Published 30 October 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
My five picks for schools in High Park and Roncesvalles are Humberside Collegiate Institute (French Immersion and an SHSM in Social Justice), Howard Junior Public School (English and Early French Immersion, JK to 6), Fern Avenue Junior and Senior Public School (French Immersion and Middle French Immersion), Keele Street Public School (JK to 8 with a community centre and pool) and St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School (TCDSB, Extended French). The order is my judgement, not an official ranking.
How I chose these five
High Park and Roncesvalles families mostly want a good local elementary school they can walk to, and a secondary school with real program depth. I picked four elementary schools and one secondary school that cover both needs, using only Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) pages.
- French options: Early French Immersion, Middle French Immersion and Extended French all appear in this list, because French is one of the first questions parents in this area ask me.
- Whole-family logistics: on-site daycare, lunch programs and JK to 8 schools score well with me, because they make daily life easier.
- Both boards: four TDSB schools and one TCDSB school, plus a Catholic secondary option noted.
I did not use test-score tables or outside rankings. They move from year to year, and they tell you less than a school’s actual programs, its grade range and whether your address is inside its boundary.
The order is my judgement, not an official ranking. Always confirm your exact address with the board’s school locator, and check French program pathways separately.
1. Humberside Collegiate Institute
What it offers
Humberside is the secondary school most High Park buyers ask me about, and its board profile backs up the interest. The TDSB page describes large and growing French Immersion and Extended French programs, with graduates earning a bilingualism certificate.
The school also runs a Specialist High Skills Major in Social Justice for Grades 11 and 12, Latin, Classical Studies and Spanish, popular Media Studies courses, and strings, instrumental and vocal ensembles. The board page states that “Approximately 90% of our students graduate in four years and 87% apply to post secondary education.”
What it means for buyers and renters
For families with children in French Immersion at a local elementary school, Humberside offers a clear secondary option to ask about. That continuity is one reason families stay in the neighbourhood through the high school years instead of moving.
The school is on Quebec Avenue. Check whether your address is in the English-program area, the French-program pathway, or both.
Practical notes
- Address: 280 Quebec Ave, Toronto, ON M6P 2V3
- Grades: 9 to 12
- Board: TDSB
- Programs: French Immersion, Extended French, SHSM in Social Justice, Latin and Classical Studies, Media Studies
2. Howard Junior Public School
What it offers
Howard is the Roncesvalles pick for families who want Early French Immersion close to home. The TDSB page describes it as a dual-track school offering an English program and an Early French Immersion program from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6, and says “Each program enhances the other.”
The school has about 370 students, a full-time music specialist and a full-scale musical every other year. The board page also mentions visiting artists in every class and an annual performance of the national anthem at a Blue Jays game.
What it means for buyers and renters
Howard ends at Grade 6, so plan for a move to a middle or senior school for Grades 7 and 8. Ask the board where both the English and French tracks continue from your address.
The school began as a small country school in 1874; the current building, from 1970, was designed as an open-concept school with three “houses.” Its annual Fall Fete is a major community event, which tells you a lot about parent involvement.
Practical notes
- Address: 30 Marmaduke St, Toronto, ON M6R 1T2
- Grades: JK to 6
- Board: TDSB
- Programs: English and Early French Immersion; shares space with a daycare centre
3. Fern Avenue Junior and Senior Public School
What it offers
Fern Avenue is the pick for French flexibility and everyday convenience. The TDSB page lists an English program from Full Day Kindergarten to Grade 8, French Immersion starting in Junior Kindergarten, Middle French Immersion for Grades 4 to 8 and Core French from Grade 4.
The board page notes the Extended French program is phasing out as Middle French Immersion begins. Fern also holds TDSB Eco-School Platinum status and runs a hot lunch program prepared by an in-house cook.
What it means for buyers and renters
Fern describes itself as a composite school, and its board page says it is a sports-minded school with cross-country, basketball, volleyball and swim teams, plus intramurals and workshops led by visiting artists and musicians.
Two French entry points in one building matter. If your child did not start French in Junior Kindergarten, Middle French Immersion from Grade 4 offers a second chance without changing schools.
Ferncliff Daycare operates on site from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to the board page. For working parents, that can be worth as much as any program.
Practical notes
- Address: 128 Fern Ave, Toronto, ON M6R 1K3
- Grades: JK to 8
- Board: TDSB
- Programs: English, French Immersion, Middle French Immersion, Core French; on-site daycare
4. Keele Street Public School
What it offers
Keele Street is the High Park North pick for a JK to 8 school with community facilities attached. The TDSB page places it in the High Park area near Bloor Street and Keele Street, with about 560 students.
The building is shared with the Keelmount Daycare Centre and the Keele Community Centre and swimming pool. The school’s tagline is “Let’s Learn Together!”
What it means for buyers and renters
A JK to 8 school means no mid-elementary move, which many parents value. Having a community centre and pool in the same building also makes after-school programs easier to manage.
The board page does not list a French Immersion program here, so if French matters, check which French school your address is assigned to. Attendance areas apply to every housing type, so a condo or apartment inside the boundary gets the same school as a detached house.
That can be a practical way for a family to get into a school area while saving for a larger home later. Just confirm the boundary for the specific building, not the general block.
