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The Sterling Hall School

Canada, Toronto

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees CA$41,850
Ages Not listed
Pupil numbers 320
Type Boys School
Opened 1987
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Canadian Curriculum
Taught languages English, French
Typical class size 16
Strengths Sport, Performing Arts, Languages
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Leadership and Professional
Stages Kindergarten, Primary School, Middle School
Introduction

Located in Toronto at 99 Cartwright Avenue, The Sterling Hall School is an independent day school for boys from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8. It delivers the Canadian Curriculum within a close-knit, values-driven community that emphasizes inquiry, collaboration and character. Core subjects include Mathematics, Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Technology, and French, with French embedded across the program and elective pathways in Grades 6–8 such as Journalism, Robotics, Virtual Reality Programming, Spanish, and more. Arts programming—Music, Drama, and Visual Arts—is integrated throughout learning, with facilities like the Sullivan Music Centre, Poile Art Studio and Pryde Science Lab supporting hands-on projects. The Sterling Institute guides curriculum development, and the school maintains CAIS accreditation. The campus features flexible, student-centered spaces, a climbing-wall-equipped fitness centre, and a dynamic learning commons. With about 320 students, 35 sports teams, and 50 clubs, SHS offers leadership opportunities, mentorship, and strong preparation for high school and beyond.

99 Cartwright Avenue, Toronto, ON M6A 1V4, Canada

The Essentials

The Sterling Hall School has 320 pupils, typical class sizes of 16, instruction in English.

Location
The Sterling Hall School is located in Toronto, Ontario, north of Lawrence Avenue off Dufferin Street, just south of Highway 401. The main entrance is on SHS Drive, a private road accessible from Bentworth Avenue, a block south of Cartwright Avenue. The mailing address is 99 Cartwright Ave, Toronto, Ontario M6A 1V4, Canada. The school provides ample visitor parking on SHS Drive.

Stages
JK–Grade 8

Type
Independent day school

Additional learning support
The Academic Success Team (AST) provides ongoing support for social, emotional, physical and cognitive needs; AST services include temporary individual assistance, enrichment opportunities, executive functioning support, and partnerships with outside professionals. AST collaborates with Junior Kindergarten to Grade 5 homerooms and supports mental well-being through the school's health and social-emotional learning programs.

Country affiliation
Canada

School day structure
Open from 8:00 am with supervised drop-off. Lunch is a nutritionally catered program certified under the City of Toronto Eat Smart program, and students may also bring their own lunch to eat in the dining room during supervised lunch. After 4 Program provides after-school care for JK to Grade 6; Study Hall is available for Grades 3 to 8.

Bus service
Bus service is offered by Fun Bus for SHS families, with pick-up and drop-off directly from home. Arrangements can be made with Fun Bus; contact 416-677-1196 or info@funbusinc.com.
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements
Independent day school for boys in Toronto from JK-8.

Uniform Requirement
Uniforms are required. The Shark Shop sells crested SHS uniforms and accessories on campus and online; a Uniform Shopping List guides purchases; an online Shark Shop is available.

Food Options
An optional hot lunch program is offered. The food service provider is Aramark Canada Ltd; a Blue Window retail service is available for Grades 3–8; JK–Grade 2 receive two snacks daily and milk, juice and water are provided. Lunch plans include Full-Year, Term and Partial; the menu is listed in the SHS online forms portal.

Governance and Ownership
The Sterling Hall School is governed by its Board of Governors, which provides strategic and policy direction and financial oversight. The board consists of an executive and standing committees, including Advancement & Communications, Governance & Nominating, and Finance & Audit. SHS is an independent day school in Toronto.
Fees

Annual tuition at The Sterling Hall School ranges from CAD 41,850 for 2026/27.

Overview of annual tuition and admission fees
- Annual tuition (all grades JK–8): CAD 41,850.
- New-student Admission Fee (one-time, non-refundable): CAD 7,500.

