THE OUR KIDS REPORT:
Havergal College

REPORT CONTENTS

School Overview

Reviews

Analysis

Student Body

Havergal College, a large girls' school with a boarding option for older students, has a smaller boarding population compared to its peer schools. A moderate percentage of students receive financial aid. Families and alumni describe the school’s student body as community-minded, supportive, and actively engaged in their education.

Facts and analysis

Total enrollment

1,050 students attend Havergal College.

Havergal College has a larger student body than 97% of all schools we cover.

Breakdown by grade

Grade	Enrollment
Grade	Havergal College	Median of all other schools
JK	20	16
SK	0	17
Gr. 1	16	18
Gr. 2	0	18
Gr. 3	4	18
Gr. 4	10	18
Gr. 5	20	20
Gr. 6	14	20
Gr. 7	40	24
Gr. 8	0	25
Gr. 9	33	40
Gr. 10	0	40
Gr. 11	0	43
Gr. 12	0	43

Why it matters

While some researchers have looked to uncover the "ideal" school size, these studies often generalize student preferences and behaviours. Your real goal is to find what best suits your child’s needs. Smaller schools can offer a school-wide sense of connection, while larger schools often provide broader programming and opportunities. Also, note that per-grade enrollment often tells a more meaningful story than total enrollment alone (read topic guide).

Gender

Only girls attend.

This makes Havergal College like 5% of other schools we cover.

Why it matters

A school’s gender composition influences its social, academic, and extracurricular experiences. Coed schools often encourage collaboration across genders, while single-gender schools (all-boys or all-girls) may focus on specialized learning approaches (read topic guide).

Boarding Population

Havergal College offers boarding from Grade 9 to 12. Only 5% of the total student body boards.

Havergal College has a smaller proportion of boarding students than most of its peer boarding schools.

Breakdown by grade

Grade	Boarding students as a percentage of total enrollment
Grade	Havergal College	Median of all other boarding schools
Gr. 9	24%	38%
Gr. 10	N/A	48%
Gr. 11	N/A	51%
Gr. 12	N/A	53%

Why it matters

The proportion of boarding students is an important factor in shaping a school’s culture. Large boarding populations may create an immersive environment, while smaller boarding communities may balance residential life with local engagement (read topic guide).

International Students

We do not have reliable data on international students at Havergal College.

You can see data for other schools below.

Why it matters

A diverse international student body offers opportunities for cultural exchange and a global perspective. These experiences can enhance your child’s understanding of different cultures and prepare them for a globalized world (read topic guide).

STUDENTS ON FINANCIAL AID

10% of students at Havergal College receive financial aid.

The percentage of students on financial aid at Havergal College is higher than 74% of all schools we cover.

Breakdown by grade

Grade	Percentage of students on financial aid
Gr. 7	7%
Gr. 8	7%
Gr. 9	7%
Gr. 10	7%
Gr. 11	7%
Gr. 12	7%

Why it matters

Financial aid reflects a school’s commitment to accessibility and socioeconomic diversity. These programs aim to create a richer community by bringing together students from varied backgrounds and experiences (read topic guide).

Qualitative insights

These insights are based on conversations with parents, alumni, and school leadership. Handpicked and curated by our editor, they offer a close look at how the school is experienced and perceived by those who know it best.

There is a shared a drive for success and individual growth.

Commentary from the school community emphasizes that Havergal College encourages students to develop their own personalities, aiming to nurture goal-oriented, confident, and driven individuals who are prepared to lead and succeed.

Most Havergal students are quite goal-oriented, focused, and driven. I don’t think it’s fair to say there’s a typical student, or a mould that you have to fit to go to Havergal. Havergal allows people or students to be who they are, while encouraging and challenging them to be the best version of themselves.

—Charlotte Anderson, alum (see full interview)

That constant searching for knowledge, the quest for knowledge, pushing the envelope to find out more. As well, contributing to the community in which you are part of—whatever community that is, big or small—and being an active citizen in that community.

—Charlotte Anderson, alum (see full interview)

Being surrounded by incredible students was something I appreciated about Havergal. All my classmates were brilliant and talented, and I’m amazed at what they’re doing now. Oh, my goodness, I’m just so amazed and so proud. In short, if I had to pinpoint a time in my life that was the most influential, and helped to grow me into who I am today, it’s my time at Havergal, hands down.

—Charlotte Anderson, alum (see full interview)

There’s not one type of Havergal girl, or Havergal student, but what would personify Havergal College would be traits like having very strong character, and being very confident in whatever they choose to pursue. Whether it’s sports or science or math, they’re extremely confident, have a lot of integrity, and give back to their community. I would say that’s a through-line of what a Havergal girl would be like.

