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in-depth report
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OUR KIDS REPORT:

Trinity College School

Grades 5 — 12 — Port Hope, ON (Map)
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School Busing:

Trinity College School offers bus transferring. Service options offered are regular rider.

The regions Trinity College School offers busing from are:

THE OUR KIDS REPORT:
Trinity College School
REPORT CONTENTS
Reviews
Analysis

School overview

  • Grades
    5 — 12
  • Gender
    Coed
  • Class Size
    12 — 20 students
  • Tuition
    $35,500 to 94,500/year
  • Language of instruction
    English
  • Special Needs Support
    No support
  • Enrolment
    300 day students, 280 boarding students
  • Curriculum
    Liberal Arts
  • Associations
    AP, CAIS, CIS Ontario
  • LOCATION
    Port Hope, ON (View address)

The big picture on Trinity College School

We wrote a book reviewing the school

The 50-page review of Trinity College School is part of our series of in-depth accounts of Canada's leading private schools. It provides a unique and objective perspective on the school's academics, programs, culture, and community.

Read our in-depth review

We questioned the school administration

1. Who are you, as a school?

"At TCS, students have the opportunity to discover who they are and who they want to become. Whether in academics, arts, athletics, or service, students are encouraged to explore interests, build on strengths, and embrace new challenges. As a boarding community, learning extends far beyond the classroom. Students are known, supported, and deeply connected to those around them. Here, students learn to take healthy risks, grow in independence, and develop the confidence and skills to thrive long after they leave TCS."

  • AP Capstone school with extensive AP course offerings
  • Rural campus setting with 100 acres of fields and facilities
  • Academic and service learning travel education programs
  • Personalized guidance and support for academics and health and wellness
  • State-of-the-art athletic centre
  • 24 interscholastic sports teams
  • Robust co-curricular arts program
  • 100% university acceptance

2. What do you do differently and uniquely well?

At TCS, each student is valued for what they uniquely bring to the community because individuality matters here. Our students are surrounded by people who only want the best for them. We support them to find their personal path so that they are ready to realize their potential. Graduates develop that rare confidence that comes from knowing that they have been deeply understood and they start what's next truly valuing themselves as well as others.

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

Information not yet available.

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

Information not yet available.

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

Information not yet available.

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

Information not yet available.

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

Students can get a fresh start and go as deep as they want, exploring, discovering, and focusing, with abundant options. Our variety of electives and co-curriculars offer students opportunities to try something new and go deeper with what they may already love. Faculty works with each student, with the right amount of challenge and encouragement to foster a high level of independence. Each student is valued for what they uniquely bring to the community because individuality matters here.

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

Information not yet available.

9. What aspect of your school is underappreciated?

People see our buildings, they feel the community when they come onto campus. What they maybe don’t see, at least at first, is the work our faculty works with each student, using the right amount of challenge and encouragement to help each student realize what’s possible because at TCS students achieve great things when they feel supported.

10. What might families find surprising about your school?

At TCS, an excellent education means students remain open to learning throughout life and doing something positive with what they have learned. Our students realize their "why" as we nurture and further develop their good character.

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

Information not yet available.

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

Information not yet available.

We got insight from alumni, parents, and students

Trinity College School: Q&A 2022

Watch our Trinity College School Q&A discussion to gain fresh insight into the school's culture, values, and strengths.
Parent and Student Q&A Roundtable with Private Schools and Educational Consultants

Trinity College School: Alumni Review from Zack Chauvin

Watch our alum interview with Zack Chauvin to learn about the unique experience of attending Trinity College School.
Trinity College School, Alumnus Video Review from Zack Chauvin

Trinity College School: Q&A 2021

Watch our Trinity College School Q&A discussion with Martha (Parent), Alex (Alum) to gain fresh insight into the school’s culture, values, and strengths.
Parent and Student Q&A Roundtable with Private Schools and Educational Consultants

Trinity College School: Alumni Review from Sarah Gerwens

Watch our alum interview with Sarah Gerwens to learn about the unique experience of attending Trinity College School.
Trinity College School, Alumnus Video Review from Sarah Gerwens

Trinity College School: Q&A 2020

Watch our Trinity College School Q&A discussion with Paula (Parent) ,Julien Northey (Parent) ,Jessica E (Alum) to gain fresh insight into the school’s culture, values, and strengths.
Parent and Student Q&A Roundtable with Private Schools and Educational Consultants

Trinity College School: Alumni Review from Lade Adeusi

Watch our alum interview with Lade Adeusi to learn about the unique experience of attending Trinity College School.
Trinity College School, Alumnus Video Review from Lade Adeusi

Parent, Edmond Chan (2026)

(5)

Gr. 9 (current),Gr. 10 to Gr. 12 — My child really appreciates the extracurricular activities provided and the boarding experience.

