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Secondary Schools Without a Boundary

Five TDSB secondary schools with legacy technical and commercial structures use a separate priority system for regular-program admission through Secondary Out-of-Area Admissions.

 

SSWAB admission for September 2027

2027–28 school year

  • JAN
    4

    Application opens
    January 4, 2027

  • JAN
    22

    Application closes
    January 22, 2027 · 4:00 p.m.

SSWAB choices are made through the Secondary Out-of-Area Admissions process.

Five schools to explore

How to apply

Step 1

Use the central process

Apply through the Secondary Out-of-Area Admissions application process.

 

Step 2

Choose your option(s)

You may apply to one Out-of-Area school, one SSWAB school, or both.

 

Step 3

Rank if choosing both

Rank your OOA and SSWAB choices first and second.

 

First choice matters: First choice applicants are seated before applicants who list that school as their second choice. Eligible Priority 1 and Priority 3 applicants are guaranteed admission only when the SSWAB is their first choice.

SSWAB admission priorities

  1. Priority 1
    Returning sibling 2027–28 transition


    For 2027–28 entry only: the sibling must have been attending the requested SSWAB as of September 2024 and must be returning in 2027–28 (Grade 12).

    Guaranteed only when the SSWAB is the first choice.

  2. Priority 2
    Technological Studies


    30% of available spaces in each grade at the four applicable schools are held for City of Toronto applicants committed to taking Technological Studies each year.

    Applies at Central Technical, Danforth, Northern and Western. CTA has no Priority 2 seats.

    Applicants who qualify for Priority 3 are not eligible for Priority 2. Applicants not offered a seat through Priority 2 will be considered under Priority 4.

  3. Priority 3
    Identified collegiate-area applicants


    • Harbord → CTS / CTA
    • Riverdale → Danforth
    • North Toronto → Northern
    • Humberside → Western

    Guaranteed only when the SSWAB is the first choice.

  4. Priority 4
    Toronto residents


    Applicants living in the City of Toronto, including TDSB and non-TDSB students.

  5. Priority 5
    Outside Toronto


    Applicants living outside the City of Toronto. Applicants using the Out-of-Area Admissions process must reside in Ontario.

When applications exceed available spaces within a priority group, a random selection process is used.

School-specific information

Central Toronto Academy: no Technological Studies priority

CTA is a former Commercial school. It has no Technological Studies Priority 2 allocation. Eligible applicants are considered through the other SSWAB priorities that apply to them.

Northern: a small designated attendance boundary remains

If Northern is your designated secondary school by address, you do not need a SSWAB application to attend its regular program. Living in the former technical catchment does not itself give automatic access.

Find your designated school by address.

Danforth / Riverdale: Riverdale’s entrance restriction

In-area students must apply to Riverdale CI by March 1 of Grade 8 to be eligible to attend Riverdale.

Students moving into the Riverdale area after March 1 of Grade 8 are directed to Danforth CTI.

Other programs at these schools

Specialized Programs

Specialized Programs use a separate application process in November. A SSWAB application does not provide admission to a Specialized Program.

Explore Specialized Programs.

Special Education Intensive Support Programs

Access is through the IPRC placement process only. ISP placements cannot be accessed through a SSWAB application.

Special Education and Inclusion information.

French Immersion

French Immersion has its own catchments and Out-of-Area rules. It is not part of the SSWAB priority structure.

French Programs information.

Family resources

Before you apply

Your address determines your designated school and may affect Priority 3 or direct access to Northern. Address documentation may be required.

TDSB does not provide transportation for students attending through Out-of-Area Admissions.

International fee-paying students do not use this process. Contact the International Student & Admissions Office.

Historical context

The legacy technical and commercial catchments were retired as these schools became system-serving options. Northern continues to have a small designated boundary. Some transition provisions support families affected by the changes.

Learn more about the dissolution of the legacy technical and commercial boundaries.

Need help?

Contact your current school for application support. These resources can help you find an answer: