, and visual arts. Music includes curricular band classes, regimental piping and drumming, and extracurricular options like strings and jazz; the Pipes & Drums program is among the leading programs in Canada. Drama offers major productions, including collaborative projects and the Focus Festival of the Arts, with many students participating in school plays each year. Visual Arts covers painting, sculpture, ceramics, printmaking, graphic design, and digital media, supported by state-of-the-art facilities including dedicated studios for painting, sculpture/ceramics, and broadcast journalism.

Cultural & Language
Enriched French is offered in Middle School and Extended French in Upper School, with additional French credits toward earning a French certificate on graduation. ACPlus includes debate and Model UN, supporting cross-cultural communication and global awareness. The school fosters engaged, caring, and reflective global citizens as part of its culture.

Social & Hobbies
Upper School participates in Arts and Co-Curricular Plus (ACPlus), a program that allows students to explore interests beyond the core curriculum. ACPlus offerings include ceramics, rock band, university cooking, robotics, bagpiping, life drawing, debate, investment club, Model UN, and other activities, with more than 95 percent of Upper School students participating in at least one activity. More than half of the student body participates in the 30 or more plays staged at the school each year.

Community & Service
Outdoor Education includes the St. Andrew's Society for Service Around the World (SASSAW) trek for three weeks each summer, allowing students to perform community service on a global scale; past destinations include South Africa, Peru, Thailand, Kenya, Ecuador, Malawi, Namibia, Brazil, India, Chile, and Fiji. SASSAW engages students in an academic course, registration, and work toward the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, with a fall pre-trip and a formal trip in August. The Leadership and Music programs kick off with overnight fall camps, and leadership students participate in overnight camps while music students join a campus-based program.

Leadership & Professional
McEwen Leadership is a business leadership program established in 2007 to educate future leaders through experiential education and leadership skills development for Grades 11 and 12; successful applicants participate in DECA, Entrepreneurship, and Investments clubs. There are approximately 200 formal leadership positions in the Upper School and about 125 in the Middle School, creating multiple levels of student leadership. Councils, committees, and clubs enable student leadership, with student-led assemblies, house events, and guest speakers facilitated by leadership councils and clubs. Top leadership roles include Prefect, Students Head of House, and House Captain.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The Athletics program operates in three seasons with CISAA competition: fall includes cross-country, soccer, volleyball, and football; winter features alpine skiing, basketball, curling, fencing, hockey, Nordic skiing, squash, and swimming; and spring offers badminton, baseball, lacrosse, rugby, tennis, track & field, and triathlon. The campus provides about 1,400 meals daily, with menus that accommodate dietary preferences and restrictions, including theme meals and on-site sustainability efforts. The Boarding Life program includes three Upper School boarding houses and one Middle School/Grade 9 house, a life program with leadership and clubs, sports, arts, and outreach, and the Complete Weekend program with weekend excursions. The campus also emphasizes physical and mental well-being and showcases world-class facilities designed to support a wide range of activities and experiences.
Languages

Language Provision
French and German are taught. French is offered through Enriched French in Middle School and Extended French in Upper School, with an AP French Language option. German is offered as an AP course.

Bilingual Teaching
The school offers an Enriched French stream in Middle School and an Extended French program in Upper School. Students in these programs take additional French credits and work toward a French certificate on graduation.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Applications for the 2027-2028 academic year are open; the 2026-2027 year has been filled. Strong local applicants may receive priority; there is no geographic boundary for day student applications, provided the candidate resides in Ontario. The first round of day student offers for 2027-2028 will be communicated by email before the December break, by December 4, 2026. Boarding applications have no deadline and are processed on a rolling basis, subject to availability. 2. Complete the online application and submit the $200 application fee by credit card. After submission, access the parent portal to view the application checklist. Upload the required documents to the checklist: a recent photo of the candidate; Candidate Statement form; proof of legal name and age (birth certificate or passport); Confidential School Recommendation Form; the previous two years of final June report cards; current year report cards (when available); and samples of certificates and awards. 3. Entrance Test: Grades 5-8 write CAT5 if studying in Canada under the Canadian curriculum for at least one year; remote tests can be arranged. SSAT results are accepted in place of CAT5 if applying to multiple schools. Grades 9-11 use the same testing options; most international applicants are required to write the SSAT; share results with St. Andrew's College (school code 6263). 4. Due to the large volume of applications, only candidates being considered for entry will be invited to a formal candidate interview. The Admission Office can be contacted with questions about the process. Boarding applications are processed on a rolling basis, subject to availability.

Scholarships
The Scholarship & Bursary program is funded by the school's endowment and a portion of operating revenue. Approximately 26% of the student population receives a scholarship or bursary, with an annual budget of about $3.7 million. Scholarships are merit-based and awarded to students upon entrance; bursaries are available for families needing financial assistance, with the Financial Aid for Canadian Students (FACS) application processed through Apple Financial Services. The Financial Aid Committee reviews each application; not all deserving candidates can be accommodated due to limitations. The program is designed to bridge the financial gap rather than provide full funding.
School Events
The school has not added events
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