Alumnus, Chezz Gebara (2025)

(5)

Gr. 10 to Gr. 11 — Trinity College School taught me always to be a better person; there is so much to learn outside the school class. They show great values and ethics the whole time you are in there; their sense of community and collaboration is always there. One of the best things about being a boarder is that you always have help with school subjects. Teachers are always there for you and even have a specific time for each subject like science, math or English. Besides academics, the kitchen staff has some of the best foods in the world, and they are extremely kind. Honestly, all the school staff, every single one of them, are kind, and they make you feel at home. If I could describe Trinity College School in one word, I would choose wonderful. They taught me so many things in and outside of class. You never stop learning at Trinity College School; it is one of the most amazing experiences someone could have. People make you feel at home every time. People make you feel at home every time they have great mental health support, all the classes are of excellent quality, and there is a great sense of community. They have all sorts of activities, extracurriculars, sports, and arts, and I promise you will find your place there.

Parent, Leslie Gibson (2022)

(5)

Both of our sons' experiences at TCS have been undeniably incredible. Trinity has played such an important part in their lives and our family feels so fortunate that they have been able to attend such a special school for their formative high school years. What they have valued most is the sense of community that TCS provides. They have established wonderful friendships with students locally as well as from countries around the world. They have also developed meaningful relationships with teachers, coaches and residential staff. Testimony to their love of the school is the fact that they rarely want to come back home on open weekends. TCS keeps the students very busy during the day through their academic programming, athletics, service, evening study and opportunities for socialization.

Parent, Arundel Gibson (2022)

(4.9)

I'm writing this review as an alumnae of TCS and as a parent of three current students. As one of the first girls at TCS, I made lifelong friendships, succeeded academically, and benefitted from the sports, arts and community service programs offered by the school. Let's not forget I met my husband at TCS! Fast forward thirty years (!) and our three boys are in boarding (Bickle House, Brent House and Bethune House) and loving every minute! The pandemic has been challenging but TCS adapted right away and has done its best to keep the students engaged while adhering to the local Public Health mandates. We regularly see photos of the boys with their friends on the TCS Instagram/Flikr accounts, which is nice because they are clearly having too much fun to send photos to Mum & Dad!

Parent, Jeanette M Lane (2022)

(5)

There are so many things to list but the sense of community, levels of support, service opportunities and extracurriculars would land at the top. I have had two children graduate and one who is about to graduate and the school met all their unique needs from the Jr. School all through the Sr. School. The academic demands are well balanced to sports, arts and service. The international community of the students has been a spotlight for our kids and our family because of friendships made that would otherwise never have happened. It is a very inclusive school community that made all three of my unique children feel welcome. Service trips would likely land at the top of the best memories or experiences my children reflect on.

Parent, Susan Zhang (2022)

(4.8)

Our daughter Lily and we all feel that school is her home. She loves school and has studied here for five years from Grade 9 to Grade 12. TCS gives her a lot of care, she got the right values, understands the truth of life. In Grade 8, we accompanied her for one year, and she knew the school very well and liked it very much. In that year, we participated in many school activities, such as Christmas Eve, the whole junior high school had a concert, and for example, the children participated in the drama, we watched on the spot, that year, left us a very good impression.

Alumnus, Charisse Lee (2022)

(4.2)

My experience at TCS was excellent! I loved the community especially the houses because it really felt like a family away from home. TCS definitely prepared me well for going into university because of the amount of independence we were given. Boarding made living in university residence a lot less intimidating, and the TCS schedules were somewhat similar to university ones as well. The overall transition was very smooth which is something I am grateful about. A new student enrolling into TCS should expect to be surrounded by people that are all very willing to offer you help. There are so many different kinds of people you feel encouraged to go to when you need something and that was definitely my favorite thing about TCS.

Parent, Erica Brown (2021)

(5)

Since walking on the campus at Trinity College School, our children have had outstanding student experiences... even during the COVID pandemic. Our son is in his second academic year at Trinity College School, and he really appreciates the variety of academic challenges, plus the variety of extracurricular activities. These include many clubs, sports teams, academic team challenges, international travel for academic classes, community service clubs, stewardship options and the list goes on. Our daughter is in her first academic year at Trinity College School. She too appreciates the variety of academic choices and extracurricular activities. TCS ensures that students have the opportunity to succeed at balancing a busy and robust schedule, creating a full and well-rounded student experience. However, during COVID, each child has been disappointed about the restrictions on participating in these many wonderful opportunities that create the full student experience.

Parent, Kim McConnell (2021)

(4.4)

Overall Trinity was a great experience for my daughter. The friendships that she has developed are amazing. Each and every one of her friends has taken different paths in their life since high school, but yet they still find the time to check-in and catch up with each other regularly. When I asked my daughter what were her favourite experiences at Trinity, she said in her final year doing the winter play, Arsenic and Old Lace and a service trip to Ghana, Africa with Mr. and Mrs. Hall. As a parent, I see that my daughter has developed great time management and organizational skills. The long academic day and a busy extracurricular program, adding to the daily commute have taught her to use her time wisely. This is a skill that has helped her tremendously to establish a balanced busy life in university.

