Metropolitan Preparatory Academy (commonly known as "Metro Prep") is a

private Private or privates may refer to: Music * "In Private", by Dusty Springfield from the 1990 album ''Reputation'' * Private (band), a Denmark-based band * "Private" (Ryōko Hirosue song), from the 1999 album ''Private'', written and also recorded ...

, semestered,

co-educational Mixed-sex education, also known as mixed-gender education, co-education, or coeducation (abbreviated to co-ed or coed), is a system of education where males and females are educated together. Whereas single-sex education was more common up to ...

middle school Middle school, also known as intermediate school, junior high school, junior secondary school, or lower secondary school, is an educational stage between primary school and secondary school. Afghanistan In Afghanistan, middle school includes g ...

and

high school A secondary school, high school, or senior school, is an institution that provides secondary education. Some secondary schools provide both ''lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper secondary education'' (ages 14 to 18), i.e., ...

located in

Toronto, Ontario Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

. It serves students from Grades 7 through 12 and offers a university preparatory curriculum. Founded in 1982, the school emphasizes small class sizes and individualized support, and is a Candidate School for the

International Baccalaureate The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), more commonly known as the International Baccalaureate (IB), is a nonprofit foundation headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and founded in 1968. It offers four educational programmes: the I ...

(IB) Diploma Programme. In addition to regular classrooms, Metro Prep's facilities include a

biotechnology Biotechnology is a multidisciplinary field that involves the integration of natural sciences and Engineering Science, engineering sciences in order to achieve the application of organisms and parts thereof for products and services. Specialists ...

laboratory, theatre, three computer labs, an art room, cafeteria, study hall, lounge, and gymnasium. Metro Prep also offers a fully operational weight and fitness room.

History

Metropolitan Preparatory Academy was established in 1982 by Wayne McKelvey as an independent private school focused on providing a supportive academic environment for university-bound students. Over the decades, the school has developed a reputation for nurturing creativity, critical thinking, and personal growth. In 2025, the school began major campus expansions, occupying a 65,000 square foot facility at 1 Duncan Mill Road in

North York North York is a former township and city and is now one of the six administrative districts of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the northern area of Toronto, centred around Yonge Street, north of Ontario Highway 401. It is bounded by ...

Campus and Facilities

The school is located on a 3.65-acre campus in North York, near major public transportation routes. The facility includes science and biotechnology labs, art studios, music and drama rooms, a library, and a student lounge. A new gymnasium and expanded athletic complex are currently under development, with construction scheduled to begin in 2025.

Academics

Metro Prep offers the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) and follows the curriculum set by the

Ontario Ministry of Education The Ministry of Education () is the ministry of the Government of Ontario responsible for government policy, funding, curriculum planning and direction in all levels of public education, including elementary and secondary schools. The ministry ...

. Courses are offered at the academic, open, and university preparation levels. Class sizes range from 6 to 14 students, allowing for personalized instruction. The school emphasizes academic excellence, critical thinking, and the development of strong writing and analytical skills across disciplines including English, mathematics, sciences,

social sciences Social science (often rendered in the plural as the social sciences) is one of the branches of science, devoted to the study of society, societies and the Social relation, relationships among members within those societies. The term was former ...

arts The arts or creative arts are a vast range of human practices involving creativity, creative expression, storytelling, and cultural participation. The arts encompass diverse and plural modes of thought, deeds, and existence in an extensive ...

, and

business studies Business studies, often simply called business, is a field of study that deals with the principles of business, management, and economics. It combines elements of accountancy, finance, marketing, organizational studies, human resource manageme ...

. In 2025, Metropolitan Preparatory Academy became a Candidate School for the

® (IB) Diploma Programme.

Signature Programs

Metro Prep offers four distinct signature programs designed to provide students with enriched academic and personal development opportunities beyond the core curriculum. GENIUS Program: The GENIUS Program is Toronto’s first high school biotechnology stream. It introduces students to university-level scientific inquiry, with lab-based work including

DNA extraction The first isolation of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was done in 1869 by Friedrich Miescher. DNA extraction is the process of isolating DNA from the cells of an organism isolated from a sample, typically a biological sample such as blood, saliva, ...

