Published 30 October 2026 · By Jatin Dua, Broker of Record, RE/MAX Quantum Realty
My top five schools in Pickering, Ajax and Whitby are All Saints Catholic Secondary School in Whitby (Regional Arts and Media Program), Anderson CVI in Whitby (Gifted and French Immersion), St. Mary Catholic Secondary School in Pickering (French Immersion, Grades 9 to 12), Frenchman’s Bay Public School in Pickering (single-track French Immersion) and St. Patrick Catholic School in Ajax (French Immersion, Grades 1 to 8). The order is my judgement, not an official ranking.
How I chose these five
Pickering, Ajax and Whitby share two English-language boards, the Durham District School Board (DDSB) and the Durham Catholic District School Board (DCDSB), so families here often compare schools across all three towns. I picked five that give a clear program advantage: a regional arts school, a secondary with gifted and French Immersion programs, a Catholic French Immersion secondary, and two French Immersion elementary schools.
Every name, address, grade range, program and date below comes from a board or school page. The order is my judgement, not an official ranking.
- Program depth: regional arts, gifted, or French Immersion confirmed by the board.
- Spread: at least one pick in each town, public and Catholic, elementary and secondary.
- Access: which programs follow your address and which take applications from across Durham.
DDSB’s own location maps warn that the closest school may not be your designated school. Always check your exact address on the DDSB Find My School tool and DCDSB’s Find My Local Catholic School tool.
1. All Saints Catholic Secondary School (Whitby)
What it offers
All Saints is home to DCDSB’s Regional Arts and Media Program (AMP), and it is the strongest arts option I found in these three towns. The program runs from Grade 7 to Grade 12 and serves students from across Durham Region.
Students choose a major in Dance, Media Arts (Grade 9 entry only), Instrumental Music, Performing Arts (drama and vocal music) or Visual Arts, and receive additional specialized instruction in that discipline.
Because the program starts in Grade 7, a young artist can join two years before high school begins. Note that Media Arts takes students at Grade 9 entry only, so a student interested in that major should plan for the Grade 9 intake.
What it means for buyers and renters
Because AMP draws from all of Durham, your address in Pickering, Ajax or Whitby does not decide admission. That gives families more freedom on where to buy, but the daily commute to Country Lane in Whitby is worth testing before you commit to a house farther away.
For the coming intake, online applications are due 26 November 2026, and the school says it cannot accept late applications. A free audition workshop runs on Saturday 7 November, with registration closing 2 November.
Practical notes
- Address: 3001 Country Lane, Whitby
- Grades for AMP: 7 to 12
- Majors: Dance, Media Arts, Instrumental Music, Performing Arts, Visual Arts
- Apply: online through the DCDSB OSAS portal
2. Anderson Collegiate Vocational Institute (Whitby)
What it offers
Anderson CVI is the DDSB secondary school I would shortlist for a student who needs more challenge. The board’s Whitby school location map lists it as Grades 9 to 12 with both a Gifted program and French Immersion.
The board’s French Immersion page lists Anderson as a dual-track school, which means it runs English and immersion programs side by side. Whitby’s other DDSB immersion secondary is Donald A. Wilson Secondary School on Rossland Road West.
What it means for buyers and renters
A school that offers gifted and immersion programs can keep a family’s teenagers together even if they follow different paths. Gifted placement depends on board processes rather than address alone, so ask DDSB how a student is identified and placed before you rely on it.
For immersion students, the board explains that French Immersion begins in Grade 1, so secondary immersion builds on years of elementary immersion. In Whitby, DDSB lists Julie Payette PS and Meadowcrest PS as single-track immersion schools and Brooklin Village, Captain Michael VandenBos and John Dryden as dual-track.
Practical notes
- Address: 400 Anderson St., Whitby
- Grades: 9 to 12
- Programs: Gifted, French Immersion (dual track)
- Phone: 905-668-5809
3. St. Mary Catholic Secondary School (Pickering)
What it offers
St. Mary is Pickering’s Catholic French Immersion secondary school. DCDSB’s French Immersion school listing shows it offering immersion in Grades 9 to 12, which makes it the natural continuation for students from the Pickering Catholic immersion elementary schools.
The school’s site lists academics, specialized programs, pathways, student services and special education, international education, and a required uniform. Bell times run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with three lunch-period options.
What it means for buyers and renters
DCDSB lists two Pickering Catholic elementary immersion schools, St. Isaac Jogues and St. Monica, both for Grades 1 to 8. A home within reach of one of them and St. Mary gives a Catholic immersion family a clear path from Grade 1 to graduation.
The board notes that program availability at every site depends on sufficient student registration, so confirm the program is running for your child’s year.
For a family weighing Pickering against Ajax, it helps to know the Catholic board runs a parallel immersion path in each town. Ajax has St. James and St. Patrick for elementary and Notre Dame for secondary, so the choice can come down to the house rather than the program.
Practical notes
- Address: 1918 Whites Road, Pickering
- Grades: secondary; French Immersion in Grades 9 to 12
- Bell times: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Phone: 905-420-7166
4. Frenchman’s Bay Public School (Pickering)
What it offers
Frenchman’s Bay is a single-track DDSB French Immersion school, which means every class in the building is in the immersion program. The school serves Grades 1 to 8.
Students receive full French Immersion in Grades 1 to 3. From Grade 4 the day is split, with half in French and half in English. The school’s stated mission is “Committed to Excellence,” and it lists extracurricular activities in academics, arts, athletics and social justice and equity.
What it means for buyers and renters
DDSB’s French Immersion page explains that kindergarten children register at their home school, and families who want immersion can transfer to the closest single-track immersion school in the spring before Grade 1. That means your English home school and your immersion school can be different buildings.