Practical notes
- Address: 99 Mountview Ave, Toronto, ON M6P 2L5
- Grades: JK to 8
- Board: TDSB
- On site: Keelmount Daycare Centre, Keele Community Centre and pool
5. St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School
What it offers
St. Vincent de Paul is the Catholic elementary pick for Roncesvalles, with deep roots in the street. The TCDSB page says the school began in 1914 in a storefront on Roncesvalles Avenue with 35 students.
Today it offers Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8, Extended French for Grades 5 to 8, instrumental music and the Empower Reading Program for students building decoding skills. Extracurriculars include math contests, chess, visual arts and athletics.
What it means for buyers and renters
Catholic school registration follows TCDSB rules, so confirm eligibility before you factor this school into a purchase. The school keeps a close connection with St. Vincent de Paul Church, according to the board page.
For Catholic secondary school, the TCDSB lists Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School, which offers a Regional Arts Centre in vocal and instrumental music, visual arts and drama, plus Advanced Placement and SHSM programs.
Practical notes
- Address: 116 Fermanagh Ave, Toronto, ON M6R 1M2
- Grades: JK to 8
- Board: TCDSB
- Programs: Extended French (Grades 5 to 8), instrumental music, Empower Reading
The five at a glance
| School | Board | Grades | Address | French options |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Humberside CI | TDSB | 9 to 12 | 280 Quebec Ave | French Immersion, Extended French |
| Howard Junior PS | TDSB | JK to 6 | 30 Marmaduke St | Early French Immersion |
| Fern Avenue Jr and Sr PS | TDSB | JK to 8 | 128 Fern Ave | French Immersion, Middle French Immersion, Core French |
| Keele Street PS | TDSB | JK to 8 | 99 Mountview Ave | None listed on board page |
| St. Vincent de Paul CS | TCDSB | JK to 8 | 116 Fermanagh Ave | Extended French (Grades 5 to 8) |
What this means if you’re buying or selling in High Park or Roncesvalles
In this part of the west end, the elementary school often drives the street a family chooses. Two houses a few blocks apart can feed different elementary schools and different French pathways, so check each address with the board’s locator before you write an offer.
Map the full journey from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12. Howard ends at Grade 6, while Fern Avenue, Keele Street and St. Vincent de Paul run to Grade 8, and Humberside offers French programs at the secondary level. Knowing every step for an address avoids surprises later.
Childcare matters as much as programs for many buyers. Fern Avenue, Keele Street and Howard all share space with daycares, according to the board pages, but spaces are limited and have their own waitlists. Call early, ideally before you close.
Finally, visit in person. A school’s board page tells you programs and addresses, but a tour tells you how the building feels and how the office answers questions, which matters for the next several years of your family’s life.
For sellers, include the locator results for both English and French programs in your listing package. Families shopping this area compare schools before they compare kitchens, and clear school information shortens their decision.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the best schools in High Park and Roncesvalles?
My picks are Humberside Collegiate Institute, Howard Junior Public School, Fern Avenue Junior and Senior Public School, Keele Street Public School and St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School. They cover JK to Grade 12 across the TDSB and TCDSB. The order is my judgement, not an official ranking.
Which High Park area schools offer French Immersion?
According to TDSB pages, Howard Junior Public School offers Early French Immersion from JK to Grade 6, Fern Avenue offers French Immersion from JK and Middle French Immersion for Grades 4 to 8, and Humberside Collegiate offers French Immersion and Extended French. St. Vincent de Paul (TCDSB) offers Extended French in Grades 5 to 8.
What grades does Howard Junior Public School go to?
Howard Junior Public School at 30 Marmaduke Street runs from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6, with an English program and an Early French Immersion program. Students then move to another school for Grades 7 and 8, so check the board’s pathway for your address.
Is there daycare at schools in High Park and Roncesvalles?
Yes, at several. Board pages say Fern Avenue has Ferncliff Daycare on site from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Keele Street shares its building with Keelmount Daycare Centre, and Howard shares space with a daycare centre. Spaces are limited, so contact the daycare directly as early as you can.
What is Humberside Collegiate known for?
Humberside’s TDSB profile highlights large French Immersion and Extended French programs, an SHSM in Social Justice, Latin and Classical Studies, Media Studies and music. The page says about 90% of students graduate in four years and 87% apply to post-secondary education. It is at 280 Quebec Avenue.
How do I confirm the school for a High Park or Roncesvalles address?
Enter the exact address in the TDSB or TCDSB school locator on the board’s website, and check French program pathways separately because they can differ from English-program boundaries. Re-check before you waive conditions, since boundaries can change.
Sources
- Humberside Collegiate Institute school profile — TDSB
- Howard Junior Public School school profile — TDSB
- Howard Junior Public School — About Us — TDSB
- Fern Avenue Junior and Senior Public School profile — TDSB
- Keele Street Public School (Gr. JK-08) — TDSB
- St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School — About Us — TCDSB
- Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Catholic Secondary School — About Us — TCDSB
Related reading
- Top 5 French Immersion Schools in Etobicoke (2026)
- Top 5 Private Schools in West Toronto & Mississauga (2026)
- Top 5 Catholic High Schools in Etobicoke (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.