A group of YMCA Academy High School students embarked on a three day journey into the wilderness of the Muskoka region at the YMCA’s Camp Pine Crest. The trip included a stay in cabins, songs and s’mores around the campfire, portaging canoes, and a night at a backwoods campsite on picturesque Gullwing Lake. During the paddle back to the main…
About the Academy
The YMCA Academy is a Ministry of Education–inspected, alternative school in downtown Toronto offering wrap-around special education support.
Read more
Admissions Process
The Academy admits young people in grades 6-12 who have learning style differences and/or who seek a smaller, more supportive learning environment.
Read more
Who Are Our Students?
The Academy is ideal for students with learning disabilities, mild diagnoses on the autism spectrum, attention issues, and anxiety.
Read moreThe Academy Experience
Academic Opportunities
Our Facilities
High School Program
Middle School Program
Testimonials
We went through numerous organizations and schools and no one could offer anything even close to what the Academy offers. My child blossomed and finally started to achieve success after enrolling in the Academy.
My daughter started in Grade 9 this year, and it is the first time in six years that she loves going to school. Her self-esteem and self-confidence has grown immensely. Her motivation to succeed has skyrocketed.
Latest Academy News
Cross-Curricular Education at the Academy
At the start of this year, the Academy embarked on a mission to incorporate cross-curricular learning experiences into students’ educational journeys. Many, if not all things in life can be seen and analysed through multiple lenses. Baking cookies can be explored through the lenses of food and nutrition, chemistry, business, entrepreneurship, English, maths, and multiple other subjects. Exploring problems, issues,…
A visit from the Toronto Wildlife Centre
The Grade 9 Science class was joined by the Toronto Wildlife Centre! The students examined their relationship with wildlife in the city learning about how the TWC rescues and releases diverse animals back into our wild city. In the pictures, the students were asked questions where they had to take a thoughtful position: agree, disagree or neutral. The questions related…