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Trusted by families since 1998.
The Linden School logo
OUR KIDS REPORT:

The Linden School

Grades JK — 12 — Toronto, ON (Map)
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THE OUR KIDS REPORT:
The Linden School
REPORT CONTENTS
Reviews
Analysis

School overview

  • Grades
    JK — 12
  • Gender
    All girls
  • Class Size
    Varies
  • Tuition
    $28,965 to 36,271/year
  • Language of instruction
    English
  • Special Needs Support
    No support
  • Enrolment
    100 day students
  • Curriculum
    Progressive
  • Associations
    AP
  • LOCATION
    Toronto, ON (View address)

The big picture on The Linden School

We summarized the school ourselves

All schools, to some extent, defy the various stereotypes that the general population might have about private education. Still, the Linden School is a particularly stark example of that. Founded by Diane Goudie and Eleanor Moore in 1993, the school was intended as a needed and necessary alternative to what was happening in public schools, as well as other private institutions. Goudie had butt heads with other educators by demanding that education be based in a sense of equity, especially as girls and women are concerned. The Linden School is the result, and today it does exactly what Goudie and Moore hoped it would: provide an example of a school for girls that will make a difference in the students' lives and, in turn, encourage them to make a positive difference in the lives of others. The goal, as Moore said at an address at York University, is to educate each student to "to speak with courage--[to] be credible, find a community, listen for all voices, change structures, be a leader and above all make a difference." Since they founded the school, Goudie and Moore have lead by example, earning honorary doctorate of law degrees from York University in recognition of their leadership in the field of education. On receiving the doctorate, Goudie addressed the convocation saying "Ask yourselves the tough questions: What do you want to achieve beyond your paycheque? What are you prepared to risk in order to make a difference in your communities or in the global community?" Those are, of course, very tough questions, and the Linden School is structured around them. For the wrong student, it could be overwhelming. For the right student, it can provide a very strong foundation for a lifetime of engagement, leadership, and success.

We questioned the school administration

1. Who are you, as a school?

"The Linden School is a groundbreaking independent school for girls and gender-diverse students. For over 30 years, we’ve championed progressive education grounded in academic excellence, equity, and student voice. Small classes foster strong connections, while personalized plans support each student’s goals. Nationally recognized teachers lead experiential learning in STEM, outdoor ed, arts, and sports. Linden grads are empowered changemakers—100% are accepted to university."

  • Small classes: higher academic achievement
  • Faculty honoured with the prestigious Prime Minister's Award for Teaching Excellence.
  • Enriched STEAM program with multi-media, maker & science lab
  • Outstanding athletics program
  • Vibrant outdoor learning & field trips
  • Leadership opportunities
  • University preparation program; 100% university acceptance
  • Full-time Guidance & Learning Counsellor
  • Emphasis on diversity and equity; LGBTQ2 positive
  • Welcoming, inclusive community and an instant sense of belonging

2. What do you do differently and uniquely well?

At Linden, rigorous academics are integrated with student voice, social justice, and well-being. Our classrooms are intentionally small and relational, ensuring every student is known deeply and supported through inquiry-based, personalized learning. Our feminist pedagogy, inclusive environment, and real-world projects foster bold, compassionate changemakers. Award-winning faculty—recognized nationally and internationally—guide students to connect academic learning with purpose, leadership, and social impact.

3. What tradeoffs has your school made to serve families in this way?

At Linden, we intentionally prioritize student voice, personalized learning, and equity over rigid standardization. In our collaborative classrooms, curiosity, critical thinking, and compassion are valued above conformity or competition. Rather than treating uniformity as the goal, we embrace the fact that each student learns differently and thrives through a unique approach. This focus on individual strengths and needs fosters a school culture where students are empowered to ask big questions, take intellectual risks, and lead with integrity and empathy.

4. What key junctures in your school's history have most shaped its present?

Linden was founded in 1993 by educators Diane Goudie and Eleanor Moore as a bold experiment in feminist and socially just education. Their vision—that girls deserved more than a seat at the table—continues to guide us today. Key milestones include our first public information night in 1993, which drew hundreds of families; our pioneering of girl-centered, research-informed pedagogy in Canada; and our students’ long tradition of advocacy and leadership.