PCR amplification The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a method widely used to make millions to billions of copies of a specific DNA sample rapidly, allowing scientists to amplify a very small sample of DNA (or a part of it) sufficiently to enable detailed st ...

CRISPR CRISPR (; acronym of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) is a family of DNA sequences found in the genomes of prokaryotic organisms such as bacteria and archaea. Each sequence within an individual prokaryotic CRISPR is d ...

simulations, and

genetic analysis Genetic analysis is the overall process of studying and researching in fields of science that involve genetics and molecular biology. There are a number of applications that are developed from this research, and these are also considered parts ...

. The program integrates guest lectures, research projects, and

bioethics Bioethics is both a field of study and professional practice, interested in ethical issues related to health (primarily focused on the human, but also increasingly includes animal ethics), including those emerging from advances in biology, me ...

discussions, preparing students for future studies in

STEM fields Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is an umbrella term used to group together the distinct but related technical disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The term is typically used in the context o ...

such as

molecular biology Molecular biology is a branch of biology that seeks to understand the molecule, molecular basis of biological activity in and between Cell (biology), cells, including biomolecule, biomolecular synthesis, modification, mechanisms, and interactio ...

, environmental science, and

biomedical research Medical research (or biomedical research), also known as health research, refers to the process of using scientific methods with the aim to produce knowledge about human diseases, the prevention and treatment of illness, and the promotion of ...

. SMITH Program: The SMITH (School of Music, Integrated Arts, Theatre &

Humanities Humanities are academic disciplines that study aspects of human society and culture, including Philosophy, certain fundamental questions asked by humans. During the Renaissance, the term "humanities" referred to the study of classical literature a ...

) Program offers students a conservatory-style education in the arts and humanities. It includes coursework in creative writing, drama, visual arts, and music, alongside

interdisciplinary Interdisciplinarity or interdisciplinary studies involves the combination of multiple academic disciplines into one activity (e.g., a research project). It draws knowledge from several fields such as sociology, anthropology, psychology, economi ...

projects that explore

social issues A social issue is a problem that affects many people within a society. It is a group of common problems in present-day society that many people strive to solve. It is often the consequence of factors extending beyond an individual's control. Soc ...

. Students regularly participate in performances, exhibitions, and cross-curricular workshops that promote critical thinking and creative expression. Momentum Program: Serving Grades 7 and 8, the Momentum Program focuses on middle school readiness with an emphasis on leadership, communication, and academic preparation for high school. It integrates project-based learning and early exposure to Metro Prep’s high school programs, including introductory experiences in STEM, global issues, and the arts. Impact Program: A school-wide leadership and service initiative, the Impact Program encourages students to engage in community outreach, social entrepreneurship, and civic engagement. Students design and lead advocacy campaigns, fundraising initiatives, and awareness events tied to local and global challenges. Projects have included Truth and Reconciliation campaigns, anti-bullying initiatives, and student-designed charity merchandise. The program reflects Metro Prep’s broader emphasis on ethics, purpose, and global citizenship.

Athletics

Metro Prep offers year-round athletic programs, and is a member of the Small Schools Athletic Federation (SSAF) and a charter member of th
Toronto District College Athletic Association (TDCAA)
Metro Prep sports teams compete with schools throughout the region. Current sports teams include

basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...

softball Softball is a Variations of baseball, variation of baseball, the difference being that it is played with a larger ball, on a smaller field, and with only underhand pitches (where the ball is released while the hand is primarily below the ball) ...

volleyball Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules. It has been a part of the official program of the Summ ...

hockey ''Hockey'' is a family of List of stick sports, stick sports where two opposing teams use hockey sticks to propel a ball or disk into a goal. There are many types of hockey, and the individual sports vary in rules, numbers of players, apparel, ...

skiing Skiing is the use of skis to glide on snow for basic transport, a recreational activity, or a competitive winter sport. Many types of competitive skiing events are recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the International S ...

snowboarding Snowboarding is a recreational and competitive activity that involves descending a snow-covered surface while standing on a snowboard that is almost always attached to a rider's feet. It features in the Winter Olympic Games and Winter Paralym ...

