Top Reasons Families Choose St. Michael’s College School

St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) is Toronto’s only independent Catholic all-boys school for Grades 7 to 12, guided by the Basilian Fathers and rooted in more than a century of academic excellence and spiritual formation. Families choose SMCS not just for its strong university outcomes, but for its commitment to developing the whole person — mind, body, and soul.

At St. Michael’s, boys are challenged academically, supported personally, and encouraged to grow through service, leadership, athletics, the arts, and rich co-curricular involvement. It is a nurturing environment where young men learn to think deeply, act with integrity, and discover their purpose in a community built on compassion, respect, and hope.

What Sets St. Michael’s College School Apart

St. Michael’s is known for its unique blend of rigorous academics, Catholic values, character formation, and personal support. It offers something parents deeply want for their sons: a place where they can grow intellectually and morally, gain confidence, and be surrounded by peers and mentors who encourage them to become their best selves.

For generations, SMCS has been recognized across Toronto and beyond as a school that not only prepares students for university, but prepares them for life. Guided and inspired by the school’s motto Teach Me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge,  the new Strategic Direction’s 2025–2028 theme, Be The Good, calls students to lead with compassion, courage, and purpose.

Here are the top reasons families choose St. Michael’s College School — and why it continues to inspire confidence generation after generation.

Only Independent Catholic All-Boys School in Toronto

As Toronto’s only independent Catholic all-boys school, SMCS offers a learning environment intentionally designed for how boys learn best — energetic, hands-on, collaborative, and supported by strong role models.

Students are formed in a community rooted in Catholic teachings and the Basilian tradition, helping them grow into young men of integrity, empathy, and moral purpose.

Research shows that boys often thrive in environments where they are encouraged to take intellectual risks, engage fully, and develop confidence without social pressures that can distract from learning.

With exceptional STEM offerings, enriched humanities, innovative learning spaces, and strong arts programming, SMCS ensures every student can explore his talents and challenge himself.

Academic Excellence & Student Counselling

Academic excellence has long been a defining strength of St. Michael’s College School, and families consistently choose SMCS for the depth, rigour, and personalized support found within its academic programmes. 

Small class sizes allow students to engage meaningfully with their teachers, who serve not only as instructors but as mentors committed to each student’s growth. Lessons are designed to challenge boys to think critically, explore new ideas, and develop the intellectual confidence needed for success in post-secondary studies and beyond.

A key part of this academic journey is the school’s dedicated counsellors who provide comprehensive support throughout a student’s time at SMCS. Counsellors work closely with students on academic planning, helping them make thoughtful course selections that align with their strengths, goals, and university aspirations. They also offer guidance on career pathways, study habits, and social-emotional well-being, ensuring that every boy feels supported both in and outside the classroom. 

This combination of rigorous programming, mentorship, and holistic support reflects SMCS’s long tradition of preparing graduates for top universities across Canada, the United States, and abroad. Families trust St. Michael’s because of its proven history of academic excellence — and because they know their sons will be guided with care, clarity, and purpose every step of the way.

Leadership and Character Built Through Athletics and the Arts

SMCS is committed to forming leaders — not only in classrooms, but on playing fields, stages, and in studios, where young men discover who they are through challenge, creativity, and teamwork.

Athletics as a Foundation for Character Development

The athletics programme at SMCS is intentionally designed to develop the “whole person.” Sports are far more than a competitive outlet; they are a structured environment for cultivating discipline, perseverance, humility, and resilience. Whether preparing for an early-morning practice or competing in a high-intensity game, students learn how to work collaboratively, strengthen their communication skills, and respond to both success and adversity with integrity.

Participation in athletics teaches boys to lead with honesty, win with grace, and learn from challenges. These lessons build confidence and inner strength that extend well beyond the field or court, shaping young men who understand the value of commitment, teamwork, and accountability.

The Arts: Creativity, Confidence, and Emotional Intelligence

Just as athletics develops physical and emotional resilience, the arts at SMCS nurture creativity, self-expression, and emotional intelligence. Through music, drama, and visual arts, students are encouraged to explore their talents, communicate in new ways, and collaborate with peers on complex and meaningful projects.

Whether performing in a concert, taking part in a dramatic production, or presenting visual work, students gain confidence and learn to take thoughtful risks. These experiences help them better understand themselves, appreciate the perspectives of others, and engage with the world through imagination and empathy.

Developing the Whole Person

Together, athletics and the arts create a balanced, holistic approach to character formation at SMCS. They blend competition with collaboration, discipline with creativity, and personal growth with community engagement. Through these experiences, students learn to think critically, communicate effectively, and approach challenges with both courage and compassion.

At SMCS, leadership is cultivated intentionally — through the daily habits, responsibilities, and moments of growth that shape boys into well-rounded young men ready to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the world.

Exceptional Faculty and Facilities

Families trust St. Michael’s because of the people who guide their sons and the spaces that support their learning.

Teachers Who Form the Whole Student

SMCS educators are committed to the intellectual, spiritual, and personal formation of every student. Their mentorship helps boys become confident, reflective, and principled young men.

In line with our strategic direction,  teachers receive continual professional development to stay innovative, faith-centered, and responsive to students’ needs.

A Safe, Inspiring Environment

The SMCS campus is a place where tradition and innovation come together to create a learning environment that feels both rooted and forward-looking. The historic grounds and architecture offer a sense of continuity and belonging, while ongoing investments ensure that every space reflects the needs of today’s learners.

Classrooms and labs are thoughtfully modernized with the latest technology to support inquiry, experimentation, and hands-on learning. Our Centre for the Arts provides room for creative expression in music, drama, and the arts, while collaborative study spaces allow students to work together, exchange ideas, and build strong academic and social connections.

Just as important as the physical spaces is the school’s commitment to maintaining a safe, welcoming, and caring environment where students feel comfortable taking risks, asking questions, and being themselves. The campus is intentionally designed to encourage movement, foster community interaction, and support the physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being of every student.

At SMCS, the environment itself becomes a catalyst for growth — a place where young men feel supported, inspired, and ready to become their best selves.

A Shared Commitment: Be The Good

“Be The Good” is more than a phrase at SMCS — it is the call that shapes our values, mission and school culture.

It reminds students, families, and faculty that education is not just about achievement, but about purpose. It reflects a belief that every young man is called to live with integrity, serve others, and make a positive impact.

As Pope Francis reminds us, vocation is a call to goodness. At SMCS, that call is woven into daily life — whether through prayer, service opportunities, leadership experiences, or community-building traditions.

Families choose St. Michael’s because they want their sons to grow into young men who recognize their gifts, use them well, and contribute meaningfully to the world.

Ready To Learn More?

Ready to learn more about what makes St. Michael’s College School a place where young men grow, lead, and thrive?

• Visit campus to experience the community firsthand.
• Explore the Admissions page to begin your son’s journey.
• Read the Strategic Direction 2025–2028 to understand the vision guiding SMCS into the future.

At St. Michael’s College School, your son will be encouraged to grow in knowledge, character, faith, and purpose — and to Be The Good in all he does.