St. Thomas Aquinas High School

What is de-streaming?

Academic streaming describes the process of dividing students into differentiated groups based on their perceived academic ability and/or prior achievement.

De-streaming is an educational approach that supports the achievement of equitable outcomes for every learner. This means that students will not select from Academic or Applied streams when choosing their courses in Grade 9. Most students entering Grade 9 will be taking courses designed for all learners. More students will be empowered to pursue the futures they want, with doors open to all post-secondary options, including apprenticeship, college, university and the workplace.

Why are we doing it?

Research has shown that streaming has harmful and disadvantageous consequences for both individual students and education systems more broadly.

Students streamed into non-academic courses experience lower levels of achievement, delayed graduation, and increased rates of drop-out.

The Ministry of Education has committed to de-streaming all Grade 9 subjects as of 2022-2023 school year. The goal of de-streaming is to remove barriers for all students, including racialized children in Ontario, by offering students the same starting point when they enter high school.

De-streaming Benefits ALL Students

Supporting ALL Learners

All de-streamed courses will hold high expectations for learning, offer opportunities to extend thinking, and develop students’ critical thinking.

Parents can support their child by:

• Showing an interest in what your child is learning in class and find ways to incorporate what students are learning into everyday activities at home.
• Talking with your child about their strengths, interests, education and career goals to help your child make connections to what they’re learning in school.

Post-Secondary Pathways Planning

Pathways are flexible and may be combined and changed as students begin to know themselves as learners.

The flexible approach of de-streaming aims to help students keep their options open, as they learn and grow.

What’s Next?

Students and their families are encouraged to research post-secondary pathways of interest – Apprenticeship, College, Community, University, Work, and update their Individual Pathways Plan (IPP) and Gr 9-12 High School Planner yearly. Students are also encouraged speak to teachers, Elementary Pathways teachers, and guidance counsellors regarding planning for their desired pathway. 

Set goals. Explore opportunities.