Branksome Hall
Overview

Each day, Branksome Hall challenges and inspires girls to love learning and to shape a better world. Established in 1903—and now a leading International Baccalaureate (IB) World School—Branksome Hall is a welcoming community in the heart of Toronto. Located on a picturesque 13-acre campus, Branksome Hall offers the unique combination of a wellness mindset, outstanding academics and global engagement opportunities. Branksome has a new state-of-the-art Athletics and Wellness Centre, featuring a gymnasium, a fitness centre, a dryland rowing centre, two saltwater pools, yoga and dance studios, and a dining hall with outdoor terraces. Through our exciting exchange program, students can visit several countries and immerse themselves in new cultures. Our graduates are welcomed by the leading universities in Canada and around the world, most with scholarships. Discover Branksome Hall’s remarkable programs and campus at www.branksome.on.ca.
Academics
Summary: Branksome Hall is a fully authorized IB World School offering the Primary Years Program (PYP) from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6, the Middle Years Program from Grades 7-10 and the Diploma Program in Grades 11 and 12. Branksome is unique as an Ontario girls’ school with all students, from JK through high school, taking IB programs. Branksome Hall students graduate with two diplomas, the Ontario Secondary School Diploma and the IB Diploma. Students are able to present two sets of credentials to universities for consideration. We believe that a challenging liberal arts curriculum exposes our students to a variety of perspectives on human knowledge and values. Students are encouraged to be open-minded, to ask questions and to inquire, in order to become knowledgeable. They are taught the tools to become critical thinkers, integrative thinkers and effective communicators. They are expected to demonstrate care for others and the environment, as well as principled behavior in all aspects of their lives. They are supported to achieve balance in their lives. Finally, they are provided with opportunities to take risks and to reflect on their learning.
Department Director Kate Hebdon
Student/Teacher Ratio: 12:1
Average Class Size: 18
Summer Programs: Offered
Full Time Teachers: 120
Number of AP Courses Offered: 0
Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 25%
Number of IB Courses Offered: 0
English
- Classics
- Creative Writing
- Literature
- Playwriting
- Poetry
History
- World History
Foreign Languages
- Chinese-Cantonese
- Chinese-Mandarin
- French
- German
- Latin
- Russian
- Spanish
Religion / Philosophy
- Moral Philosophy
- Philosophy
- Social Justice
Humanities / Social Sciences
- Economics
Sciences
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Health
- Physics
- Physiology
Math
- Algebra
- Calculus
- Functions
- Geometry
- Probability
- Statistics
- Trigonometry
Computer Studies
- Multimedia
- Computer Programming
- Computer Science
Music
- Band
- Choral Music
- Composition
- Electronic Music
- Individual Instructions
- Music History
- Music Theory
- Opera
- Orchestra
- Recording
- Songwriting
- Voice
Performing / Visual Arts
- Acting
- Animation
- Art History
- Ceramics
- Dance
- Debate
- Drama
- Drawing
- Fashion Design
- Graphic Design
- Painting
- Photography
- Pottery
- Publications
- Public Speaking
- Sculpture
- Stagecraft
- Studio Art
- Theater Arts
- Theater History
Special Programs
- Community Service
- Exchange Programs
- Outdoor Education
Campus Life
Dorm Life
Number of Dorms: 3
Average Students Per Dorm: 22
Number of Girls Dorms: 3
Number of Boys Dorms: 0
Dorm Amenities
- Game Room
- Laundry Facilities
- Lounge
- Wireless Internet
Other Dorm Amenities
Kitchen
Student Life
Grades 7 to 12 elect two representatives from each grade to sit on the Student Life Committee. The committee’s membership also includes five to seven faculty members. The purpose of this organization is to give students and teachers the opportunity to discuss school-wide issues.
Facilities
- Baseball Field
- Basketball Court
- Fitness Center
- Indoor Basketball Court
- Indoor Climbing Wall
- Indoor Pool
- Technology Center
- Volleyball Court
Other Facilities
Yoga; Dance
Clubs & Organizations
- Amnesty International
- Animal Rights Club
- Astronomy Club
- Chess Club
- Classics Club
- Community Service
- Computer Club
- Debate Club
- Diversity Club
- Drama Club
- Environmental Club
- Food Council
- Foreign Language Clubs
- International Club
- Investment Club
- Literary Magazine
- Math Club
- Model UN
- Newspaper
- Peer Counseling
- Peer Tutoring
- Pep Club
- Photography Club
- SADD
- Science Bowl
- Student Activities
- Student Government
- Student Publications
- Yearbook
- Yoga Club
Arts & Athletics
Summary: At Branksome Hall, we encourage the girls to realize the power of art as a language that transcends time, religion, race and culture. We offer comprehensive classes and after-school programs in art, drama and music that let students’ creative abilities shine. The Art Gallery of Ontario provides Branksome students with an online, public gallery to display their art, including both finished pieces and works in progress. This online space incorporates work by students of all grades, in a variety of media.
