private

Discovery Academy Inc

Richmond Hill, Ontario

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At a glance

Grades: Nursery – 12
Gender: Coeducational
Boarding: No
Enrolment: 600
Founded: 2014
Board: Independent
Principal: Lenie Saledinova
Program type: Online/Site Based
Associations: No Association Membership

Tuition & admissions

Tuition: $14,000 /year
Application fee: $200 non-refundable registration fee upon registration to reserve a spot
Enrolment fee: Course registration: $200 non-refundable fee to reserve a spot. Separately listed full-time program reservation requirement: $500 registration fee plus non-refundable first and last month payments.
Financial aid: Yes
Interview required: Yes
Acceptance rate: Over 600 students complete credits in Discovery Academy yearly
Open house: Contact school to arrange tour; representative responds within 24 hours

Admissions process

Submit the online application form; a school representative contacts applicants within 24 hours to arrange a tour or provide further details. · Family interviews are mandatory for all applicants. · JK–Grade 8 applicants must attend an observation day, with an informal assessment during the visit. · For Grades 9–12, the observation day is optional; applicants must submit their most recent transcript and report card. · International students must complete an English assessment test. · English and Math assessments are used to develop an individual education program.

Academics & learning

Curriculum: The school describes JK/SK through Grade 12 programming: play-based language and social development in kindergarten; self-paced Grades 1–5 learning across five core subjects; integrated STEM for Grades 5–8; and Ontario secondary credit courses across core academic and elective subjects. It also offers ESL and part-time/night/summer course options. Confirm the current course schedule and grade-specific enrollment with the school.
Student–teacher ratio: Maximum 10:1 for Grades 1–4.
Class size: Smaller sized classes; capped at 10:1 for Grades 1-4
Accreditation: Accredited private school authorized to grant Ontario secondary school credits toward the OSSD; MIDENT number 884964.

Tuition & financial aid details

Tuition basis: Tuition depends on the selected program and number of credit courses; no tuition amounts are stated.
Full-time program coverage: Ten months, September–June inclusive: up to eight courses per year for Grades 9–12, or the full-time JK/SK and Grades 1–8 program.
Fall semester payment: Full payment may be made on the first day of studies. Installment option: half within the first week and the balance on November 1.
Winter semester payment: Full payment may be made on the first day of studies. Installment option: half within the first week and the balance on April 1.
Summer semester payment: Full payment is due within the first week because courses run for one month.
Course withdrawal policy: The text states course fees are non-refundable, but also specifies a 50% refund within the first two weeks with a reasonable explanation for withdrawal, or transfer of the full amount to another course within that period.

Bursaries & scholarships

Installment payment options available for students with difficulties paying full amount
50% refund within first two weeks if student drops course with reasonable explanation
Full amount transferable to another course within two-week period

Course descriptions

Junior and Senior Kindergarten

The school says JK/SK builds language, social skills, imagination, memory and a love of learning through play, stories, songs and hands-on exploration.

Elementary Grades 1–5

The school describes self-paced learning using custom materials across five core subjects, with foundational gaps revisited before students move forward.

Integrated STEM Grades 5–8

An interdisciplinary Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program connects practical applications with critical thinking and problem-solving.

High school Grades 9–12

The official high-school page lists Ontario courses including Mathematics, Sciences (Biology, Chemistry and Physics), English, Social Sciences and Humanities, Business, Computer Science, Geography, Health and Drama. The school says additional courses may be available on request.

Part-time credits and ESL

The school offers OSSD credits on part-time schedules, including after-school, evening, weekend and online formats, plus ESL for international students. Exact term dates and available courses vary.

View course information on the school website

School images

School videos

Learning programs

Specializations

Individualized, self-paced elementary learning · Grades 6–8 interdisciplinary STEM · Ontario high school credit courses and post-secondary preparation

Languages

English with ESL support available for international students

Learning support

English and Math assessments inform individualized education programs. · Teachers identify and rebuild gaps in foundational understanding. · One-on-one attention with individualized planning. · Extra help after school. · Guidance with college and university applications.

Clubs & extracurricular activities

Academic clubs: The school lists chess, debate, mathematics, engineering, programming and UN clubs; it encourages students to propose additional clubs.
Other student activities: The school lists sports, cinema, hiking, yoga, fitness and choir activities. The page does not provide a schedule or guarantee that every activity runs each term.

Outdoor activities & education

Hiking club: Listed by the school as an extracurricular activity; a current schedule is not published.
Educational and community trips: School-published examples include Ontario Science Centre, University of Toronto, Royal Ontario Museum, Art Gallery of Ontario, Planetarium, Google office, Niagara Falls and Toronto Island. No dates or frequency are supplied.

University destinations

University of Toronto: Listed among Discovery Academy’s school-published graduate destinations. No individual graduate, cohort year or enrollment count is identified on the page.
Queen’s University: Listed among school-published destinations; no cohort or year given.
McGill University: Listed among school-published destinations; no cohort or year given.
Toronto Metropolitan University (shown as Ryerson): Listed under the name “Ryerson” on the school page; this name is historical. The page gives no cohort or year.
University of Waterloo: Listed among school-published destinations; no cohort or year given.
Western University: Listed among school-published destinations; no cohort or year given.
York University / Schulich: Listed as “Schulich / York” on the school page; no cohort or year given.
University of Guelph: Listed among school-published destinations; no cohort or year given.

About the school

Discovery Academy is a private school offering JK/SK, elementary, middle school and high school programs, as well as part-time credit courses. Founded by Dr. Marina B., a Physics PhD researcher who spent nearly two decades at the University of Toronto, the school emphasizes individualized learning and rebuilding gaps in foundational understanding.

Location & school highlights

Location

Located in Richmond Hill
its credit-course students attend from over 20 public and private schools in York Region.

What makes the school distinct

Individualized academic planning based on how each student thinks and learns.
More than 300 custom educational booklets across five core elementary subjects, allowing students to progress at their own pace.
Grades 1–4 classes capped at a 10:1 student-to-teacher ratio.
All high school credit-course teachers hold Ontario College of Teachers certification and teach subjects they studied at university.
Flexible high school credit courses offered after school, in the evenings and on weekends.