A. Y. Jackson Secondary School (Toronto)
 | This article contains promotional content. (January 2016) |
| A. Y. Jackson Secondary School | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Address | |
 | |
50 Francine Drive , , Canada | |
| Information | |
| School type | High school |
| Founded | 1970 |
| School board | Toronto District School Board |
| Superintendent | Sue Pheffer |
| Area trustee | Alexander Brown |
| School number | 890227 |
| Principal | Boyd Bugden |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Enrollment | 847 (2015[1]) |
| Language | English |
| Colour(s) | Black and Orange |
| Mascot | Jaguar |
| Team name | Jackson Jaguars |
| Website | www |
A. Y. Jackson Secondary School is a secondary school for grades 9 to 12 located in North York, the northern district of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located in the North York community of Metropolitan Toronto. It was opened in 1970 by the North York Board of Education, and is now operated by its successor, the Toronto District School Board. The school was designed by Toronto architect Raymond Moriyama[citation needed] and named after A. Y. Jackson, a Canadian painter and one of the founders of the Group of Seven.[2][3][4]
The student population of A.Y Jackson is very diverse, with a large component of English as Second Language students (over 40%). Located on the west side of Hillcrest Village-the most Asian-dominant neighbourhood in North York, the student body is mainly of Asian descent with over half of the overall population being Chinese. As of 2013, A.Y Jackson has a student population of 980.[5]
The school offers three Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSM) in the field of Biotechnology, Business, and Non-Profit. SHSM is a ministry-approved program where students will earn a ministry-issued Red Seal on their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.[6] SHSM offers students the opportunity to package courses in the selected field with a practicum component where students will be sent out into the real world for a 2-credit CO-OP placement. Combined with sector specific training offered by the school, students will graduate with the Red Seal indicating to post-secondary institute and potential employers that they have completed their post-secondary school with a focus in the selected field.
In addition, the school offers Advanced Placement course in Grade 12 English, Economics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Advanced Functions and Calculus. It also offers language courses in Japanese, Mandarin, Spanish and French which are all taught at four levels.
Approximately 80% and 15% of the students plan to attend university and college, respectively. More than 25 percent of students are accepted into the university program of their choice. Almost 50 percent of graduates attend community colleges. On province wide literacy tests, A. Y. Jackson students' pass rate is 93 percent.[7] The school also has a fantastic record of success in national and international competitions in mathematics, the sciences, computer studies and business education.
One of the greatest challenges for the school is maintaining course selection given the enrollment decline of 20 to 30 students annually. It is currently offering dual credit courses which allows student to earn both college and university credits in one course.
Swimming club Richmond Hill Swimming Dragons hold weekly practices in the school's pool.
Its two feeder schools are Zion Heights Junior High School and Highland Junior High School, with a significant number of students also coming from Pleasant View Junior High School. The gifted students from Zion Heights go to Don Mills Collegiate Institute.
