Calling all Guelph Parents!

Welcome to Acton District

Building Community Together.

Students learn and live respectfully and responsibly in a global community. Our unique academic program offers a wide range of extracurricular opportunities to support students in pursuing their path to success. Proudly ranked in Ontario's Top 220 schools.

Simon Fraser Institute Rankings 2025

Acton School

Nestled in the vibrant community of Acton, Acton District School (Grade 7 to 12) offers a close‑knit, supportive environment where students are inspired to grow academically, socially and creatively.

With a diverse offering of programs, such as Co‑op, Specialist High Skills Majors in Agriculture and Advanced Placement courses, students discover real‑world learning opportunities tailored to their goals. From dynamic extracurriculars like Concert Band, Drama Club and Eco Club, to teams in soccer, basketball, track and field and more, there’s something for every passion.

Backed by caring staff, dedicated guidance services and an engaged parent community, Action District School cultivates academic excellence, student well‑being and lifelong connections.

Academics

Acton District School offers many unique pathways for every student to pursue their passions through a wide range of class offerings and hands-on opportunities.

From woodworking and autoshop, modern science labs, to music and visual arts, there’s something for every interest. Modern science labs further support curiosity and discovery across disciplines.

In addition to the world-class Ontario curriculum offerings, students benefit from a wide range of specialized programs at Acton District School.

Advanced Placement (AP)

Acton District School is pleased to offer a selection of Advanced Placement courses that meet the needs of the students who are looking for a new challenge. With highly engaging and enriching learning opportunities and a world-renowned academic designation, we aim to help our students reach new heights and open doors, both locally and globally. Pre-AP courses in Math (MTH1WP) and Science (SNC1WP) will be offered to incoming Grade 9 students in September 2025.

Advanced Placement courses offer university-level content to students while attending ADS. Students in the AP pathway are encouraged to study topics at greater depth providing the opportunity to learn, and in some cases earn, university credits towards a post-secondary degree.

AP provides students with an opportunity for learning that goes beyond facts and figures. The rich course material, classroom discussion, and demanding assignments typical of AP courses will help your child develop the knowledge, learning skills, and critical thinking skills expected of university-bound students.

French Immersion

Students will communicate and interact with growing confidence in French, one of Canada's official languages, while developing the knowledge, skills, and perspectives they need to participate fully as citizens in Canada and in the world.

French Immersion, students realize the vision of the FSL curriculum as they strive to:

Use French to communicate and interact effectively in a variety of social settings
Learn about Canada, its two official languages, and other francophone cultures
Appreciate how connected and interdependent the global community is
Be responsible for their own learning as they work independently and in groups
Use effective language learning strategies
Become lifelong language learners for personal growth and for active participation as world citizens.

SHSM

Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)

The Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) program is a specialized program for Grade 11 and 12 students that allows students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector while meeting the requirements to graduate from secondary school.

These programs enable students to gain sector specific skills and knowledge in engaging, career-related learning environments, and prepare in a focused way for graduation and post-secondary education, training or employment.

Acton District School offers a broad selection of SHSM programs to their students, including Agriculture.

Student working independently at a table, writing in a notebook beside an open binder and laptop.

Cocurricular

At Acton District School, learning beyond the classroom is just as essential to the student experience. Cocurriculars give students the opportunity to find interests beyond academics that will help them shape their understanding of what post-secondary pathways may look like for them. Acton District School offers many ways for students to engage in new and exciting opportunities, including:

Student wearing safety glasses learning to use a table saw with guidance from a teacher in a woodworking shop.

Cooperative Education (Co-op)

Cooperative Education provides secondary students with valuable experiential learning to apply, refine and extend their learning from the classroom into the community. Co-op allows students to earn secondary school credits while completing a work experience placement in the community. Acton District School students are employed by businesses all over Halton to support their education in fields of work that interest them.

Co-op at Aldershot

Two students competing in a basketball game beneath the hoop in the Acton Bearcats gym.

Athletics

Acton District School offers a wide breadth of athletic programming for students and are recognized as fierce Halton competitors.

Athletics at Acton

Four students smiling together while seated on steps inside Acton District School.

Clubs & Teams

Students can discover their passion, build their confidence and create unforgettable memories by getting involved in extracurricular activities. Our clubs and teams offer the perfect mix of challenge, creativity and community, and are available all year round.

Clubs and Teams at Acton

Community & Support

The move from Grade 8 to Grade 9 is a major milestone that is exciting, empowering and full of possibility. At the HDSB, we understand that starting high school is more than just a change in schedule; it's the beginning of a journey that will shape who you become, both in and beyond the classroom.

Acton District School’s caring educators, dynamic programs and community is invested in every student’s success and is committed to supporting their journey from first entering grade 9 to graduation day. Our guidance and support staff are dedicated to encouraging and empowering all students as they embark on carving their own path in high school.

Guidance & Student Services

Programs & Pathways

There are five Pathways that students may choose to pursue after secondary school and they are all valued equally. They are Apprenticeship, College, Community, University and Work.

Through Pathways students are encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities provided in secondary school to know themselves, identify strengths, set educational and career goals and create a Pathways plan to achieve them. Pathways helps develop learning opportunities and programs in such a way to value all learners, all choices and all destinations.

Working independently, with their guidance counselor or with support staff, Acton District School students are encouraged to leverage all areas of programming, both academic and cocurricular, to plan a future that fits their individualized goals and aspirations.

Why Choose HDSB?

The Halton District School Board (HDSB) consistently performs as one of the top school boards in Ontario. Each student’s path to success looks different and at the HDSB we are committed to laying the foundation for students to pursue and be supported in their passions. We recognize that critical learning skills happen outside the classroom, which is why we strive to provide our students with a fulsome educational experience.

Whether your child is just beginning their school journey or preparing for graduation, the Halton District School Board is here to support their growth, well-being and success every step of the way.

Discover the HDSB Difference

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