Application fees
- Standard application fee: CAD 150.
- Late application fee (applies after specified deadlines): CAD 275 (applies for applications submitted after October 31 in certain entry rounds).

Tuition by year group and per-term detail
- Tuition is the same for all year groups (JK through Grade 8): CAD 41,850 per school year.
- Per-term / per-instalment examples (same amount applies regardless of grade):
- Plan A — Payment in full: CAD 41,850 (single payment for the year).
- Plan B — Three installments: one-third of annual tuition per installment = CAD 13,950 per installment (CAD 41,850 ÷ 3).
- Plan C — Monthly payments: the annual tuition is divided into equal monthly payments under the monthly plan; the exact number of monthly instalments and draft dates are set through the school's billing arrangements.

Billing schedule and payment terms
- Families must select one of the three payment plans: payment in full, three installments, or monthly payments.
- Registration and confirmation requirement: registration must be returned with the first tuition instalment within four days of the offer date in order to confirm a place.
- Additional optional services (hot lunch plans, after‑school care, Blue Window purchases, Shark Shop charges) are billed to the student account and appear on the family's account billing; optional services are billed per the selected plan (for example, hot lunch is charged per term).

Boarding fees
- The Sterling Hall School is an independent day school (JK–Grade 8); no boarding program or boarding fees apply.

Other costs and optional fees
- Hot lunch / Food program (optional): charged per term based on plan selection (full-year, term, partial, or milk program). Reimbursements for missed meals are restricted to specific circumstances (illness or vacation absences lasting more than five consecutive school days with required notice). Costs for the hot lunch program vary by plan and are charged to the student account per term.
- Blue Window retail purchases (Grades 3–8): purchases charged to student account when used.
- Shark Shop (uniforms, supplies, spirit wear): purchases are processed through the Shark Shop and charged to the student account; cash and credit card are not accepted at the on-site Shark Shop — purchases are posted to the student account for payment. Uniforms and supplies are additional family costs and are available through the on-site and online Shark Shop.
- Before- and after-school care: an Early Morning Program is available (7:00–8:00 a.m.). After-School Care (3:45–5:45 p.m.) is provided for JK–Grade 6 for a daily charge; Study Hall for Grades 3–8 is provided without charge. These after-school service charges are billed separately to family accounts as applicable.
- Private lessons / optional co-curricular extras: some optional activities (for example private music lessons) and certain trips or travel outside the GTA may incur additional fees; these optional charges are billed separately to family accounts.
- Financial-assistance application fee (third‑party service): there is a fee to apply for financial assistance assessed through the external assessor (Apple Financial Services); families should consult the financial-assistance information for current application-fee amounts and procedures.

Refund information
- Admission Fee: the Admission Fee of CAD 7,500 is non-refundable.
- Hot lunch reimbursements: reimbursements for hot lunch are made only in limited circumstances (illness or vacation absences longer than five school days with required written notice) and are handled per the hot-lunch policy.
- Tuition refund schedule or detailed tuition‑withdrawal refund terms are not published in the school materials accessible here; families complete registration and the first instalment within the stated confirmation window to secure a place. For precise tuition-withdrawal/refund rules and any applicable deadlines or penalties, consult the school's enrollment documents or the Admissions Office.

Fee payment options
- Tuition may be paid via the school's offered payment plans (full, three instalments, or monthly instalments) and is posted to the family/student account; families use the school's enrolment/billing system and account methods to make payments.
- Shark Shop purchases and Blue Window retail purchases are charged to the student account (cash and credit card are not accepted at the on-site Shark Shop).

Brief summary of information coverage
- Annual tuition, the one‑time non‑refundable Admission Fee, application fees (standard and late), the three available payment-plan formats, the optional hot-lunch billing-per-term mechanism, Shark Shop/uniform charging practice, and after‑school care charges are published and form the core fee elements provided above. Specific installment due dates, the exact monthly payment schedule (number of monthly instalments and draft dates), and a published tuition‑refund timetable are not provided in the publicly posted enrollment materials used here; those details are set in the school's enrolment and billing documents and by the Admissions/Finance offices.
Academics

The Sterling Hall School teaches Canadian Curriculum.