Parent, Candace Pickering (2021)

(4.9)

I have twin boys in the Junior School at TCS. They started at TCS in Grade 7, coming from a wonderful public school. As a parent, I worried about the transition but from day one, my kids have loved TCS. What my sons appreciate the most about Trinity College School is how much they feel "seen" by the staff. This is accomplished by smaller class sizes, dedicated homeroom time, open discussions with all the children about their interests, pastimes, vacation plans, etc. My sons are very sporty and love the unique daily schedule which allows for multiple recesses, gym class and co-curriculars (intramural activities). They will often come very proud to report how many hours they spent outdoors in a day. It is wonderful to balance class time with outdoor time.

Alumnus, Jocelyn Murphy (2018)

(N/A)

My time at Trinity was so special. I spent four years there in both day and boarding programs, and I am so grateful for that opportunity. Beyond academic rigour and stellar athletics and arts programs, I'll never forget my first day of Grade 9, looking up in Osler Hall and seeing some forty flags hanging from the ceiling. Around me was this incredible mini United Nations of kids and I felt like the luckiest person in the world. My exposure at such a young age to a diverse, multi-cultural, multi-lingual student body taught me understanding and compassion and opened my heart to the beauty of our differences. To that end, if I am to answer whether or not I feel that the school prepared me well for my life's next steps - that I currently work in humanitarian diplomacy among the 'real' United Nations in some of the most challenging countries in the world should be evidence enough. Prospective students should expect to find a community that will become their extended family. They'll find caring teachers and coaches, unlikely friendships that will span a lifetime and the most beautiful campus in Ontario.

Alumnus, Benjamin Glassco (2018)

(N/A)

"Beate Mundo Corde": Blessed are the pure in heart. Adorned on the school's crest and displayed on the gates as you enter the grounds, truer words could not be said about the people of Trinity College School. Throughout my life as a young adult, I have consistently described my high school years as some of the best in my life. This was not because of my age, my friends, or my family, but from my school. What truly stands out at TCS, is the definition of "cool" seems to have been redefined at there. Whereas many high school experiences are commonly peppered with stressful social hierarchies, bullying encounters, and alcohol experimentation, TCS offers somewhat of the opposite. Perhaps because of it's more remote location in the charming town of Port Hope, TCS has developed it's own unique society. There, the most idolized students were not those with good looks, elitist tendencies, or natural athleticism, but were the ones with the most genuinely pure hearts. This was demonstrated by being friends to the community, volunteering, being kind to others, discipline in academia, leadership in sports, and passion in the fine arts. These trends fostered a community like no other, where holding open doors, mentoring younger students, and generally being “good" was revered above all else.

Student, Mariam Omilabu (2018)

(N/A)

Being at Trinity College school is like moving away from home, feeling terrified and lost, then gradually finding your way to realize that you actually like this new found home. I can honestly say that I enjoy myself here, it's packed with challenges that are strengthening as you overcome them. One thing I wish I had known about the school before I arrived was the actual activities they had in store for the new students that were aimed at making them feel comfortable in the new school. In my opinion, it was quite overwhelming as I felt thrust into a new world with hundreds of people I did not know and I had to find a way of socializing with them during all the games (and even mud pit activities) planned. I feel that if I had known what would have been done prior to the actual events I would have been able to mentally prepare myself. On the other hand, other people loved that element of surprise, so it goes either way for people. If there was one other thing I could change about my school, it would be to have more study space as we only have two hours of a work period called "study" in which we must complete a large amount of work given.
See all reviews (16 total)

We reported on the school in articles

Profile of Stuart Grainger, Headmaster, Trinity College School

“To be in a school that is seven days a week, you might think that might be overwhelming, in the sense of when does everyone get a break. But actually, it’s like a little village in and of itself, and living in a village gives you lots of opportunities for seeing kids shine outside of the classroom.”

Focusing on affordability in private education

Unlike at many other schools, anyone at any grade level can apply for financial assistance at TCS, including day students, Canadian boarders, and international boarders—regardless of their financial situation. What’s more, approximately 32% of students receive tuition assistance.

Focusing on more than just academics

“We believe the first essential component of well-being is connection; we can’t have one without the other,” explains Krista Koekkoek, assistant head of the Senior School – Student Support and Well-Being. “Brooke Raney’s research would tell us that one of the greatest predictors of the success and development of a child is having a trusted adult in their life.” Not surprisingly, this is equally a buffer against declining mental health.

Out of the class and into the community

TCS’s service learning program is multifaceted and involves several opportunities for students to get involved and give their time.

School size matters

We often hear about class size and its impact on the overall student experience. What is less frequently talked about, though it carries equal weight, is the size of the school itself.
 

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