, cross-country,

golf Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which players use various Golf club, clubs to hit a Golf ball, ball into a series of holes on a golf course, course in as few strokes as possible. Golf, unlike most ball games, cannot and does not use a standa ...

tennis Tennis is a List of racket sports, racket sport that is played either individually against a single opponent (singles (tennis), singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles (tennis), doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket st ...

soccer Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a team sport played between two teams of 11 Football player, players who almost exclusively use their feet to propel a Ball (association football), ball around a rectangular f ...

rugby Rugby may refer to: Sport * Rugby football in many forms: ** Rugby union: 15 players per side *** American flag rugby *** Beach rugby *** Mini rugby *** Rugby sevens, 7 players per side *** Rugby tens, 10 players per side *** Snow rugby *** Tou ...

ultimate Ultimate or Ultimates may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Music Albums *Ultimate (Bryan Adams album), ''Ultimate'' (Bryan Adams album) *Ultimate (Jolin Tsai album), ''Ultimate'' (Jolin Tsai album) *Ultimate (Pet Shop Boys album), ''Ult ...

, and

track and field Track and field (or athletics in British English) is a sport that includes Competition#Sports, athletic contests based on running, jumping, and throwing skills. The name used in North America is derived from where the sport takes place, a ru ...

Extracurricular activities

Metro Prep offers a wide range of

extracurricular activities An extracurricular activity (ECA) or extra academic activity (EAA) or cultural activity is an activity, performed by students, that falls outside the realm of the normal curriculum of school, college or university education. Although approved ...

, including

mountain biking Mountain biking (MTB) is a sport of riding bicycles off-road, often over rough terrain, usually using specially designed mountain bikes. Mountain bikes share similarities with other bikes but incorporate features designed to enhance durability ...

caving Caving, also known as spelunking (United States and Canada) and potholing (United Kingdom and Ireland), is the recreational pastime of exploring wild cave systems (as distinguished from show caves). In contrast, speleology is the scientific ...

and

white-water rafting Rafting and whitewater rafting are recreational outdoor activities which use an inflatable raft to navigate a river or other body of water. This is often done on whitewater or different degrees of rough water. Dealing with risk is often a ...

, theatre trips, dog sledding expeditions, science camps, clubs (including

robotics Robotics is the interdisciplinary study and practice of the design, construction, operation, and use of robots. Within mechanical engineering, robotics is the design and construction of the physical structures of robots, while in computer s ...

and

chess Chess is a board game for two players. It is an abstract strategy game that involves Perfect information, no hidden information and no elements of game of chance, chance. It is played on a square chessboard, board consisting of 64 squares arran ...

), theatrical production, trips to Amazon River,

Chimborazo Chimborazo () is a stratovolcano situated in Ecuador in the Cordillera Occidental (Ecuador), Cordillera Occidental range of the Andes. Its last known Types of volcanic eruptions, eruption is believed to have occurred around AD 550. Although not ...

Ecuador Ecuador, officially the Republic of Ecuador, is a country in northwestern South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean on the west. It also includes the Galápagos Province which contain ...

Tanzania Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It is bordered by Uganda to the northwest; Kenya to the northeast; the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique and Malawi to t ...

Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...

Belize Belize is a country on the north-eastern coast of Central America. It is bordered by Mexico to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the east, and Guatemala to the west and south. It also shares a maritime boundary with Honduras to the southeast. P ...

, and

Sri Lanka Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, also known historically as Ceylon, is an island country in South Asia. It lies in the Indian Ocean, southwest of the Bay of Bengal, separated from the Indian subcontinent, ...

, and much more.

Lore the Lion

Metro Prep’s mascot, Lore the Lion, was inspired by a humanitarian trip to

where students helped build a school foundation. The name "Lore" reflects the concept of folklore—stories passed down with meaning and values. The lion, originally seen on a reused concrete bag during the trip, symbolizes resilience, leadership, and community spirit. A framed canvas of the original lion image hangs in the school.

Notable grads

* John Brunswick (2003) * Matt McKay (2005) * Kate Ruby-Sachs (2003) * Eden Grinshpan (2004) * Roxy Kirshenbaum (2005) * Brad Silverberg (2008) * Brian Vadasz (2008)

References

Toronto Life: Schools GuideOur Kids Publications Ltd.

External links

* Educational institutions established in 1982 High schools in Toronto Middle schools in Toronto Private schools in Toronto 1982 establishments in Ontario {{Ontario-school-stub