Learning That Inspires Excellence. Pathways That Prepare for Life.
Academic excellence at Lakefield means more than preparing students for university—it means preparing them for whatever comes next.
Through rigorous academics, Advanced Placement and Capstone opportunities, interdisciplinary experiences, and personalized pathways, students discover their strengths while building the confidence and capabilities to thrive at leading universities around the world. Whether students aspire to medicine, engineering, business, the arts, environmental sciences, or are still discovering their passions, our academic program offers the breadth, flexibility, and individualized support to help every student chart a meaningful path forward.
Each year, Lakefield graduates earn offers from leading universities across Canada and around the world, reflecting the strength, breadth, and rigor of their educational experience.
Our Learning ApproachFlexible, immersive, and intentionally designed to challenge and inspire. At Lakefield, learning unfolds through inquiry, creativity, and experience. From Harkness Learning to Advanced Placement and Capstone courses to interdisciplinary study, outdoor exploration, and collaborative Thinking Classrooms, every opportunity challenges students to think deeply, communicate with clarity, and find joy in learning.  |
Harkness LearningEvery student. Every grade. Harkness is the foundation of our English program and a methodology that shapes how students learn across subjects. Every Harkness discussion occurs around an oval table, and is an invitation to share your voice—and to listen with intention. Students lead, question, and collaborate, learning to engage deeply, disagree respectfully, and articulate their ideas with confidence and care.
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Advanced Placement and CapstoneA launchpad to universities around the world. With a range of AP courses, unique Capstone opportunities, and nationally recognized STEM and humanities enrichment competitions and programs, students can pursue rigorous academics and demonstrate readiness for top-tier global universities. Each year, Lakefield students complete close to 300 AP exams, with more than 70% earning scores of 4 or 5 and over 70% achieving College Board scholarly distinction—reflecting both exceptional performance and broad participation across the school.  |
Interdisciplinary LearningWhere subjects meet real-world complexity. Courses like Outdoor Education, The War Experience and Page-to-Stage integrate multiple disciplines, while spaces like our new Ingenuity Lab, AI Club, and STEM contests connect classroom theory with real-world problem-solving. Every opportunity helps students connect ideas and engage with challenges from diverse angles.  |
Environmental and Outdoor EducationLearning through nature. From canoe trips, soil studies and farming at Northcote to Outdoor Education, Green Industries, and Environmental Science courses students develop resilience, stewardship, and applied scientific thinking. These courses are deeply experiential and uniquely Canadian. 
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Thinking ClassroomsCollaborative. Visual. Risk-friendly. In Lakefield’s Thinking Classrooms, students stand, move, and collaborate, solving open-ended problems on whiteboards where experimentation and revision spark learning. This approach fosters creativity and an appreciation for diverse ways of thinking—the real foundations of mathematical thinking.  |
Pathways of Learning
Understanding that personal passions and interests drive learning, LCS teachers, mentors, and coaches openly model the joy learning can bring when it is connected to one’s identity and experience.
Genuine connections between teachers and students offer each student the safety to challenge themselves academically and to know that the support they need is available when necessary. With a wide breadth of meaningful learning opportunities to choose from, LCS students learn to think creatively and critically while discovering their personal passions on a pathway to success that is as unique as they are.
 | Guidance and University Counselling |
- Guidance and University Counselling:
Lakefield offers one of the best student-to-counsellor ratios in the country. At every grade level, students have access to dedicated guidance counsellors who help them map their academic journey, explore opportunities, and find the right post-secondary path beyond The Grove. - Learning Support:
Learning Strategists and program specialists work one-on-one and in small groups to help students thrive. Schoolwide practices and sessions also help all students learn more about how they learn, effective study strategies, and adopt intentional practices that support academic success. - Evening Support and Math Hub:
A variety of academic support is available evenings for students looking to review, revise, or deepen understanding. - Grove Time:
A flexible block built into the academic day that gives students the opportunity to seek help, collaborate, pursue enrichment with their teachers, or make intentional choices that support their wellbeing and success.
 | Enrichment Pathways |
- Enriched Advanced Placement (AP) Program
- Regional, national and international STEM Contests and Challenges such as the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC), AIME, Euclid, Chem 13, Avogadro, Sir Isaac Newton, the University of Toronto National Biology Competition and DEEP Engineering Challenge, and the Peterborough Engineering Challenge.
- Ingenuity Lab
- Outdoor Education, Adventure, and Climate Education
- Enriched Arts, including the LCS Dance Company and Musical Theatre
- 42 Competitive Athletic Teams in the CISAA and OFSAA leagues
- Round Square and Student Exchanges with partner schools around the world; building independence, intercultural awareness, and a deeper global perspective.
- Global Online Academy (GOA): connecting with peers worldwide through innovative, college-preparatory courses that expand perspectives, independence, and global fluency.
Through these opportunities, LCS students consistently earn recognition in regional, national and international contests, demonstrating the school’s strength in nurturing healthy, creative and analytical thinkers.
 | Personalized Pathways |
- Student-Driven Learning:
With the guidance of their Advisors and Guidance Counsellors, students can chart their own pathways—discovering strengths and exploring the breadth of opportunities available at Lakefield. - Mentor Relationships:
Faculty, coaches, advisors and residential team members help students uncover passions, tackle challenges, and grow their confidence. - Flexible Structures:
Lakefield’s unique daily schedule, Grove Time, student-led clubs, and evolving support services reflect a commitment to meet teenagers’ diverse needs.
Learn more about our schedule designed with teenagers in mind
Where Next?
See where learning at Lakefield leads.
