The YMCA Academy Reviews

Gain exclusive insight into life at The YMCA Academy from our carefully curated video and written reviews that deliver in-depth insider info from parents, alumni and students.

Our Perspective on The YMCA Academy

The very heart of private education is providing options for parents looking to support their learner, and YMCA Academy sits at the very heart of that concept. It was founded and developed to support learners with needs that may not be adequately met within other settings. Likewise, it comprises an academic environment in which those students aren’t constantly reminded of their exceptionality. Here, they participate in a community that is supportive, sympathetic, and socially oriented around their personal needs. That, in itself—irrespective of the programs or the curriculum—can be transformational. This isn’t a school for others, making a concession for them. Rather, it is a school for them. That’s huge.

Video reviews
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Get crucial behind-the-scenes information about The YMCA Academy from video interviews with probing questions that we recorded live with parents, current students, and recent alumni.

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The YMCA Academy: Alumni Review from Jonah Milo Watch our alum interview with Jonah Milo to learn about the unique experience of attending The YMCA Academy.	all_videos alumnus_videos	,

Written reviews
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Dive deeply into the real culture of The YMCA Academy with reviews we’ve structured to highlight only the most valuable insights and opinions submitted by parents, students, and alumni.

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(5) Parent, Daphne Flint-Polo (2025) Gr. 9 to Gr. 12 (current) — Our son has thrived at the YMCA Academy. He has come out of his shell and grown in so many ways... The YMCA Academy is a school where the staff truly loves what they do and care. The school environment is welcoming and inclusive. Everyone who walks into this school is essential, has value, and has a gift to share. Staff are... I have never seen teachers who love what they do more. They care and go above and beyond with every student every day. They are willing to make an accommodation to suit a student's learning style and are creative in solving a ... The YMCA Academy is dedicated to providing its students with the highest quality education possible. I have never seen teachers who care more. They offer all the core subjects, and teachers are open and creative in thinking ab... The YMCA Academy has a wide variety of clubs. Some examples are cooking, art, drama, running, math, chess, D&D, and the Mock Trial Club. My son really enjoyed the Mock Trial Club. He participated for 2 years. The experience wa... We chose the YMCA Academy for its smaller class sizes. Our son becomes overwhelmed with large groups, loud noises, or bright lights. In a large group, he becomes lost and anxious. It was essential to us, and to him, that he no... After starting at the YMCA Academy, our son was energized and excited to attend school. He is interested in his classes and wants to succeed. His teacher provides him with an engaging curriculum that inspires students to think... The YMCA staff provides a very welcoming and inclusive environment. The school fosters respect for everyone and does not tolerate disrespect, rude behaviour, or bullying. The school offers many student team-building events, in... The YMCA Academy is located in the Y, just off Yonge and one block south of Wellesley. It is very easy to get to by subway and car. My son takes the subway every day, and when I have to visit the school, I am able to find park... The school was very welcoming. The YMCA Academy was recommended to us by our son's occupational therapist. When I first reached out to the school, they were very welcoming, allowing my son and me to visit the school on two occ... The YMCA provides an excellent and nurturing environment where the staff really works hard to help every student achieve their dreams and goals. The school is small, which is a fantastic advantage in many ways. However, with a...	all_reviews parent	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,
(5) Student, Lucas Mychajlyszyn (2025) Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 (current) — YMCA Academy is honestly the best school I've ever been to! It's a minimal environment, so you ... Our Head of School, Assistant Head of School, guidance counsellor, and all the staff and people who run the YMCA Academy truly care for the school and want to help every student they can! I have tremendous trust and respect fo... When I first started at the YMCA Academy, I noticed that all the teachers really cared about every student and took extra time and effort to make sure every student was on the same page and caught up. The class sizes are small... Your work for classes at the YMCA Academy depends on each student. If a student really knows about a specific topic, the work would be easy, but other students might take a little longer to understand. The teachers are prepare... This year, I participated in our Mock Trial Club. We learned a case and went to the Toronto mock trial tournament! It was an enjoyable and interesting experience! The YMCA Academy has a wide rage of clubs and extracurriculars ... The YMCA Academy feels like a community, and a lot of schools say that, but with a small school like the YMCA Academy. It’s true. Everyone knows everyone, or at least has heard or seen each other. Everyone has a sense of how... The YMCA Academy is unique in its location. We're located in the central YMCA downtown, and every student receives a YMCA membership. This membership provides access to the gym, pool, and other benefits. It's a fantastic oppor... After a few months at the YMCA Academy, it'll definitely feel like a second home to you. It did for me. At my previous TDSB school, I didn't feel like I belonged, often fell behind the other students, and felt alone in my stru... After six years at the YMCA Academy, I've found our location at the central YMCA at Young and Grosvenor to be perfect. Students have a wide range of lunch options, and our teachers frequently plan engaging field trips to place... For me, I wasn't that involved in the whole admissions process. After my parents went to an open house, I then met with the Head of School so he could get a sense of whether I'm a good fit for the school. And then I did a few ...	all_reviews student	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,
(5) Parent, Nicola Rudzik (2025) Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 (current) — The YMCA Academy has been a profoundly positive experience for our son and our family, from gra... I always feel supported and heard as a parent, whether concerns are academic or emotional. They provide excellent guidance and support for both parents and students. They embrace all personalities and will address any student... The teaching is excellent. The teachers are excited about their subjects and show interest in each student individually. They will find ways to tap into student interests so each student feels comfortable sharing their thought... The academics are excellent because they will cater the course to suit students' learning styles to ensure their success. They excite students about learning by providing an open environment to speak and encourage all ideas. T... The extracurriculars offered are abundant and varied. They will add new programs during lunch or after school based on student desires at any time. The clubs are fun and cater to such a diverse set of interests. Sports, arts, ... The size of the school is perfect, allowing for an ideal student-to-teacher ratio. Spirit is strong for the school, with theme days and general school assemblies and outings. Each year, at the start of the school year, there i... My son loves his school. He may not like getting up in the morning as any teenager, but he's always happy to be going to the Y Academy. He feels safe and welcome there. After extended school holidays, he is excited to go back.... Parents are welcome to be involved as much as they desire. Whether through helping at extra-curriculars or through parent council meetings. The school would welcome any suggestions from parents as well. I have in the past sugg... The location is perfect; it is in central Toronto and immediately accessible by TTC, with many options right out the door. It also facilitates field trips where groups can easily TTC or even walk to the destinations. It also i... We went through the admission process long ago, but it was easy and flawless. We had visited the school a couple of times; they were always open to discussions and visits. My son immediately felt good about the school on his f... All the necessary guidance has been available, and we have always felt supported. They stay on top of all requirements for graduation and will keep you posted on anything that's lacking or needs attention. They provided ample ...	all_reviews parent	1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,

(5)

Parent, Daphne Flint-Polo (2025)

Gr. 9 to Gr. 12 (current) — Our son has thrived at the YMCA Academy. He has come out of his shell and grown in so many ways...

(5)

Student, Lucas Mychajlyszyn (2025)

Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 (current) — YMCA Academy is honestly the best school I've ever been to! It's a minimal environment, so you ...

(5)

Parent, Nicola Rudzik (2025)

Gr. 7 to Gr. 12 (current) — The YMCA Academy has been a profoundly positive experience for our son and our family, from gra...

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The YMCA Academy Reviews

Our Perspective on The YMCA Academy

Video reviews
Verified Review

OUR KIDS verifies every review by confirming the reviewer’s identity and their firsthand experience with the school. Learn more

The YMCA Academy: Alumni Review from Jonah Milo