Today, our move to a purpose-built campus at 920 Yonge Street represents the next chapter: a space designed with inclusivity, collaboration, and equity at its core. This new home reflects Linden’s values and ensures our mission thrives for future generations.

5. What type of student is a good fit for your school?

The best fit for Linden are curious, creative students who thrive when their voices are heard and their identities affirmed. Our inclusive, girl-centered environment is 2SLGBTQiS+ positive and rooted in equity. We seek students who are eager to ask big questions, engage deeply with learning, and make a difference in their communities.

We look for:
Academic potential and engagement.
A history of positive contribution to community life.
Motivation to embrace Linden’s values of inclusion, voice, and social responsibility.
Consistent attendance and engagement are also essential to maintaining the vibrancy of our mission-driven community.

6. Under what conditions would you advise a family against choosing your school?

The Linden School offers a rigorous academic program emphasizing critical thinking, creativity, and real-world applications. Families seeking a traditional, standardized environment may find our approach different, as we focus less on test-driven metrics and more on fostering deep understanding. Our curriculum integrates social justice themes, encouraging students to engage with equity and inclusion. This approach cultivates academic excellence and social awareness, empowering students to impact the world meaningfully. Linden provides a challenging educational experience for those who value holistic growth that nurtures well-rounded, socially conscious thinkers.

7. To your knowledge, why do families choose your school over others?

Families chose Linden for the palpable feeling of community, for the innovative approach to providing an enriched, hands‑on curriculum, for the small size, and for the high calibre of faculty. “Many schools talk about the ways in which their students find themselves, but in my opinion, Linden delivers this, time and time again. Girls truly do find their voice at Linden.” –Grade 8 Parent”

8. How would you characterize your school's image amongst the public?

The Linden School is highly regarded for its commitment to innovative, girl-centered education emphasizing social justice and leadership. Publicly, our school is perceived as a nurturing environment that focuses on academic excellence while fostering leadership and social awareness among students. We are known for our strong community spirit, where every student's voice is valued and heard, contributing to a vibrant and inclusive atmosphere. Our dedication to personalized learning and real-world applications also enhances our image as a forward-thinking institution that prepares students for diverse futures.

9. What aspect of your school is underappreciated?

We offer a unique athletics program where all students are welcome to participate in a variety of teams—there are no tryouts or “cuts” made since we believe that everyone can be an athlete. Our sports teams are very competitive and make it to the playoff rounds in almost every tournament and league sport, often winning medals and banners!

10. What might families find surprising about your school?

Families may be surprised by how deeply rigorous Linden’s academics are—despite our informal tone and nontraditional structure. Students regularly lead research, present publicly, and succeed in STEM and humanities while building real‑world skills in a warm, relational environment

11. What improvements or changes has your school made recently?

In recent years, The Linden School has deepened its commitment to innovation, equity, and student voice. We launched a new research collaboration with McGill University, focusing on interdisciplinary education and the development of reflective practice. This partnership aims to enhance our pedagogical approaches and foster a deeper understanding of student learning experiences.

Additionally, we opened our purpose-built campus at 920 Yonge Street, providing modern facilities that support our dynamic learning environment. We expanded wellness programming with peer mentorship and advisory systems, ensuring our students receive comprehensive support. To celebrate our community, we introduced the “Linden Made Me” storytelling campaign, highlighting the achievements and journeys of our students and alumni.

These initiatives reflect our mission to integrate academic excellence with equity, belonging, and well-being.

12. How will your school change in the next 5 years?

In the next five years, The Linden School will:

- Growing into our new 920 Yonge Street campus, designed with inclusivity, collaboration, and student voice at its core.
- Expand interdisciplinary and STEM-focused curricula.
- Enhance personalized learning through data-driven methods.
- Increase internships and international partnerships.
- Broaden student support services for mental health and well-being.
- These initiatives aim to prepare students for future challenges and foster academic and social responsibility.