Curriculum
From JK to Grade 8, The Sterling Hall School offers a robust curriculum that balances academics, arts, and athletics. At each grade level, students master essential skills in Mathematics, Language Arts, Social Studies, Science, Technology, and French. Arts programming includes Music, Drama, and Visual Arts, and the arts are integrated across the curriculum, electives and clubs. The school uses an Inquiry-Based Learning approach, where questions drive research and learning, with multiple instructional strategies that support interdisciplinary and authentic projects. In Grades 6–8, students may select electives such as Journalism, Mathemagician Studies, Robotics, Novel Writing, Virtual Reality Programming, Business and Finance, Spanish, and Elite Athleticism; Innovative programs include Rocket Writing, Sharkopoly, Peer Teaching, Learning Buddies, Mentorship and Advisory Groups, and Citizenship/Service Learning. The Sterling Institute supports curriculum development and The school is CAIS-accredited.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
SEL is central to SHS's curriculum. It is the process by which students learn to understand and manage their emotions, set and achieve positive goals, develop self-regulation, show empathy, build positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. SEL leads to improved behavior, attitudes, and academic performance and reduces emotional distress and conduct issues. SHS follows the Second Step SEL program from Junior Kindergarten through Grade 8 as part of the Health and Community program. Families are engaged via take-home lessons so they can continue SEL conversations at home.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The Academic Success Team (AST) helps meet the social, emotional, physical and cognitive needs and potential of boys through ongoing, age-appropriate collaboration among the student, teachers and family. The AST consists of full-time teachers who collaborate with faculty and families from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8. AST services include temporary individual assistance, enrichment opportunities, executive functioning support, and partnerships with outside professionals. AST teachers work with JK–Grade 5 homerooms and promote mental well-being by supporting community circles in classrooms and providing behind-the-scenes support with SEL and the VIA (Values in Action) character-strength framework. The program provides tailored learning opportunities and supports for varying abilities.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental well-being is supported through SHS's Learning Support programs and SEL initiatives. The Academic Success Team promotes mental well-being by facilitating community circles in classrooms and by providing behind-the-scenes support with SEL and the VIA framework. Staff and families collaborate to monitor and support boys' mental health, helping them develop resilience, self-regulation and social-emotional growth. The approach emphasizes promoting positive emotions, coping strategies and healthy peer relationships within a supportive community. The school aligns wellness with academic progress, behavior and overall development.

Safeguarding
The Sterling Hall School is committed to providing a secure environment for student education. Exterior doors are locked and the main entrance is staffed, with doors opened only under supervision. JK–Grade 2 are dismissed directly to their parents, and release to another adult requires an advance release form. Outdoor supervision occurs at arrival, departure and recess, and all adults working at the school undergo vulnerable sector background checks. A School Nurse is on site during regular hours; SHS operates a nut-aware environment and conducts periodic safety drills. The school maintains a low student–teacher ratio, uses a risk-monitoring service to review safety protocols, and provides CPR and AED training for staff. Parental involvement and safety tips are encouraged and shared with families.
Parent Experience

History
SHS was established in 1987 by founder Darlene Ferris to provide a primary-aged boys' school with a sense of belonging. Over 30 years, SHS has grown to about 320 students and offers 35 sports teams and 50 co-curricular clubs. The Sterling Strategy 2023+ articulates a vision for future growth while maintaining the mission to empower each boy through his formative years. The school opened at 230 The Donway West with 16 JK–Grade 3 students, moved to 99 Cartwright Avenue in 1988, and later celebrated 30 Sterling Years in 2017 and 35 Sterling Years in 2023.

