Hundreds of Toronto high school students – who get poor grades in public school – are paying small, private schools to get top grades, an exclusive Global National investigation has uncovered.
It’s not cheating, but it’s not fair either, says public high school principal Clara Williams.
To be clear, some of Canada’s top schools and programs are at private schools. But what Williams is referring to is questionable programs created to give struggling students a chance to score higher grades.
“They can’t pass (classes) in regular school, and they go to private credit mills to get their 80s and 90s,” Williams tells Global National‘s senior investigative correspondent Jennifer Tryon.
The principal says those attending private schools are “bumping students who would legitimately get those credits” at a public school.
“I have a lot of upset students at the end of the year, which is very unfortunate. But that’s the system,” she says.
Williams says one-third of her students graduated last year with credits they obtained from a private school. She thinks they’re buying their way into a post-secondary education. “I wouldn’t see it any other way.”
These private schools, housing only a few classrooms, are popping up in more affluent Toronto neighbourhoods. Students don’t have to enroll full-time, and fast-tracked courses are offered for a fee: anywhere from $600 to $2,000 a high school credit.
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According to Williams, some students say they’re not even attending the classes at the private school, but still given the good grades, resulting in scholarships and top spots at universities.
“You know, it kind of hurts (for) someone (who) works really, really hard…and it’s all legitimate and it happens…and we have to enter that mark.”
It’s not just students who are frustrated – parents are too, says Williams. “They feel it’s a dishonest way to get what you want, they do. I think most educators would feel the same way. Most of the community feels that way.”
Grade 12 student Steve Cassis wants to attend The Schulich School of Business at York University. “That involves a really high average, (and) I couldn’t afford to have my average brought down.”
So his parents paid $600 for him to enroll in grade 12 math at a private school. “Because if I did it in school, I’d probably get like a 70 or 75. In private school, they gave me an 86,” Cassis says.
But the teen insists he earned that 86, and knows learning the material is vital. “It’s not like I just paid for it and they gave me an 86… There are kids out there that just pay for it and take it, but I didn’t do that – I really did work and do my best.”
“Realistically, you’re going to be screwed in university when they expect you to know (the material), but you really don’t know it.”
Cassis thinks the money spent will go a long way. “You’re spending $600, but if you can become eligible for these kinds of things, I guess it’s kind of an investment.”
But the grade gap can be dramatic. Global News has obtained hundreds of confidential high school grades revealing what students earn at both public and private schools in the same course.
In one instance, one student’s English mark shot up from 64 per cent at a public school to 90 per cent at a private school. Another student’s math mark went from 64 to 96. Even failing grades become outstanding, with a 43 in math becoming 85.
Cassis thinks the onus has to fall on post-secondary institutions to recognize who the superior students are, and Ontario University Council on Admissions chair Joanne Duklas agrees.
“Both the schools themselves and the colleges and universities have been a bit blind to know who was taking a private school course,” Duklas says.
“It’s a concern shared by the university and colleges to have better information so that we can move forward.”
The government should have a bigger role as well, suggests Duklas. “We need to alert the ministry because it’s the role of the ministry to both oversee the (school’s) licence, oversee the inspection process, and to follow up appropriately, and that’s where you see schools closed.”
It’s not just grades Canada’s top universities are now considering. They also look at a student’s volunteer work record and extracurricular activities.
One of the private schools in question wouldn’t grant Global News an on-camera interview, but emphasized smaller class sizes and more one-on-one instruction helps some students improve their grades.
Follow Jennifer on Twitter: @JenTryon
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