We got insight from alumni, parents, and students

The Linden School: Alumni Review from Toni Spilfogel

Watch our alum interview with Toni Spilfogel to learn about the unique experience of attending The Linden School.
The Linden School, Alumnus Video Review from Toni Spilfogel

Parent, Roseanne Carrara (2018)

(5)

My daughter came to Linden from an overcrowded Toronto Catholic District School Board classroom where, as a strong student, she was never expected to challenge herself, and as a beginnger athlete, she was never invited to join a team. We'd originally been looking for options for grades 7-12, and had gotten a head start by visiting the Our Kids Expo and by taking a few tours of the schools which piqued her interest there. After an engaging evening tour and info session, which included Linden faculty, staff, and a well-spoken high school student who described her experince of learning to "challenge herself and take more risks," she decided she wanted to take the plunge a year early and applied for grade six. And, I'm so glad she did. The Linden experience, in both elementary, middle grades, and now high school, has been one of a kind. The small classes enable teachers to tailor their lessons to student strengths and allow students to identify and hone their passions. Students call their teachers and staff by their first names. And, they are welcome to ask difficult questions not only of their peers but also of their mentors. A selective overall enrollement of about 120 students in the school allows for a lot of interaction between grade levels. My daughter seems to know the name, face, and interests of every Linden girl. Since the girls have "families" from across the school, she has chances to interact with the early learners, elementary students, and university-bound students at weekly all-school events, as well as during Linden's fall "Week Without Walls" and spring "Spirit Week." You see the comraderie in full effect at both the annual Linden Science and Technology Fair and the Social Justice Data Fair, where the girls present their projects to their peers and welcome feedback from one another. My daughter has certainly felt empowered to excel in english, science, history, and math at Linden. And, the strings program, challenging art classes, and the new CERES lab balance out the core academics with ways of thinking "outside of the box." Our biggest Linden "surprise" has been the amazing sports program. My daughter actually loves gym! She's learned to play all sorts of sports she'd never dreamed she'd get to try. And the no-cuts policy on the teams, matched with the small class size, leads the girls to encourage each other to sign up and to take as many risks on the playing field as they do in coding class.

Parent, Caitlin O'Leary (2018)

(N/A)

My daughter is very bright, engaged and articulate, but she's also very reserved and shy. She was in one of the better public schools until Grade 3, by which time it was very apparent that she'd given up participating and was falling further and further behind academically and feeling quite lost socially. The Linden School puts an emphasis on community, and the day before the school year starts, new students are welcomed at an informal breakfast in the gym and they're toured around the building with their peers. My daughter made a friend who she kept all year. The teachers are allowed the time to interact with the girls individually due to the small class sizes, and they were able to attune their teaching to my daughter's needs. Everything they did seemed to be based in the real world making it more accessible and memorable for the girls. Projects were spun through the subjects, such as doing a wildlife survey which was charted for math, became a social science topic about wildlife in the city, which was in turn an English project to write up their reports, and then finally an art project as they made a brochure. She loved her teacher and has fun every day. They spend a day raking leaves for a shelter in the neighbourhood, they have a "week without walls" where they spend each day in a different environment. Each child belongs in a "family" within the schools, giving them a multi-grade team. She is in her second year at Linden, and continues to adore it there. Her confidence and abilities have improved by leaps and bounds!

We reported on the school in articles

Reimagining girls’ education

The Linden School's ongoing impact on how we think about how girls learn.

What makes a great teacher great?

What should parents be looking for in educators? We asked one of the best. The Linden School's Beth Alexander.

Teaching girls to change the world

After a year in the role of principal of the Linden School—and what a year it’s been—we spoke with Tara Silver about what girls need, how girls learn, and how the Linden School has pioneered in all of that.

Creating real-world impact in classrooms

STEM—often seen as the bastion of hard skills, encompassing the intricacies of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—is traditionally viewed as a domain to equip students with emerging technical competencies. However, The Linden School has taken a refreshing detour from this linear perspective.

Insider community voices

 

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