Pickering also has dual-track DDSB immersion at Biidaasige Mandamin PS and Maple Ridge PS, and secondary immersion at Dunbarton High School.
Practical notes
- Address: 920 Oklahoma Dr., Pickering
- Grades: 1 to 8, French Immersion only
- Phone: 905-839-1131
5. St. Patrick Catholic School (Ajax)
What it offers
St. Patrick is one of two Ajax Catholic elementary schools on DCDSB’s French Immersion list, along with St. James, and it offers immersion in Grades 1 to 8. The school also lists kindergarten, special education services, and child care with before- and after-school programs.
Bell times are 8:40 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. For secondary immersion, the Ajax Catholic option on the board’s list is Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School, Grades 9 to 12.
How DCDSB immersion admission works
DCDSB French Immersion begins in Grade 1. In the most recent cycle, registration for Grade 1 in 2026-2027 opened 26 November 2025 and closed 16 January 2026, and the board describes late November to mid-January as its usual window.
When demand exceeds space, priority goes to in-boundary students, then students with child care in the area, then siblings of students already in a French program at the school. The board says cross-boundary students admitted for child care or siblings are not eligible for transportation.
Practical notes
- Address: 280 Delaney Dr., Ajax
- French Immersion: Grades 1 to 8
- Bell times: 8:40 a.m. to 3:10 p.m.
- Phone: 905-427-2866
The five at a glance
| School | Town | Board | Signature program | Entry note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Saints CSS | Whitby | DCDSB | Regional Arts and Media, Grades 7 to 12 | Durham-wide; apply by 26 Nov 2026 |
| Anderson CVI | Whitby | DDSB | Gifted, French Immersion | Address plus board placement |
| St. Mary CSS | Pickering | DCDSB | French Immersion, Grades 9 to 12 | Catholic registration |
| Frenchman’s Bay PS | Pickering | DDSB | Single-track French Immersion, Grades 1 to 8 | Transfer in spring before Grade 1 |
| St. Patrick CS | Ajax | DCDSB | French Immersion, Grades 1 to 8 | Grade 1 registration, late Nov to mid-Jan |
What this means if you’re buying or selling in Pickering, Ajax or Whitby
French Immersion is the biggest school factor in all three towns, and both boards start it in Grade 1. The Catholic board gives priority to in-boundary students when space is tight, so if immersion matters to you, buying inside the right boundary is worth more than buying close to the school.
The public board works differently. Kindergarten children register at their home school and can transfer to a single-track immersion school before Grade 1, so check both your home school and your designated immersion school on Find My School for each address.
Regional programs like AMP at All Saints are open across Durham, which gives you more freedom on location. In that case, think about the commute and whether board transportation applies, since the AMP page does not mention busing.
Sellers should confirm the designated schools on the board tools before advertising them. DDSB’s maps note that the nearest school is not always the designated one, and buyers with children will check.
If you want to compare neighbourhoods near any of these schools, I can pull current listings and recent sales across Pickering, Ajax and Whitby so you can see the trade-offs.
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
Is there an arts high school in Durham Region?
Yes. All Saints Catholic Secondary School at 3001 Country Lane in Whitby hosts DCDSB’s Regional Arts and Media Program for Grades 7 to 12, serving students from across Durham. Majors are Dance, Media Arts, Instrumental Music, Performing Arts and Visual Arts. Online applications for the coming intake are due 26 November 2026.
When does French Immersion start in Durham schools?
Both DDSB and DCDSB start French Immersion in Grade 1. DCDSB’s most recent registration, for Grade 1 in 2026-2027, ran from 26 November 2025 to 16 January 2026. At DDSB, kindergarten children register at their home school and can transfer to a single-track immersion school in the spring before Grade 1.
Which public schools in Pickering offer French Immersion?
DDSB lists Frenchman’s Bay PS as a single-track immersion school, Biidaasige Mandamin PS and Maple Ridge PS as dual-track elementary schools, and Dunbarton High School as a dual-track secondary. Frenchman’s Bay teaches full immersion in Grades 1 to 3 and half-day French from Grade 4.
Which Catholic schools in Ajax have French Immersion?
DCDSB’s French Immersion listing names St. James Catholic School and St. Patrick Catholic School in Ajax, both for Grades 1 to 8, and Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School for Grades 9 to 12. The board notes that each program depends on sufficient registration, so confirm it is running for your child’s year.
Does Anderson CVI in Whitby have a gifted program?
Yes. DDSB’s Whitby school location map lists Anderson Collegiate Vocational Institute at 400 Anderson St. as Grades 9 to 12 with Gifted and French Immersion programs. Gifted placement depends on board processes, so ask DDSB how students are identified and placed before relying on it.
How do I check which school my Pickering, Ajax or Whitby address goes to?
Use the DDSB Find My School tool and DCDSB’s Find My Local Catholic School tool, entering your exact address. DDSB’s location maps warn that the closest school may not be your designated school. Check the immersion school separately, since it can differ from your English-program home school.
Sources
- AMP Regional Arts and Media Program — All Saints Catholic Secondary School, DCDSB
- French Immersion — Durham District School Board
- Whitby School Location Map — Durham District School Board
- Pickering School Location Map — Durham District School Board
- About Us — Frenchman’s Bay Public School, DDSB
- French Immersion School Listing — Durham Catholic District School Board
- French Immersion Registration — Durham Catholic District School Board
- School Listing — Durham Catholic District School Board
Related reading
- Top 5 Schools in Scarborough (TDSB / TCDSB) (2026)
- Top 5 Schools in Leaside & Lawrence Park (TDSB / TCDSB) (2026)
- Top 5 Schools in High Park & Roncesvalles (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.