One of the top independent schools for boys in Canada, Crescent School spans 37 acres in midtown Toronto. Now in our second century, we provide rich and diverse experiences and opportunities for boys in Grades 3–12 to learn, grow and thrive. Character has always been at the centre of a Crescent education supporting our mission, Men of Character from Boys of Promise.
Since 1913, Crescent School’s focus has been on character development. It is part of our DNA and involves a deep, uncompromising commitment to three essential areas we believe bring out the best in boys: relational learning, mentoring and character-in-action. A school that truly understands what makes boys tick, Crescent is here to meet your son’s development needs every step of the way.
Finding the right school for your son is one of the most important decisions you will ever make. Thank you for considering Crescent School. We invite you to apply through our online application form. Learn more about us by attending an Open House or taking a virtual tour. We look forward to welcoming you to our campus.
A Crescent education is exciting, fulfilling and broad. Our curriculum is taught by highly motivated, supportive teachers who understand that establishing a relationship with your son unlocks the door to learning and engages him in his character development. Your son will be celebrated for both his work and his work ethic as we guide him academically and emotionally on his journey to becoming a Man of Character.
Character-in-Action programs are Crescent's co-curricular activities that provide boys with ample opportunities to develop character outside the classroom. Through clubs and teams in the arts, business, robotics and athletics, your son will discover new interests and build his leadership skills. And our outreach programs will allow him to gain compassion for others both in our community and abroad.
The generosity of our Crescent community provides vital support for our campus development, signature academic and co-curricular programs, and Student Financial Assistance. Contributions, no matter what their size, allow us to deliver the best possible education for our boys and help ensure that we continue to fulfill our mission: Men of Character from Boys of Promise.
Crescent School doesn’t slow down when regular classes are out. We offer a Summer Academic Program available to all high school students, as well as summer camps for children 4 to 13 years old. Our Successful Start program is a special academic prep program exclusively available to Crescent students.
Employment at Crescent School is an opportunity to build a rewarding career and belong to a dynamic community where all are respected for their contributions. Our employees share a commitment to excellence that has made us one of the top schools for boys in the world. An equal-opportunity employer, we offer competitive compensation and benefits and believe strongly in workplace accessibility.
There are significant moments in life that remain in our minds and hearts forever. For me, the 1986 Challenger disaster was one of these events. I remember sitting on the floor of my elementary school gymnasium along with 400 other students, crowded around a small television set, and the corresponding silence, shock, tears, and cries from students and teachers when the space shuttle exploded soon after launch. I believe the moment when Derek Chauvin was found guilty on all counts for the murder of George Floyd is another of these seminal events. I will never forget watching the verdict, reflecting on the moment in the context of centuries of racism, and subsequently reading the words of Barack and Michelle Obama: “today, a jury in Minneapolis did the right thing.”
Doing the right thing is not always easy. Sometimes doing what is right costs us something – a good mark, a social standing, or even a promotion. British writer and theologian C.S. Lewis is quoted as saying, “Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is watching.”
Over the past few years, a small group of dedicated Crescent teachers and students have been developing a program aimed at channeling everyday heroism. The mission of this program, affectionately called Be the One, is to reinforce positive school culture through the lens of the everyday hero: a student who is empowered to be aware, think empathetically, and offer help. In short, we aim to train our boys to be upstanders not bystanders. Student agency and leadership then become universal and not bound by titles or classroom walls. However, “being the one” takes moral courage.
This past year has witnessed a trifecta of crises – health, economic, and social. The forces of the global pandemic, corresponding economic impact on businesses, and calls for greater racial justice have accelerated many important conversations about personal health, wealth, and responsibility in the world. Many leaders, teachers, parents, and students have been called to advocate for greater accountability and change, especially through self-reflection, brave conversation, and new understanding. This process of re-thinking has been spurred by assessing the things we wish to start, stop, and continue as a school. For me, this has been incredibly exciting work as it has taken us back to our mission, vision, and values. A way forward is becoming clear as we turn our attention to what will be part of our new conventional mode of school. However, what has been unearthed for me during this challenging period is a call not to affiliate with individual causes per se but with a set of shared principles that can be broadly applied – what we at Crescent hold up as our core values.
We convey to our boys that it takes moral courage to live Crescent School’s values: to respect oneself and others, to be responsible for our decisions, to be honest and tell the truth, and to be compassionate and treat others the way in which they want to be treated. We do this work not because it is easy to teach or learn, but because it is the right thing to do.