Whether school has stopped working for your child, or you're looking for an education rooted in autonomy, curiosity, and trust, Passages offers a different way to learn and grow. Passages is a self-directed school in Toronto for youth aged 10–18.
You might be seeing your child:
bright and curious, but overwhelmed or under-supported at school
ready for more freedom, autonomy, and trust than conventional school allows
anxious, overstimulated, or struggling to fit within a traditional classroom
wanting community and connection with like-minded peers
disconnected from learning, or wanting more ownership over what and how they learn
deeply interested in topics they’d like to explore on their own.
We trust young people to take meaningful ownership of their learning, with support, relationships, opportunities, and community around them.
“I finally have my kid back.” -Passages Parent
We know that when young people feel good, they do good. Many of the youth joining us from school have not felt good in school for a long time. For homeschoolers or unschoolers, we’re a consistent community for your child to expand into.
Passages is a small, self-directed, democratic alternative school on Toronto’s Danforth, where young people can direct their days.
Offerings such as classes and workshops
Guidance through 1:1 mentoring and coaching
Exploring personal interests
Participating in committees and community initiatives
Trips out in Toronto
Over time, our learners begin to see themselves differently. Confidence grows. Curiosity expands.
They begin to trust themselves as learners again.
And perhaps most importantly, they feel like they belong.
Freedom is not doing whatever one wants without regard for others. Instead, it’s about understanding personal autonomy, being accountable to goals, and working on personal projects driven by the learner.
Passages is a democratic community where decisions go through our Weekly Community Meeting. Being part of the Passages Community means joining a group of young people who want a place to come every day.
If one doesn’t feel safe, one can’t learn. This is why we prioritize psychological safety.
Learner led conflict resolution processes, supported by staff help accountability and repair, within community.
We respect all learners’ ability to direct their days and to create a meaningful education. Weekly one-on-one mentoring support helps guide learners towards their personal goals.
A personalized education
Open September to June, Monday to Friday from 9am-3pm.
