The Midtown Scholar: Top Ranked Elementary Schools in Midtown Toronto’s Neighbourhoods (2025 Fraser Institute Report)

If you’ve spent any time in Midtown Toronto, you know it’s a place that moves at its own rhythm. It’s the sound of strollers clicking along the uneven brick sidewalks of Summerhill, the smell of fresh espresso wafting from a café on Mt. Pleasant, and the sight of families weaving through the Beltline Trail on a Saturday morning.

In Midtown, the "lifestyle" isn't just a marketing buzzword, it’s the reality of being able to walk to your florist, your favourite bistro, and, most importantly, your child’s school1. For the parents here (a demographic of high-achieving professionals, creative thinkers, and community-builders) the release of the Fraser Institute’s 2025 Report Card on Ontario’s Elementary Schools is more than just data. It is a guide to the neighbourhoods we call home.

The "Walkable Wonders": Perfect 10s and Summerhill Charm

Imagine living in a pocket where the "commute" to school involves a three-minute walk past historic Victorian homes and a quick wave to the neighbors. That is the life at Cottingham Junior Public School.

• Cottingham Junior Public School (Summerhill/Yonge & St. Clair)

  • The Score: A perfect 10.0 / 10

  • The Rank: #1 in Ontario (Tied)

  • The Lifestyle: Summerhill is the ultimate urban village. Cottingham is tucked so discreetly into the neighbourhood that you might miss it if you weren't looking. For the parents here, the school’s perfect score is a point of quiet pride. It’s a boutique environment where academic perfection meets a small-town community feel in the heart of the city.

• Northmount School (The North Midtown Border)

  • The Score: 10.0 / 10

  • The Legacy: With a five-year average of 9.9, Northmount is the definition of consistent elite performance. For families who value a structured, high-achievement environment, Northmount remains the standard-bearer in the north Midtown corridor.

Leaside & East York: The Family Fortress

Leaside is where "walkability" meets "wide-open spaces." It’s the kind of place where kids still play road hockey and families gather for neighbourhood BBQs. The 2025 rankings prove that the "Leaside Bubble" is also an academic powerhouse.

• Bessborough Drive Elementary (Leaside)

  • The Score: 9.9 / 10

  • The Rank: 32nd in Ontario

  • The Story: Bessborough is a Leaside icon. Rising to a near-perfect 9.9 is a massive jump from its already impressive five-year average of 8.6. It reflects the high-energy, high-involvement demographic of Leaside, parents who are just as likely to be found coaching a local soccer team as they are leading a boardroom meeting.

Rosedale & Moore Park: Elegant Excellence

In Rosedale and Moore Park, excellence is expected, and the schools deliver with a sense of historic grace. These are neighborhoods where the schools are as much a part of the landscape as the ancient oak trees.

• Whitney Junior Public School (Moore Park)

  • The Score: 9.7 / 10

  • The Trend: Whitney is a rock. Its five-year average of 9.6 tells you everything you need to know about its stability12. For families in Moore Park, school is an extension of the home, refined, consistent, and deeply connected to the neighbourhood's social fabric.
    

• Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Moore Park/Midtown)

  • The Score: 9.7 / 10

  • The Scoop: Tying with Whitney in reputation, this school offers a top-tier Catholic alternative for Midtown families, maintaining a stellar 9.5 five-year average.

• Rosedale Junior Public School

  • The Score: 9.0 / 10 (5-Year Average)

  • The Context: While annual scores can fluctuate (this year saw a 7.4), its five-year average remains a formidable 9.0. In smaller, tight-knit communities like Rosedale, annual fluctuations are common, but the long-term track record of excellence remains undisputed.

The "Midtown High-Achievers": Lawrence Park & Bedford Park

North Midtown is where you find the families who want it all: beautiful traditional homes, proximity to the shops of Yonge Street, and schools that prepare their kids for the world's best universities.

• Bedford Park Public School

  • The Score: 9.3 / 10

  • The Vibe: Bedford Park is the heart of its community. The walkability here is 10/10, parents walk their kids to school, then head to a nearby café for a morning meeting. It’s a high-energy environment that consistently ranks among the best in the province.
    

• John Wanless Junior Public School

  • The Score: 8.7 / 10

  • The Vibe: Known for its incredible parent council and neighborhood spirit, John Wanless remains a cornerstone for families between Lawrence and Eglinton, maintaining an 8.6 five-year average.

Decoding the Data: How the Fraser Rating System Works

For the data-driven Midtown parent, understanding how a school earns a 9.7 or a 10.0 is essential. The Fraser Institute doesn't just "pick favourites", it uses a complex statistical model based on nine academic indicators.

The Ingredients: EQAO Results

The foundation of the ranking is data from Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO).

The report looks at:

1. Average Levels: The proficiency of Grade 3 and Grade 6 students in Reading, Writing, and Math

2. The "Below Standard" Percentage: How many students are failing to meet the provincial benchmark (Level 3).

3. The Gender Gap: The difference in performance between boys and girls in Grade 6 Reading and Math.

4. The Trend: Whether a school is improving or declining over a five-year period.
   

The Secret Sauce: Relative Ranking

The final score (out of 10) is a relative measure. This means a school’s score depends on how it performs compared to every other school in the province.

• To get a 10.0: A school must perform significantly above the provincial average in all nine indicators.

• To Improve: A school must improve faster than the provincial average. This is why a steady score in a rising province is actually a sign of great success.

Final Word for the Midtown Parent

Whether you're moving to Lawrence Park for the prestige, Leaside for the community, or Summerhill for the sheer beauty of the streets, you are moving into an "educational gold mine."

The 2025 rankings confirm what we already knew: Midtown isn't just a place to live; it's a place to thrive.

So, next time you're walking the dog through the ravine or grabbing a pastry on Yonge, take a look at the local school. Chances are, it's one of the best in the country.

Source: Fraser Institute, "Report Card on Ontario’s Elementary Schools 2025." All rankings and scores are based on the latest 2023/2024 academic year data.

If you want a copy of the official report, or want to talk about homes and condos for sale in these areas, feel free to call/text (416) 887-3386, or email me hello@yolevski.com.