—Yasmin Alameddine, alum (see full interview)

Our School Captain, who is the head student leader at the school, really exhibits and lives our school values: inquiry, integrity, courage, and compassion. She approaches her work as a student leader and her role as a student leader with a genuine curiosity. I watched her host large gatherings, and large speaking events, in which she talks about her own experience and challenges the community to think more critically about the way we do things. I have been really blessed to be able to work with her.

—Katrina Samson, Principal (see full interview)

What is great about Havergal is that there’s no stereotypical girl that comes out of it, but if the school were a person, that person would be hard-working, thoughtful, and a leader. There is a work ethic that is instilled in Havergal students from the beginning, as well as grit and resilience. As well, thoughtful, because there’s always some thought behind the girls’ actions, whether it’s caring for their community, caring for their friends and family.

—Carrie Porter, parent (see full discussion)

They're community-minded and engage in peer support.

Accounts from students and faculty reveal that Havergal’s mixed advisor groups and house system facilitate mentorship and peer support, enabling students to build meaningful relationships and guide each other through their academic journey.

I’m grateful for the peer group at Havergal. I’m grateful for bringing us together as a school, and not just your grade. I also looked up to the older girls when I was in Grade 9, and then when I was in Grade 12, I so valued being a leader for the younger girls. I appreciated the ability to figure out who I was within a space where I never felt judged. I felt that every opportunity was an opportunity to take.

—Charlotte Anderson, alum (see full interview)

There’s such a strong community feel at Havergal College—whether it’s students older or younger than you, faculty, teachers, or the parents and the families that are with the Havergal College girls. It’s such a strong community there. It never stops. I’m still best friends with my Havergal friends, even though I don’t live in Toronto. That community is such a huge part of why you would choose Havergal.

—Yasmin Alameddine, alum (see full interview)

I think the one unifying factor is the really strong sense of community that students have, both as they are here at the school and after when they leave. And we see that through the connections that they maintain as alumni, and as they transition through the school. Those threads and those connections are that unifying factor.

—Katrina Samson, Principal (see full interview)

We always look for ways here at the school to start developing that sense of connection between the upper school and the junior school. From Grades 9 to 12, our students form mixed advisor groups. That's where you see a ton of mentorship happening in between students. Grade 9 students are keen to ask a Grade 12 about course selection, what their experience is like, and how they balance their workload. And Grade 12 students, in turn, are really interested in sharing their knowledge.

—Katrina Samson, Principal (see full interview)

To speak candidly, I was a little nervous at first about the ‘single-gender school’ idea. ‘All-girls’ may sound a little strange and everything, but it surprised me how my experience at Havergal broke all the stereotypes. It was so supportive. Everyone was so thoughtful. Everyone was so into empowering each other. It was not at all like the stereotypes you’d associate with putting a group of girls together. I love that it surprised me in the best way.

—Yasmin Alameddine, alum (see full interview)

The girls tend to be very encouraging and supportive of each other—they want their classmates to be successful both academically and socially and they champion each other—this is especially apparent at prayers. ... There is a lot of school spirit. From school spirit week and hockey day to House Shot and various events throughout the year, the girls feel a connection to their houses (similar to sororities) and are able to establish more meaningful connections with girls form all grades.

—Robyn Spector, parent (beginning 2012) (see full review)

My daughter has always felt included and had very positive social experiences each year. The girls are nice. They are kind and respectful towards one another, regardless of how close they are. And my daughter has formed incredibly close friendships with a number of her fellow students at Havergal College.

—Dana Rippon, parent (beginning 2012) (see full review)

Havergal's student body is a high energy, inclusive and friendly group. There is definitely a huge effort by most of the girls to scatter positivity and good cheer amongst their peers. I can mainly speak to my daughter's grade but new girls are welcomed with open arms. There are several events and opportunities for new girls to get integrated with the rest of the grade. The house system helps with mixing up social groups and for spreading school spirit. Havergal has a sprit week and several house shout days where the girls do their best to show their school spirit. It is all fun and inclusive and these are my daughters favourite days. As well as the numerous clubs and teams make it fun for the girls and is a great opportunity for girls to meet and make friends with other girls.

—Ruth Ley, parent (beginning 2018) (see full review)

They play an active role in their education.

Observations from administrators and students highlight how Havergal College offers a personalized student experience, accommodating diverse interests and learning styles while maintaining a unified approach to education.

One of the great benefits of being a larger school, with over 1,000 students from kindergarten all the way to Grade 12, is that we do have the opportunity to personalize student experience. You can have two students who certainly share an approach to learning that they're excited about, and are driven, but have very different interests, very different ways and approaches to learning. Their experience through the school will be very different, unified but personalized.

—Katrina Samson, Principal (see full interview)

The great joy of a school like ours, and the breadth of the program our students are encouraged to engage in, is that they can personalize their journey. So it looks different for every student. What it means, too, is that you can have students from the same family who have very different interests and personalities and learning styles who can come here and find their place.

—Katrina Samson, Principal (see full interview)

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