School quality is one of the most common reasons families choose York Region over other parts of the GTA. York Region District School Board (YRDSB) consistently produces schools that rank among the top in Ontario, and the York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) offers strong separate school options across the region. If you're buying a home in York Region specifically for school access, the community you choose — and the exact street you buy on — determines which school your child attends. This guide covers the top school areas and what homes in those catchments actually cost.
One thing buyers often underestimate: school catchment boundaries shift. YRDSB's school locator lets you enter a specific address and confirm the exact elementary and secondary school assignment. Always verify the boundary for the specific property before making an offer — "near" a top school is not the same as "in catchment."
Unionville — Markham's Top School Corridor
Unionville is the most recognized school area in York Region. Unionville High School offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) programme — one of very few IB schools in the YRDSB — and consistently ranks among the top secondary schools in Ontario on the Fraser Institute index. Bill Crothers Secondary School in Markham serves the sports-focused student with a specialized athletics programme.
Elementary schools in the Unionville catchment — including William Berczy, Coppard Glen, and Village Lincoln — post EQAO scores well above provincial averages. Buying in Unionville means entering one of Markham's most competitive real estate markets. Detached homes in the Unionville area start at $1,100,000–$1,400,000. Condos and townhouses in the catchment area, closer to Highway 7, run $600,000–$850,000. If budget is the constraint, read our breakdown of what $700,000 buys in York Region — some options do reach the Unionville catchment.
Bayview Hill — Richmond Hill's Premier Catchment
Bayview Hill is the most sought-after school community in Richmond Hill. Bayview Hill Elementary School and Bayview Secondary School both rank highly on province-wide assessments. The Bayview Hill neighbourhood is an established, mature residential area in south Richmond Hill, with large detached homes on generous lots.
Homes in the Bayview Hill catchment start at $1,200,000 for detached properties — this is not an entry-level neighbourhood. Semis occasionally appear at $980,000–$1,100,000 in nearby areas that may share some elementary catchments, but Bayview Secondary's catchment is drawn specifically around a defined geography. The Mackenzie Health hospital (Richmond Hill campus) is nearby, and the area has well-developed retail and community infrastructure.
Aurora — Strong Schools and GO Access Combined
Aurora offers a rare combination: strong school performance across multiple schools, access to the Barrie GO line, and home prices that are more accessible than Markham and Richmond Hill for school-focused buyers. Aurora High School (AHS) and Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School both consistently score above YRDSB averages. Aurora's elementary schools — including Lester B. Pearson, Dr. G.W. Williams Elementary, and Forest Stream — also perform well.
Aurora's sweet spot for school-focused buyers is the $950,000–$1,200,000 detached range, where you can be in catchment for strong schools with Barrie GO access. This is meaningfully more accessible than Unionville or Bayview Hill at similar school quality. For families evaluating Aurora as a purchase target, our guide on best areas for young families in York Region covers the full picture beyond just schools.
Thornhill — Vaughan Side
Thornhill straddles the boundary between Vaughan and Markham. The Vaughan side of Thornhill (Promenade area, Dufferin/Clark) falls under the YRDSB and YCDSB. Thornhill Secondary School and St. Elizabeth Catholic High School are the main secondaries, both of which rank solidly above provincial averages. Elementary schools in the Vaughan portion of Thornhill — particularly those near Bathurst and Clark — are well-regarded.
Thornhill's housing market on the Vaughan side reflects its proximity to Toronto. Semi-detached homes start at $900,000–$1,050,000; detached at $1,100,000+. Some older bungalows appear closer to $950,000, especially on Clark Avenue and nearby streets.
Oak Ridges — Richmond Hill's Underrated School Area
Oak Ridges (north Richmond Hill, near Yonge/King Road) has solid elementary and secondary schools within YRDSB and a strong community character, without the premium prices of Bayview Hill. Oak Ridges Public School and Richmond Hill High School are the primary schools serving this catchment. Fraser Institute scores in Oak Ridges are above provincial average but below the top-tier Bayview Hill and Unionville levels.