Arts Department Director: Judith Friend
Athletics Department Director: Katie Flynn
Arts
- Acting
- Animation
- Art History
- Ceramics
- Dance
- Debate
- Drama
- Drawing
- Fashion Design
- Graphic Design
- Painting
- Photography
- Pottery
- Publications
- Public Speaking
- Sculpture
- Stagecraft
- Studio Art
- Theater Arts
- Theater History
Interscholastic Sports
- Alpine Ski Racing
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Crew
- Cross Country Running
- Field Hockey
- Golf
- Ice Hockey
- Rugby
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball
Recreational Sports
- Aerobics
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Cheerleading
- Cross Country Running
- Dance
- Field Hockey
- Golf
- Ice Hockey
- Outdoor Education
- Rock Climbing
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
- Track and Field
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Volleyball
Graduates
Summary: Each student at Branksome Hall has a guidance counsellor. In the Middle Division there is a specific Grade 7 counsellor for all students. Grade 8 and 9 students will have the same counsellor for both years. Starting in Grade 10, through to graduation, counsellors remain with their students to provide guidance support and university mentorship. Students acquire the knowledge and skills they need to set and pursue their educational and career goals with the support of their guidance counsellor. Each counsellor supports the academic, social, and emotional dimensions of a student’s life at Branksome Hall. Counsellors deliver a program through classroom instruction, the teacher-advisor program, completion of the annual educational plan, career exploration activities, individual assistance and short-term counselling. Concerns of a general academic, social or emotional nature should be directed to the student’s assigned guidance counsellor. Branksome Hall graduates are welcomed by the top universities around the world. 100% of our graduates attend university, most with scholarships.
College Information
Precentage of graduates who attend college: 100%
Middle Percentile of SAT Scores | Reading | Math | Writing |
---|---|---|---|
25th percentile | |||
75th percentile |
College attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:
Notable Alumni
Janet DAVIDSON
Class of 1966
President and Chief Executive Officer of Mississauga’s Trillium Health Centre
Anne BUNTINGS
Class of 1983
Lawyer and Professor working with UN in Africa on women's rights.
Kelly HAWKE Baxter
Class of 1982
Executive Director of The Natural Step Canada Environmental and Social Consultant
Rebecca SAXE
Class of 1997
Professor M.I.T. one of the “Brilliant Ten” young scientists as voted by Popular Science Magazine.
Paula SCHUTZ
Class of 1992
Teacher Director of Community Service at Camp ViSTa
Amy FOSTER
Class of 1992
Award-winning songwriter
Quotes From Alumni
Merit
Merit Scholarships: Offered
Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 4%
Average Merit Scholarship: 5,000
Current Endowment Amount: $20,000,000
Vital Information
Student Body Type: All Girls
Total Boarding: 63
Total Day: 847
Total Enrollment: 910
Boys: 0
Girls: 910
Boarding Grades Offered: 7-12
Day Grades Offered: K-12
School Type: Elementary, Middle, High School
Dress Code: Uniform
Applications Accepted: SAO
Application Deadline: January 1st
Tuition & Financial Aid
7-Day Boarding: $59,000
5-Day Boarding: $59,000
Day Tuition Fee: $32,000
Need-Based Aid: Offered
Payment Plans: Offered
Students Receiving Aid: 7%
Average Awarded: $15,000
School Finances
Merit Scholarships: Offered
Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 4%
Average Merit Scholarship: $5,000
Current Endowment Amount: $20,000,000
Contact
Director of Admissions: Kimberly Carter
Admissions Phone: 416 920 6265 x268
Fax: 416 920 5390
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.branksome.on.ca
Nearby Schools
- The Bishop Strachan School - 2mi / 3 km
- Appleby College - 23mi / 37 km
- St. Andrew’s College (ON) - 24mi / 38 km
- Trafalgar Castle School - 26mi / 42 km
- Ridley College - 37mi / 59 km
- Buffalo Seminary - 58mi / 93 km








