Catholic Schools and Home Buying in York Region & Toronto

START HERE

Catholic-school access is not simply “buy nearby and enrol”

A school can be academically attractive and still be the wrong basis for a home purchase if the address is outside its attendance boundary, the school is capped, the child does not meet elementary admission criteria, or the desired program requires a separate application or audition. Treat the school name as the start of your research—not the conclusion.

York Catholic elementary

YCDSB states that the child or a parent must generally be a baptized Catholic, or the child must be baptized Christian Orthodox. The home address determines the local school; out-of-boundary approval is not guaranteed.

York Catholic secondary

A baptismal certificate is not required for secondary registration. Local boundaries, capacity and program rules still apply. For St. Augustine, St. Robert and St. Theresa of Lisieux, ask the board about current capacity and any capped-school procedures.

Toronto Catholic elementary

TCDSB uses fixed attendance boundaries and a formal elementary admissions policy. Confirm Catholicity documentation, residency documents, space and any program-specific requirements with Admissions.

Toronto Catholic secondary

TCDSB states that students do not need to be baptized Catholic to apply to secondary school. Citywide, out-of-area and specialized choices can still depend on deadlines, space, auditions or program admission.

Official starting points: YCDSB Admissions · YCDSB School Locator · TCDSB Admissions · TCDSB Elementary Registration

RANKING SNAPSHOT

What the 2025 figures do—and do not—tell you

The Fraser Institute’s 2025 secondary report compares 747 Ontario public, Catholic and independent high schools using provincewide academic indicators. Its 2025 elementary report compares 3,052 schools, largely from 2023–2024 EQAO data. A score is a useful screening tool, but it does not measure school culture, special-education fit, arts and athletics, teacher stability, student well-being or the experience of one particular child.

School	Area	2025 Fraser snapshot	What families should also verify
St. Augustine CHS	Markham	10.0/10; tied #1 of 747 secondary schools	Capped-school process, feeder school and current capacity
St. Robert CHS	Thornhill / Markham	10.0/10; tied #1 of 747	Capacity, boundary and IB/program application details
St. Theresa of Lisieux CHS	Richmond Hill	10.0/10; tied #1 of 747	Capped-school procedure and feeder pattern
St. Michael’s Choir School	Downtown Toronto	10.0/10; tied #1 of 747	Choir-school admission and audition requirements; not a normal catchment choice
Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts	North York	9.3/10; top tier in the 2025 report	Audition required; primary entry years are Grades 7 and 9
St. Justin Martyr CES	Unionville / Markham	10.0/10 in the 2025 elementary report	Elementary Catholic admission and exact attendance boundary
St. Sebastian Catholic School	Toronto	10.0/10 in the 2025 elementary report	Address eligibility, space and current board documentation
Our Lady of Perpetual Help	Central Toronto	9.7/10; tied #42 of 3,052	Fixed boundary and small-area housing supply

Source: Fraser Institute secondary report and 2025 elementary report. Rankings change and should never be treated as an admission guarantee or a complete measure of school quality.

YORK REGION

Notable Catholic-school and neighbourhood combinations

01

MARKHAM & UNIONVILLE

St. Justin Martyr CES · St. Augustine CHS · Father Michael McGivney CA

School profile

St. Justin Martyr is a frequently researched elementary option. St. Augustine attracts strong academic interest but families should confirm current capacity and registration procedures. Father Michael McGivney offers IB and other pathways; program entry must be checked separately.

Homes nearby

Unionville and central Markham offer mature detached homes, 1980s–2000s subdivisions, townhomes and newer condos near Highway 7 and Markham Centre. Renovation quality and lot premiums vary sharply street by street.

Community advantages

Unionville GO, Main Street Unionville, community centres, shopping and dining, parks and strong access to Highways 7, 404 and 407.

02

THORNHILL & SOUTH RICHMOND HILL

St. Robert CHS · St. Joseph the Worker CES · Our Lady Queen of the World CHS

School profile

St. Robert is one of Ontario’s strongest 2025 ranking performers and requires a check of current capacity. Families considering IB, French Immersion or ESL support should confirm the applicable program, intake and transportation.

Homes nearby

Expect established detached houses, larger 1980s and 1990s homes, infill rebuilds, townhouses and condos around Leslie, Bayview, Highway 7 and Yonge. Some older houses warrant careful roof, window, drainage and mechanical review.

