The Toronto Secondary School of Art entrance
Programs

Toronto Secondary School of Art

A complete arts pathway — from coursework to a finished portfolio.

Toronto Secondary School of Art

A signature program for students who love art and want to pursue it seriously.

For students heading in an arts or creative direction, Duncan offers a complete pathway — from coursework, to portfolio preparation, to university application. Compared with schools that stop at basic courses, this system places real weight on continuity and professionalism throughout.

For arts-focused students, what matters isn't only interest — it's whether they can keep creating, and gradually build a coherent body of work. Through a mix of coursework and project work, students move step by step from skill training into expression and original creation.

Toronto Secondary School of Art — coursework and portfolio

Arts-Integrated Learning

Coursework & Creative Training

Arts courses at Duncan go beyond technical drills — they put equal weight on creative thinking and expression. Students work across mediums (drawing, design, media art, and more) and build expressive ability step by step. The work feels closer to real creative practice than to one-off assignments: students think through subject, form, and method, and gradually shape a personal direction.

Portfolio Development

Portfolio Growth & Professional Preparation

The portfolio is the single most important piece of an art-school application. Rather than rushing it at the end, Duncan focuses on building a body of work gradually, starting in high school. Students move through the full arc — exploring themes, running creative experiments, and curating projects. With ongoing guidance, the portfolio shows not only finished pieces, but the thinking and process behind them.

A Toronto Secondary School of Art studio session

Studio-Based Practice

Project-Based Creation & Practice

Students work project-by-project, producing pieces inside real creative contexts. From concept to research to final presentation, they build out the full creative process step by step. Teachers act more as guides than instructors — helping students refine direction, raise finish quality, and deepen their expression.

Pathway to Art Schools

Art-School Application Pathway

Duncan's arts pathway leads directly into art-school applications. Through coursework and portfolio building, students apply into design, fine art, media, and creative-industry programs. Our application structure puts the weight on a clear creative direction and a coherent body of work — not just grades or course marks. Arts-track students stand out by being able to:

  • Sustain ongoing creative practice
  • Develop a clear personal style
  • Hold a complete portfolio body of work
  • Articulate their creative thinking and process

The heart of an arts education isn't only technique —
it's whether you can keep creating, and turn that practice into expression.

Arts courses can be taken alongside OSSD credit courses. For portfolio coaching, please reach out to our guidance team in advance.