Published 30 October 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
My top five schools in Milton are Craig Kielburger Secondary School (IB and French Immersion), Elsie MacGill Secondary School (the I-STEM program), St. Francis Xavier Catholic Secondary School (High Performance sports and a new AP plus STEAM stream), Bishop P. F. Reding Catholic Secondary School (AP, SHSM and OYAP) and St. Benedict Catholic Elementary School (French Immersion). The order is my judgement, not an official ranking. Confirm your school with the board locator for your address.
How I chose these five
I picked five schools that give families a real program choice: an IB and French Immersion school, a STEM school, two Catholic secondaries with enriched and athletic streams, and a Catholic elementary with French Immersion.
The list covers Halton District School Board (HDSB) and Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB). Every name, address, program and date below comes from the school’s own page or its board’s page. The order is my judgement, not an official ranking.
- Program depth: IB, I-STEM, Advanced Placement, a regional sports program or French Immersion confirmed by the school.
- Access: whether a program depends on your address or takes applications from a wider area.
- Timing: several Milton programs open applications this fall, so I have listed the dates.
Your address still decides your home school. Check it on the HDSB and HCDSB school locators before you buy.
1. Craig Kielburger Secondary School
What it offers
Craig Kielburger is Milton’s IB school and also runs secondary French Immersion. It is one of only four schools on HDSB’s IB list, alongside Burlington Central, Georgetown District and White Oaks.
Having both programs in one building suits families with more than one child, or a student who starts in immersion and later decides to try the IB. Most compulsory French credits are taken in Grades 9 and 10, which the school notes leaves more room for electives later.
How IB and French Immersion work here
HDSB runs IBDP Prep in Grades 9 and 10 and the IB Diploma in Grades 11 and 12. The board accepts every IBDP Prep applicant if space allows and uses a randomized draw with a waitlist if a school is oversubscribed. For 2026-2027, applications open 30 October and close 30 November 2026.
Diploma students take six subjects, normally three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level, plus Theory of Knowledge, the Extended Essay and CAS.
For French Immersion, students need at least ten immersion credits in high school, including four French Language Arts courses. The school teaches Dramatic Arts, History, Geography, Careers and Civics, and Social Science in French, and graduates receive a Halton Certificate of French Immersion Studies. Grade 12 immersion students can also sit the DELF exam at levels A2 to B2.
Practical notes
- Address: 1151 Ferguson Dr, Milton
- Phone: 905-878-0575
- Programs: IB, French Immersion
2. Elsie MacGill Secondary School
What it offers
Elsie MacGill is the school to look at if your teenager is drawn to science, technology, engineering and math. Its I-STEM program is an interdisciplinary, project-based program that the school says was developed with post-secondary and industry partners. The school describes it as building critical thinking, creative problem solving, collaboration, presentation skills and technical abilities.
The school’s programs page also lists Advanced Placement, co-op, dual credit, OYAP, School Within a College, technological education and a Specialist High Skills Major.
What it means for buyers and renters
I-STEM is not boundary-based. The program page says it invites students from all over Ontario, with separate application portals for current HDSB students and students from other boards.
For 2026-2027, applications are for students currently in Grades 8 to 10, opening 30 October and closing 30 November 2026. Living near the school helps with the daily commute, but admission comes through the application.
Practical notes
- Address: 1410 Bronte St S, Milton
- Programs: I-STEM, Advanced Placement, SHSM, co-op, dual credit, OYAP
- I-STEM contact: [email protected]
3. St. Francis Xavier Catholic Secondary School
What it offers
St. Francis Xavier gives Milton’s Catholic families two specialized streams under one roof. Its High Performance Regional Sports Program serves Grades 9 to 12, and a new Advanced Placement plus STEAM program begins in 2027-2028.
The sports program has two pathways. Pathway A keeps students on a full in-class timetable with two High Performance courses a year, leading to the school’s Sports SHSM in Grades 11 and 12. Pathway B is for provincial athletes who train during the school day on a modified timetable of in-class and online courses.
The new AP plus STEAM program
The AP plus STEAM program blends science and math all year in Grades 9 and 10, adds courses such as Media Arts and Computer Engineering, and leads to AP Capstone Seminar in Grade 11 and an optional AP Capstone Research course in Grade 12.
