The Halton District School Board (HDSB) is accepting applications for four specialized education programs, with opportunities open to eligible students across Ontario.
There is the Advanced Placement (AP) program. It’s a university preparation pathway recognized by post-secondary institutions in Canada, the United States and more than 60 countries worldwide.
The HDSB offers AP preparation for students entering Grades 9 and 10, helping them prepare for AP courses and examinations. AP courses are available at the Grade 11 and Grade 12 levels and combine Ontario curriculum requirements with first-year university-level content.
The HDSB is introducing a new regional sports program in September 2027 through the Academy for Athletic Performance and Excellence (APEX).
This program will be based at the board’s new Oakville Secondary School, located at 4020 Sixth Line, and will be open to eligible secondary students across Ontario.
APEX is designed to combine academics and athletic development for competitive student-athletes, particularly those competing at provincial and national levels.
The program will incorporate sport science, performance technology and data analytics into coursework, while preparing students for post-secondary opportunities and careers in Canada’s sports industry.
Students will have access to athletic facilities at the new campus, including three gymnasiums, a fitness and weight room, a practice field and a domed turf field.
As for the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, it’s a globally recognized, two-year academic program offered to students in Grades 11 and 12.
The HDSB says its IB students have consistently achieved strong results over the past 20 years, with some earning perfect scores across all six subject areas, along with an ‘A’ in both Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. The board notes this accomplishment is achieved by only 1-2% of IB Diploma recipients worldwide.
Students can also access an IB preparatory program in Grades 9 and 10 at HDSB IB schools at no cost. The preparation program focuses on building academic foundations and inquiry skills ahead of the Diploma Programme.
Then you have the I-STEM program. It’s a four-year pathway focused on innovation, engineering design, design thinking, entrepreneurship and global competencies.
Students participate in hands-on learning and practical experiences designed to help them adapt to technological changes, globalization and shifting demographics while developing skills for future opportunities and lifelong learning.
Students interested in applying can find program information and complete their applications through the respective HDSB webpages:
The online application deadline is November 30th, at 11:59 p.m. Successful applicants will be notified by December 4th. They must accept their program placement by December 11th.
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