Step 1. Plan a Visit

Visiting the school is an essential part of the research process. There are three ways to see the school:

• Attend an Open House
• Take a Tuesday Morning Tour at 8:30 am (November and December 2010)
• Schedule an individual tour

Step 2. Submit an Application

When to Apply

Apply Early. Submit an application to the school at any time in the fall of the year preceding entry. The first-round deadline is December 1, 2010 and second-round deadline is February 15, 2011 for entry in September, 2011.

Parents will need to submit the following:

• the completed application form
• the $125 (non-refundable) application fee
• a recent photo of the applicant
• a copy of the applicant's passport or birth certificate
• copies of the applicant's three most recent report cards
• a copy of the latest transcript (applying for Grades 10–12)
• teacher/counsellor recommendation (Grades 4 and above)

Step 3. Arrange for an Interview

The school will contact parents to arrange an interview once the application is received. During the interview, prospective students and parents will meet one of the Admissions staff, as well as faculty and (whenever possible) HTS students. During the visit, an HTS student will conduct a school tour.  

Step 4. Interviews and Testing

Once a complete application is received, the school will contact you about interviews, testing and observation days.

In Lower School, prospective students are required to attend the school for a full day, to get a feel for the school and give teachers a chance to get to know them in an informal setting. No formal testing is required.

Students applying to Grades 7–12 are not required to attend the school for a day but are more than welcome to do so. These students must register to write the SSAT. The SSAT does not need to be completed before the interview. HTS does not use this test as a screen.

Family interviews are mandatory for all students applying to the school.

SSAT (Grades 7–12 Applicants Only)

The SSAT (Secondary School Admissions Test) is the common entrance test used by most GTA schools. The SSAT consists of five parts – an essay and four multiple-choice sections: two on math and two on English language. Tests are designed to assess students’ cognitive abilities and are scored based on the exact age of the child, comparing him/her to others of the same age. The SSAT provides schools with a common measure for evaluating the abilities of applicants, regardless of country of origin or curriculum studied.  SSAT scores are not used for screening purposes.  They are used as a guide only, as HTS takes a holistic approach when considering a student for admission. HTS does not encourage the use of tutors for preparation. The best way for a student to prepare is to do the practice tests supplied in the Student Registration Guide at the website: http://www.ssat.org/. The SSAT does not need to be taken before the admissions interview takes place.

English Language Proficiency

Students whose native tongue is not English and who have not attended school in Canada for 3 years are required to write the TOEFL test (ESL). Students can register onlilne at http://www.ets.org/.  The final score must be above 600 in order to be accepted as a student at HTS.