Community
SHS has a close-knit Sterling Community that includes a Parents Association (SHS PA) made up of dedicated parents who act as a liaison between the school and the parent community. The PA's mission is to promote spirit and goodwill and to actively foster connections and community through fundraising events, meetings, and educational sessions. SHS volunteers are integral to the school's success and are described as the heart of the community. Over 70% of parents volunteer, joining the Board of Governors or the Parents Association, and supporting events or providing raffle prizes. Our volunteer community includes parents, alumni, and grandparents who contribute to school life in numerous ways.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
The SHS Parents Association is the school's parent association, made up of dedicated parents committed to supporting the boys and the school. They serve as the liaison between the school and the parent community and promote spirit and goodwill. They develop and execute fundraising events, meetings, and educational sessions to foster connections and build community. SHS PA volunteers are integral to the school's success and are described as the heart of the SHS community. Over 70% of our parents volunteer, from joining the Board of Governors or the Parents Association to helping at events or contributing raffle prizes. The Parents Association and volunteers commit themselves to community-building initiatives that support the school and the boys while remaining true to SHS's mission to promote spirit and goodwill.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
SHS is an independent day school for boys in Toronto serving JK-8. The campus features flexible, student-centered spaces, including the intermediate wing with movable writeable walls and Bodyfurn chairs on casters. It also houses a fitness centre with a climbing wall and multiple breakout spaces. Core facilities include the Phelan Learning Commons, Eaton Shier Gym, Poile Art Studio, Pryde Science Lab, Sullivan Music Centre, James Macdonald Studios, and Cheddie and McFarlane Computer Labs. The school is located at 99 Cartwright Ave, Toronto.

Sports Facilities
Facilities support indoor athletics on the Eaton Shier Gym. The gym hosts basketball and other PE activities as part of the athletic program. The fitness centre includes a climbing wall for strength and conditioning. The campus layout emphasizes active living through dedicated spaces for sport and physical education.

Academic Facilities
Learning spaces include the Phelan Learning Commons for research and study. The Pryde Science Lab supports science instruction, and the Poile Art Studio supports visual arts. James Macdonald Studios and Cheddie and McFarlane Computer Labs enable creative media, technology, and design work. The intermediate wing features movable walls and writeable surfaces to support dynamic lessons, with Bodyfurn furniture to facilitate group work. These facilities reflect a focus on flexible, student-centred learning.

Extra Curricular Facilities
Clubs include Animation, Art, Choir, Comic Book, Creative Writing, Drama, Fibre Arts, Intro DJ, Jazzology, Junior Improv, Medieval Makers, Sharkestra, and Band. The school also offers Lego Robotics and students regularly participate in the school play and the basketball team. Many students spend extra time on arts projects, instrument practice, and creative performances. The Arts curriculum and clubs are integrated with classroom learning, with musicians, actors, and artists frequently collaborating across disciplines. These extracurricular activities complement academic study and athletics.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The Sterling Hall School frames learning as a journey from JK to Grade 8, blending academics with co-curriculars and character development. Foundational literacy and numeracy are emphasized in the early years, supported by inquiry-based learning and social-emotional growth. In the Primary program, boys engage with leadership opportunities and real-world contexts, while the Junior and Intermediate divisions deepen academic skills and leadership. A Grade 8 Leadership program and a Director of Graduate Placement support high school planning and placement.

Arts & Creative
The Arts come alive at SHS across the curriculum, electives, and clubs. Early storytelling, drawing, playacting and vocal classes engage primary students, with independent art projects and roles in drama productions and opportunities for instrumental performance. Boys regularly act in school plays, join the basketball team and participate in the Lego Robotics club. A broad roster of clubs supports creativity, including Animation, Art, Choir, Comic Book, Creative Writing, Drama, Fibre Arts, Intro DJ, Jazzology, Junior Improv, Medieval Makers, Sharkestra, and Band.

