Background

In May 2022, TDSB Trustees passed a motion replacing merit-based admissions for specialized programs (e.g., science/math, IB) with a randomized lottery process, shattering the dreams of thousands of talented students.

Under an admissions lottery, hard work, talent and dedication mean nothing.

This approach has been tried and tested – and failed. In San Francisco, Lowell High School moved to a lottery-based admission process, leading to record failing rates.

The evidence is clear: a lottery hurts the very students that it claims to uplift and sends the message to young people that hard work doesn’t matter.

Photo credit: Toronto Star

The TDSB offers a variety of specialized programs, known as “centralized programs” focusing on specific pathways such as leadership, arts and STEM at both the elementary and the secondary level. These include Arts, CyberARTS, Elite Athletes, Exceptional Athletes, Integrated Technology, International Baccalaureate (IB), Leadership Pathway and Math, Science and Technology.

Prior to May 2022, admissions were based on a variety of factors, including auditions and student grades. Following the motion passed by the TDSB, the new process has been outlined below:

  1. If there are more students interested than spaces available, students will be added into a random selection process (lottery)

    1. As part of the lottery, the TDSB has set out 3 admission priorities:

      1. 20% of spaces are for students that self-identify as First Nations, Métis, Inuit, Black, Latin American or Middle Eastern

      2. 50% of spaces are for students that self-identify as female for math, science and technology programs

      3. students that reside in the city of Toronto are prioritized

  2. A first round of offers is sent out and some students are waitlisted (centrally)

  3. About a week later, a second round of offers is sent out and the central waitlist is maintained until mid-February for secondary schools and mid-March for elementary schools

  4. Once the central waitlist expires, a local waitlist is created that prioritizes students that live in the local area and students who are pre-registered to attend the school

Learn more about Application and Admissions through the official TDSB website.

Our Concerns

Lottery admissions take away opportunities from students

These specialized programs can be pathways into exciting careers for many young people. It is not right to hinge the futures of talented and hardworking students on a lottery.

Students that are able to demonstrate passion, talent or ability should not be denied access to a program of their choice simply because they lost the lottery.

Lottery admissions lowers the quality of programming

A lottery leads to a mismatch between student abilities and programs, hurting high-achieving students without helping others.

The new policy will lead to programs being watered down, harming all students in the process.

The new TDSB admissions policy reduces programming

The TDSB has reduced the number of available seats at two science-focused programs: TOPS (Marc Garneau CI) and MaCS (William Lyon Mackenzie CI).

The arts leadership program at RH King Academy, one of the few secondary programs in the East End has also been cancelled.

Lottery admissions sends the wrong message and reward mediocrity

By telling students that luck determines access to these programs, students are being told that they don't need to work hard for anything in life. That isn't the message our education system should be sending.

Flawed and chaotic implementation of the new admissions policy

The implementation of the new lottery admissions policy has been plagued by confusion, technical difficulties and chaos. TDSB simply isn’t ready for this change.

Students from marginalized groups were excluded from admissions. Open spots were left empty.