The Grade 8 information night is 5 November 2026. AP plus STEAM applications open 16 November with an equal-consideration deadline of 11 December 2026, and High Performance applications run 23 November to 2 December 2026.
Practical notes
- Address: 1145 Bronte Street South, Milton
- Phone: 905-636-8799
- Programs: High Performance Regional Sports, AP plus STEAM, SHSM, OYAP
4. Bishop P. F. Reding Catholic Secondary School
What it offers
Bishop Reding, on Main Street East, is a solid choice for a student who wants Advanced Placement alongside skilled-trades options. Its site lists AP, Specialist High Skills Majors, the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition, and summer and night school.
The school also runs a peer tutoring program and lists enrichment opportunities, scholarships, sports and clubs. Its mascot is the Lion.
Its stated mission is to foster faith-centred, productive and compassionate citizens of the world, and its values stress whole-person development and partnership with home, church and community.
What it means for buyers and renters
Bishop Reding’s family of schools is Holy Rosary (Milton), Our Lady of Victory, St. Anthony of Padua and St. Peter Catholic elementary schools. A home inside one of those elementary boundaries sets up a clear path to this secondary school.
That matters because neighbouring streets can feed different families of schools. Check the HCDSB locator for the exact address.
Practical notes
- Address: 1120 Main St. E, Milton
- Phone: 905-875-0124
- Grades: 9 to 12
- Programs: AP, SHSM, OYAP, PLAR, peer tutoring
5. St. Benedict Catholic Elementary School
What it offers
St. Benedict is a Milton Catholic elementary school that offers French Immersion, and it is on HCDSB’s list of French Immersion sites. HCDSB starts immersion in Grade 1, a year earlier than HDSB’s Grade 2 entry.
If you have more than one child, ask the school whether it runs the English program alongside immersion for every grade. When both streams share a building, siblings in different programs can keep one drop-off, one school council and one set of school events, which makes a real difference to a busy family’s week.
The school site also lists kindergarten, before- and after-school care, a student nutrition program, extra-curricular activities, EcoSchools work and a school uniform.
What it means for buyers and renters
St. Benedict is in the St. Francis Xavier family of schools, so a family here has a direct Catholic route to a secondary school with the High Performance sports program and the new AP plus STEAM stream.
HCDSB’s most recent published site list, for 2025-2026, names four Milton French Immersion sites: St. Peter, St. Benedict, Guardian Angels and St. Scholastica. Immersion sites serve set areas, so ask the board which site matches your address.
Practical notes
- Address: 80 McLaughlin Avenue, Milton
- Phone: 289-851-9353
- Programs: French Immersion, kindergarten, before- and after-school care
The five at a glance
| School | Board | Level | Signature program | 2026 application window |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Craig Kielburger SS | HDSB | Secondary | IB, French Immersion | IB: 30 Oct to 30 Nov |
| Elsie MacGill SS | HDSB | Secondary | I-STEM, AP | I-STEM: 30 Oct to 30 Nov |
| St. Francis Xavier CSS | HCDSB | Grades 9 to 12 | High Performance Sports, AP plus STEAM | AP plus STEAM from 16 Nov; sports 23 Nov to 2 Dec |
| Bishop P. F. Reding CSS | HCDSB | Grades 9 to 12 | AP, SHSM, OYAP | Regular Catholic registration |
| St. Benedict CES | HCDSB | Elementary | French Immersion | Grade 1 immersion entry |
What this means if you’re buying or selling in Milton
Several of Milton’s best programs take applications from beyond the local boundary. IB at Craig Kielburger, I-STEM at Elsie MacGill and the specialized streams at St. Francis Xavier all have their own application windows this fall, so a house next door does not guarantee a seat.
What an address does decide is the regular home school and the family of schools. Two streets a few blocks apart can feed different schools, so check the locators for every address on your shortlist.
Program application dates also cluster in a short window. Between 30 October and 11 December 2026, families can apply to IB, I-STEM, High Performance sports and AP plus STEAM, so if you are moving to Milton with a Grade 8 student, plan the house search around those dates.
For young children, the boards differ on French Immersion timing. HCDSB starts in Grade 1, and HDSB’s registration is for Grade 2 entry, with the 2026-2027 window already closed.