What Oak Ridges delivers is value. Detached homes in Oak Ridges are available in the $1,000,000–$1,200,000 range for 3–4 bedroom properties — $200,000–$400,000 below the Bayview Hill premium for comparable space. For buyers who want good schools without paying the very top tier, Oak Ridges is worth a close look.
YCDSB — Catholic School Highlights in York Region
For families seeking Catholic education, the York Catholic District School Board serves the entire region. St. Brother André Catholic High School in Markham, Cardinal Carter Catholic High School in Aurora, and St. Maximilian Kolbe in Aurora are consistently strong performers. The YCDSB's school locator lets you confirm Catholic school catchments by address — separate from YRDSB boundaries.
York Region School Area Comparison
| Area | Key schools | Board | Relative ranking | Detached home range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unionville (Markham) | Unionville HS (IB), Bill Crothers | YRDSB | Top tier | $1.1M–$1.5M |
| Bayview Hill (Richmond Hill) | Bayview Hill Elementary, Bayview Secondary | YRDSB | Top tier | $1.2M–$1.6M |
| Aurora | Aurora HS, Dr. G.W. Williams | YRDSB | Above average | $950K–$1.2M |
| Thornhill/Vaughan | Thornhill Secondary, St. Elizabeth | YRDSB / YCDSB | Above average | $1.1M–$1.4M |
| Oak Ridges (Richmond Hill) | Richmond Hill HS | YRDSB | Above average | $1.0M–$1.2M |
| Aurora (YCDSB) | Cardinal Carter Catholic HS | YCDSB | Strong | $950K–$1.2M |
What Buyers Often Get Wrong About School-Based Purchases
A common mistake we see is assuming that proximity to a top school means you're in catchment. In York Region, catchment boundaries are drawn at the street level. A house one block outside the Unionville High School catchment attends a different secondary school entirely. Always run the address through YRDSB's school locator before making an offer, and ask for boundary maps if you're buying close to an edge.
Also factor in that catchment boundaries can change. YRDSB redistributes students as populations grow — particularly in high-growth communities like East Gwillimbury, Markham, and Newmarket. A boundary that exists today may shift by the time a kindergarten-age child reaches secondary school. Buying strictly based on current secondary school catchment for a 3-year-old carries some uncertainty.
Buying with school quality in mind? Browse York Region homes for sale on Condohill and narrow your search to the specific communities that match your school priorities.
FAQ
Does Unionville High School have an IB programme?
Yes. Unionville High School offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, one of a small number of public IB schools in York Region. IB enrolment typically requires meeting academic thresholds and applying during the Grade 9 year. Living in the catchment does not guarantee IB admission — it guarantees access to apply. Check YRDSB's current IB requirements before relying on this as a reason to buy in Unionville.
What is the Fraser Institute school ranking and how reliable is it?
The Fraser Institute publishes annual school rankings based on EQAO (provincial standardized test) results for Grades 3, 6, and 9. Rankings are useful for comparing schools within the same school board but have limitations — they don't account for socioeconomic factors, teacher quality, extracurricular programming, or school culture. They are one data point among many, not a definitive measure of school quality.
Can I choose a school outside my catchment in York Region?
YRDSB allows out-of-catchment applications (Voluntary Transfer Requests), subject to available space. Priority is given to catchment students. Popular schools like Unionville High School may not have space for out-of-catchment students, particularly at the secondary level. You cannot count on a VTR being approved — buy in the catchment if the school is a priority.
Are York Catholic schools open to all families?
York Catholic District School Board schools are open to Catholic families throughout York Region. Non-Catholic families may apply but capacity and policy vary by school. Contact YCDSB for current eligibility and application requirements before making a school-based purchase decision.
Which York Region communities are best for French immersion?
YRDSB offers French Immersion programmes at select schools across York Region. Newmarket, Aurora, and Markham all have French Immersion elementary schools. Check the YRDSB school locator for the specific address — French Immersion boundaries often differ from English program boundaries. Demand for French Immersion in York Region is high, so early registration matters.