Community advantages

Highway 404 and 407 access, Langstaff and Richmond Hill transit connections, shopping along Highway 7 and Yonge, libraries, parks and established cultural amenities.

03

RICHMOND HILL

St. Theresa of Lisieux CHS · Our Lady Help of Christians CES

School profile

St. Theresa of Lisieux tied for the top 2025 secondary rating, but buyers should verify whether the board’s capped-school or other registration process applies. Confirm feeder-school and capacity information before making an address-based decision.

Homes nearby

Westbrook, Devonsleigh and surrounding areas feature detached homes and townhouses built mainly from the 1990s onward, with practical family layouts, garages and access to trails. Newer infill and higher-density options appear closer to Yonge.

Community advantages

Richmond Hill GO, community centres, Mill Pond and trail systems, shopping on Yonge, plus relatively direct access to Highway 404 from eastern neighbourhoods.

04

VAUGHAN, MAPLE & WOODBRIDGE

Father Bressani CHS · St. Joan of Arc CHS · local Catholic elementary schools

School profile

Father Bressani lists AP, French Immersion and PACE options; St. Joan of Arc serves the Maple area. Program availability, application rules and home-school boundaries should be reviewed independently.

Homes nearby

Large detached homes, executive subdivisions, semis and townhomes are common. Maple offers newer family housing and GO access; Woodbridge adds mature streets, custom homes and established local shops and services.

Community advantages

Vaughan Metropolitan Centre subway access, Maple GO, Cortellucci Vaughan Hospital, community centres, parks and regional retail.

05

AURORA & NEWMARKET

Cardinal Carter CHS · Sacred Heart CHS · St. Maximilian Kolbe CHS

School profile

Cardinal Carter offers IB. Sacred Heart and St. Maximilian Kolbe are established secondary choices. Compare course offerings, transportation and program-entry rules rather than relying only on overall rank.

Homes nearby

Aurora offers mature central streets, executive subdivisions and newer townhomes; Newmarket mixes century homes near Main Street with family subdivisions and condos near Yonge and Davis.

Community advantages

GO rail, Southlake Regional Health Centre, trails, sports facilities, established downtowns and a generally quieter suburban setting.

TORONTO

High-interest Catholic options often come with tighter housing supply or special admission

North York & Willowdale

Schools: Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts and several TCDSB elementary options.

Housing: condos and townhomes near Yonge–Sheppard and Yonge–Finch, bungalows and rebuilds farther west and east. Transit access is excellent, but a specialized arts-school offer depends on a successful audition—not the purchase address.

Central Toronto & Armour Heights

Schools: Loretto Abbey, Our Lady of Perpetual Help and other established Catholic schools.

Housing: detached homes on mature streets, luxury infill, low-rise apartments and a limited supply of family-sized homes. Expect higher entry prices and careful property-condition review for older housing stock.

Scarborough

Schools: Prince of Peace and multiple Catholic elementary and secondary options.

Housing: comparatively broad choice of detached homes, semis, townhouses and condos. School results and home condition can vary substantially even within one postal area, so street-level due diligence matters.

Downtown & citywide specialty choices

Schools: St. Michael’s Choir School and other specialized programs.

Housing: mainly condos, older row houses and high-value established neighbourhoods. Audition, program and transportation requirements may matter more than a conventional catchment boundary.

BEFORE YOU OFFER

A six-step property and school verification process

1. Run the exact municipal address through the board locator. Do not rely on the seller’s listing, an old map or the nearest school.
2. Call the school. Ask about current capacity, grade availability, waitlists, portables, feeder patterns and upcoming boundary reviews.
3. Confirm Catholic elementary eligibility. Ask which baptismal, Catholicity, residency, age and immigration-status documents apply to your family.
4. Separate catchment admission from specialty admission. IB, AP, French Immersion, arts, choir and regional programs can have deadlines, tests or auditions.
5. Review transportation. Out-of-boundary approval may not include bussing. Check walking routes, school-bus eligibility and realistic commute time.
6. Evaluate the home independently. A school reputation does not fix a poor layout, deferred maintenance, traffic exposure or weak resale fundamentals.

Compare Public Schools & NeighbourhoodsRead the companion York Region and Toronto public-school guide. How to Use Ontario School RankingsUnderstand what a ranking can and cannot tell a home buyer. York Region School Boundary GuideLearn how to verify a property before relying on school access. School-Focused Home BuyingBuild a family decision around the child, commute, home and budget.