Renters should check the same things. A lease near one of these schools does not change the application rules, but it does decide the home school while you live there.
If you are selling, list the current home school accurately after checking the locator. Buyers with children will verify it, and an accurate listing builds trust.
When you are ready to compare neighbourhoods near these schools, I can pull current listings and recent sales so you can see the trade-offs clearly.
Free tool — AI home value estimator
Instant Home Valuation
What’s your home
worth today?
Answer six quick questions and get an instant value range built from current Toronto & GTA sale data — property type, size, condition, lot and location all weighted the way a real pricing conversation weighs them. Takes about ninety seconds.
Reading recent GTA sale data…
Building your estimate
Estimated market value
—
$0–$0
Most likely value $0 · roughly $0 per square foot
What moved the number
Starting from the area baseline for your property type, here’s what each answer added or subtracted.
Market context
Recent local averages for comparison.
—
A range is a starting point.
A strategy is what sells.
This model doesn’t know that your neighbour’s identical semi went $80,000 over asking last month, or which two upgrades actually pay back in your area. That conversation is free and takes twenty minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Which school in Milton has the IB program?
Craig Kielburger Secondary School at 1151 Ferguson Dr is Milton’s school on HDSB’s IB list. HDSB runs IBDP Prep in Grades 9 and 10 and the IB Diploma in Grades 11 and 12. For 2026-2027, applications open 30 October and close 30 November 2026.
What is I-STEM at Elsie MacGill?
I-STEM is an interdisciplinary, project-based science, technology, engineering and math program at Elsie MacGill Secondary School in Milton. It is open to students currently in Grades 8 to 10, including students from other boards. For 2026-2027, applications open 30 October and close 30 November 2026.
Does St. Francis Xavier in Milton have a sports program?
Yes. St. Francis Xavier Catholic Secondary School runs a High Performance Regional Sports Program for Grades 9 to 12, open to students across Halton and surrounding areas. It has a full-time pathway and a provincial-athlete pathway. Applications run 23 November to 2 December 2026.
Which Catholic elementary schools in Milton have French Immersion?
HCDSB’s most recent published French Immersion site list, for 2025-2026, names four Milton schools: St. Peter, St. Benedict, Guardian Angels and St. Scholastica. HCDSB immersion starts in Grade 1. St. Benedict, at 80 McLaughlin Avenue, lists French Immersion on its school site. Ask the board which site serves your address.
When does French Immersion start at Halton District School Board?
HDSB French Immersion registration is for Grade 2 entry, and the board says registration for 2026-2027 is closed, so families should contact their home school about late registration. At secondary, Craig Kielburger students need at least ten immersion credits and receive a Halton Certificate of French Immersion Studies.
How do I find my school in Milton?
Use the HDSB Find My Local School tool for public schools and the HCDSB locator for Catholic schools, entering your exact address. Neighbouring streets can feed different schools, so check every address on your shortlist. Specialty programs such as IB, I-STEM and High Performance sports have separate applications.
Sources
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Program — Halton District School Board
- French Immersion — Craig Kielburger Secondary School
- I-STEM — Elsie MacGill Secondary School
- High Performance Regional Sports Program — St. Francis Xavier Catholic Secondary School
- Advanced Placement + STEAM — St. Francis Xavier Catholic Secondary School
- About Our School — Bishop P. F. Reding Catholic Secondary School
- St. Benedict Catholic Elementary School — Halton Catholic District School Board
- French Immersion School Sites — Halton Catholic District School Board
Related reading
- Top 5 Schools in Aurora & Newmarket (2026)
- Top 5 Schools in Pickering, Ajax & Whitby (2026)
- Top 5 Schools in Scarborough (TDSB / TCDSB) (2026)
- Top 5 Schools in Etobicoke
About the author — Jatin Dua, Toronto and GTA real estate broker
I am Jatin Dua, Broker of Record and co-founder of RE/MAX Quantum Realty Inc., Brokerage, Unit 101, 799 The Queensway, Toronto. I work with buyers and sellers across Toronto and the GTA and have helped more than 100 families sell. Four-plus years of active GTA transactions and over $100 million in sales volume. Every figure here comes from a published table, regulator or statute linked in the sources, so you can check all of it without asking me.
Reach me at [email protected] or 833-330-1925, or book a call.