Cultural & Language
French is taught as part of the core curriculum. The Learning Journey frames learning as a path that includes academics, co-curriculars and character development. French is among the core subjects supported within SHS's academic program.

Social & Hobbies
Boys participate in school plays and the basketball team, and engage in a wide range of clubs such as Animation, Choir, Creative Writing, Drama, and Band. LEGO Robotics provides hands-on problem solving, while Improv, Medieval Makers and other clubs foster collaboration and social engagement.

Community & Service
Volunteers are central to SHS's community. The SHS Parents Association coordinates fundraising events and community-building activities, and over 70% of parents volunteer. Alumni remain engaged as volunteers and mentors, with an active SHS Alumni network that includes opportunities to return as coaches, mentors or speakers.

Leadership & Professional
The school emphasizes leadership and professional growth. Grade 8 offers a dedicated Leadership program with mentoring across grades, and weekly faculty mentoring supports student development. A Director of Graduate Placement coordinates high school planning, complemented by a High School Fair and alumni panels to guide applications and interviews.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
Health, well-being and active living are central to SHS. The Health & Community program aims to raise healthy, empathetic and responsible boys, and athletics are integrated through an Active Living framework. The curriculum also emphasizes well-being and character through Sterling Character elements and related activities.
Languages

Language Provision
French is taught from JK through Grade 8. In JK–Grade 5, students benefit from oral repetition with immediate feedback, using the Accelerated Integrative Method (AIM) as the foundational program. In Grades 6–8, the French program includes explicit grammar instruction, debates, role play, and collaborative projects for authentic audiences, with technology supporting learning. Students can join a French club across all grades and may participate in French speech competitions with other schools.
Admissions

Admissions
Step 1: Get to know us. Connecting with the Admissions Team and browsing the SHS site are the starting points. Attend one of SHS Friday Open House assemblies and tours, book a Personalized Information Session, or watch a Q&A with students, teachers and parents to meet the Sterling Hall community. A Personalized Information Session on Zoom is available to discuss grade‑level features and how SHS might meet a boy's needs.

Step 2: Apply. Submit an online application to begin the formal process. Documentation to accompany the application includes report cards (June of the previous two years and the current year's reports), supporting documents such as a Psychological Educational Assessment and an Individual Learning Plan if applicable, a small photo of the boy and/or family, and a copy of his birth certificate (passport page if not a Canadian citizen). JK, SK, Grades 1 & 2 second‑round application due date is January 15, 2026; Grades 3‑8 applications are on a rolling basis. Siblings receive priority through an Early Notification Program. 

Step 3: Family/Parent Interview & Student Learning Snapshot. After submission, a parent interview and student Learning Snapshot help the Admissions Team understand your son and ensure SHS is the right fit. JK–Grade 2 Learning Snapshots observe social‑emotional development and foundational literacy and numeracy, while Grade 3–8 Learning Snapshots include language arts and math tasks with group interaction. The assessments are not pass/fail; they provide insights into your son's academic and learning profile.

Step 4: Communication. Early admission offers are made to JK, SK and Grade 1‑2 applicants in early December. Regular JK–Grade 2 and Grades 3–8 offers are issued by the last week of February (the Common Offer date). Offers after February 20 are made on a rolling basis.

Step 5: Registration. Registration must be returned with the first tuition installment four days from the offer date for the space to be confirmed.

SIBLINGS: An Early Notification Program provides preference to siblings of currently enrolled families and to boys of staff; inquire for details.

Scholarships
The Robinson Family Fund provides financial aid to boys in Grade 7 & 8 who clearly qualify for a Sterling Hall education based on academic criteria, character and talent, but whose families do not have the financial means to cover the full cost of an SHS education. The Fund is an endowment managed by The Sterling Hall School Foundation and first began disbursing partial tuition support in 2016, totaling $727,160 to 22 scholars to date. Financial Assistance is available for Grades 6, 7 and 8.
School Events
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