Upper School Overview

Ridley College offers a unique opportunity for students from Grade 9 to 12 to learn the way they want to learn. Students are empowered to guide their own learning, discover and pursue their passions, and persevere through challenges.

A Ridley education prepares students to meet the challenges of higher education at the most selective colleges and universities around the world. Our learner-centred and inquiry-based education offers our Upper School students a unique, individualized approach to learning built on critical thinking, dialogue, analysis, and immersive exploration of the ideas that will transform our globe.

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OPENING DOORS TO HIGHER EDUCATION

Ridley College is an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, and the only independent boarding school in Canada authorized to offer the IB continuum programme.

Students have the opportunity to earn two diplomas upon graduating from Ridley College: the IB Diploma and the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Each acts as a ticket to the world, unlocking university and career prospects. Upon graduation, Ridley students’ hard work is often rewarded with an average of eight acceptances to their top universities of choice.

Explore Upper School Academics

2021-2022 Stats

123

Graduates

9

Countries Represented in Applications

TOP 5 ACCEPTANCES BY #

20

University of Toronto

7

Queen’s University

6

Western University

5

McMaster University

4

Huron University College and University of British Columbia

MATRICULATION

Our students attend top universities around the world after graduation. Here are the top university destinations for our students since 2020.

Canada

Acadia University
Algoma University
Bishop’s University
Brock University
Carleton University
Concordia University
Dalhousie University
Huron University College
Laurentian University
MacEwan University
McGill University
McMaster University
Mount Allison University
Niagara College
OCAD University
Ontario Tech University
University of Prince Edward Island
Queen’s University
Royal Military College of Canada
Sault College, Sault Ste Marie
St. Francis Xavier University
Toronto Metropolitan University
Trent University
University of British Columbia
University of Calgary
University of Guelph
University of King’s College
University of Ottawa
University of the Fraser Valley
University of Toronto
University of Victoria
University of Waterloo
University of Windsor
Western University
Wilfrid Laurier University
York University

United States

Arizona State University - Tempe
Baylor University
Berklee College of Music
Boston University
Carnegie Mellon University
Case Western Reserve University
College of Charleston
College of the Holy Cross
Dartmouth College
Drexel University
Fashion Institute of Technology
George Washington University
Johns Hopkins University
Loyola University Chicago
Mercyhurst University
New York University
Niagara University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
Pennsylvania State University
Purdue University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Rhode Island School of Design
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
Rutgers University - New Brunswick
School of Visual Arts
Skidmore College
Smith College
Syracuse University
Temple University
The New School
University at Buffalo
University of California - Berkeley
University of California - Irvine
University of California - Los Angeles
University of California - San Diego
University of California - Santa Barbara
University of Massachusetts - Amherst
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
University of Pennsylvania
University of Redlands
University of Rhode Island
University of Rochester
University of Southern California
University of Tulsa
Yale University

International

Medical University of Bahrain, Bahrain
Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Ecuador
University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Ireland
University College Cork, Ireland
University College Dublin, Ireland
Istituto Marangoni, Milano, Italy
Universita Bocconi, Italy
Amsterdam University College, Netherlands
Erasmus University Rotterdam, Netherlands
IE University – Madrid, Spain
Universidad de Navarra, Spain
City University of London, United Kingdom
Durham University, United Kingdom
Imperial College London, United Kingdom
King’s College London (University of London), United Kingdom
Newcastle University, United Kingdom
University of Edinburgh, United Kingdom
University College London, United Kingdom
University of Bath, United Kingdom
University of Cambridge, United Kingdom
University of Leeds, United Kingdom
University of Oxford, United Kingdom
University of St. Andrews, United Kingdom

IB DIPLOMA PROGRAMME (DP)

When students reach Grade 11 at Ridley, they can opt to continue with the IB Diploma Programme (DP) and/or the OSSD. At Ridley, we adopt an open-access policy for any student who wishes to undertake the challenge of the IB Diploma Programme. Students coming into the programme need no prior experience with the IB framework, and our learner-centred approach ensures all students adapt quickly and thrive.

Learn More About Diploma Programme

ONTARIO SECONDARY SCHOOL DIPLOMA (OSSD)

In order to earn an OSSD, a student entering Grade 9 must earn a minimum of 30 credits, including 18 compulsory credits and 12 optional credits. Students must also complete 40 hours of community involvement activities and must pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test.

Learn More About The OSSD

HYBRID PROGRAMME

Students who take a mixture of IB Diploma courses and OSSD courses are known as hybrid students. The hybrid programme appeals to students who want to take a wider variety of courses than are offered in the OSSD or who want to specialize with three or four courses in a single discipline.

CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

Ridley students are encouraged to balance their academic lives by participating in a variety of co-curricular activities in the arts, athletics, leadership, and community service. We offer a selection of more than 75 co-curricular activities. Our athletic programmes are structured to provide the motivation, confidence, physical competence, knowledge, and understanding to develop physical literacy and value and engage in physical activities for life.

Discover Our Upper School Co-Curriculars

UNIVERSITY COUNSELLING AND ACADEMIC SUPPORT

Our guidance team takes a personalized approach to prepare students for their university careers by helping them discover their passions and which courses and institutions will be the right fit for them. Our counsellors have decades of experience in both international and domestic university guidance and are part of a dedicated department that prides itself on knowing and supporting each Upper School student through to graduation.

We offer a variety of support services designed to help all students flourish both in and out of the classroom. Our dedicated Learning Strategists partner with students, parents, teachers, counsellors, advisors and the Health Centre to develop student success plans tailored to meet the evolving needs of students and ensure all students are known and cared for.

Meet Our Guidance Team

BOARDING – Live and Learn at Ridley

Our Boarding Houses offer Ridleians an immersive environment of discovery and opportunity where they are able to embrace their individuality, discover who they are and strive for the future. This important induction to independence lives inside a diverse, dynamic, and vigilant community.

As a community comprised of citizens from over 55 countries, boarding also fosters students’ global perspective. Students live, learn and play with friends from around the globe, and the relationships and deep connections they make stay with them for life. This maturity and understanding of how to live successfully with others prepare students for their post-secondary journey.

Learn More About Our Boarding Programme

For more information, please contact our Admissions department at [email protected].

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