Welcome to Elsie MacGill

Find Your Path. Build Your Future.

At Elsie MacGill, we empower every learner in a compassionate, inclusive community where innovation, collaboration and respect fuel growth and belonging. Proudly ranked in Ontario's Top 311 schools.

Simon Fraser Institute Rankings 2025

Elsie MacGill Secondary School

Elsie MacGill is built on a foundation of compassion, respect and integrity—where learning is intentional, collaborative and innovative.

Grounded in a deep sense of humanity, Elsie MacGill affirms the unique identities of each student, staff member and family, fostering a space where everyone can thrive.

At Elsie MacGill, relationships are at the heart of everything. The school community holds itself to the highest expectations, always striving to become its best self. Trust and accountability guide every interaction, while care for oneself and others remains a shared responsibility. Across all grades, students are empowered to lead and mentor with integrity, helping shape a culture of belonging and mutual respect.

Elsie MacGill is committed to honouring Indigenous and human rights, and centres this work in every aspect of school life. The school environment reflects and uplifts the diverse, intersectional identities of its students. With courage and clarity, the community actively works to create a more just and equitable future for all.

At its core, Elsie MacGill believes every student is capable and has the potential to achieve greatness. Learning is viewed as a dynamic process — progress is measured not only in results, but in growth, reflection and resilience. Students are encouraged to explore their voice, understand themselves and the world around them, and engage in meaningful self-reflection. Through this journey, they learn to challenge assumptions, reconstruct knowledge and contribute with confidence to an ever-changing world.

Academics

Elsie MacGill 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 Elsie MacGill.

I-STEM

The I-STEM program is a one-of-a-kind regional interdisciplinary program that provides experiential learning opportunities connecting Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

Developed in partnership with top universities and industry partners across the province, Elsie MacGill's I-STEM program invites students from all over Ontario to take part in a program that elevates critical thinking, creative problem solving, collaboration skills, presentation skills and technical abilities.

Elsie MacGill I-STEM students have gone on to win national competitions.

Advanced Placement

Elsie MacGill 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.

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.

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.

Elsie MacGill offers a broad selection of SHSM programs to their students, including: Energy, Health and Wellness, Non-Profit.

Cocurricular

At Elsie MacGill, 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. Elsie MacGill offers many ways for students to engage in new and exciting opportunities, including:

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. Elsie MacGill students are employed by businesses all over Halton to support their education in fields of work that interest them.

Co-op at Elsie MacGill

Athletics

Elsie MacGill offers a wide breadth of athletic programming for students and are recognized as fierce Halton competitors.

Athletics at Elsie MacGill

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 & Teams at Elsie MacGill

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.

Elsie MacGill'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, Elsie MacGill students are encouraged to leverage all areas of programming, both academic and cocurricular, to plan a future that fits their individualized goals and aspirations.

Spotlight on Elsie MacGill

Valuable learning experiences taking place at Elsie MacGill

Elsie MacGill Secondary School I-STEM students, third place national winners at the 2025 Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition

Samsung Solve for Tomorrow | HDSB I-STEM Students Win Top National Honours

Community Pathways Program Soccer Baseball Tournament

Hamdan Khurram, Haroon Shah, Principal Mark Duley, Abdul Mutaal Farhan and Hassan Rasheed, gold medal winners of the Skills Ontario Junk Drawer Air Pressure Rocket Challenge

Elsie MacGill SS Students Soar to Victory in Skills Ontario Junk Drawer Air Pressure Rocket Challenge

Hassan Rasheed and Karam Noori, Grade 11 Elsie MacGill Secondary School students, regional finalists in the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition

HDSB I-STEM Teams Selected as Regional Finalists in Samsung Solve for Tomorrow Competition

Video thumbnail: Elsie MacGill SS student Binish's co-op placement at Total Skin and Body Spa

Co-op in the HDSB — Total Skin and Body Spa

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.