Our Educational Programs
We welcome visits from parents and children at The Lighthouse seeking the proper foundation for their future. Our staff will gladly show you around and answer any questions you have about our school and support for students.
Book a Visit
The Secondary Program at Lighthouse is a supportive program designed to help individuals with autism and neurodivergent learners build academic skills, confidence, independence, and personalized pathways toward life after high school. It supports learners in Grades 9–12 as they work toward the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). Programming is aligned with the Ontario curriculum and individualized to each student’s learning needs, goals, strengths, and accommodations.
With small class sizes of approximately 1–3 students, students receive personalized academic support from experienced Ontario Certified Teachers trained in ABA principles. Staff may also have backgrounds in psychology, additional qualifications or coursework in teaching neurodivergent learners, and over five years of teaching experience in a school setting.
The program supports more than academics. It helps students build confidence, independence, self-advocacy, career awareness, and personalized pathways for life after high school.
Your teen may thrive in Lighthouse’s Secondary Program if they:
Students must earn a total of 30 credits to obtain the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). This includes 17 compulsory credits, including a STEM-related course, and 13 optional credits. Additionally, students must pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) or successfully complete the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC). Students are also required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement activities.
The Lighthouse offers a co-op program for Grade 11 students, providing opportunities to integrate classroom theory with practice experience in the workplace.
As a credit-earning program co-op allows students to apply classroom theory in a practical setting while building workplace readiness, career awareness, independence, self-advocacy, and life skills. The program involves the active participation of learners, teachers, and workplace placement supervisors, and is supported through partnerships between Lighthouse and community organizations.
The Acceptance Commitment Therapy (ACT) program is seamlessly integrated into the daily schedule for students in the secondary program. Utilizing mindfulness techniques and behavioral activation, ACT aims to enhance students’ psychological flexibility. The primary goal is to encourage students to engage in values-based, positive behaviors when facing challenging thoughts. This program is a vital component of our social emotional learning curriculum.
At Lighthouse, secondary learners receive support that goes beyond academics. Programming may include individualized learning plans, executive functioning support, ACT programming, self advocacy development, emotional regulation support, and transition planning for life after high school.
What are the school hours?
Students attend classes from 9:00 AM to 3:30 PM, with a scheduled 45-minute lunch period and two 15-minute breaks (one in the morning and one in the afternoon). The school day is divided into 4 periods, each lasting 75 minutes. There are also brief breaks scheduled between classes to allow for students to transition.
How many credits can my child earn in a school year?
The Lighthouse operates on a semestered schedule. The first semester typically begins in the last week of August and concludes in the last week of January. The second semester commences in February and ends in June. Students enroll in up to four courses per semester, allowing them to earn up to eight credits per year.
Do you follow the Ontario Curriculum?
Yes, as a Ministry Inspected school, we abide by the policies set by the Ministry of Education which includes following the Ontario Curriculum for grades 9 to 12.
How long can my child stay in the secondary program?
Students in the secondary program may continue working towards achieving their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) until the age of 21.
What pathways are offered at the Lighthouse?
We offer various courses that allow students to enter college, university and the workplace. Please note that The Lighthouse does not currently offer locally developed courses.
What is the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT)?
All students in Ontario must fulfill the literacy requirement to graduate and earn their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). If students do not pass the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), they can meet the literacy requirement by completing the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Course (OSSLC).
How many students and teachers are in a course?
At the Lighthouse, each secondary class will have 1 – 3 students in each course. Each course is led by one teacher dedicated to supporting and tailoring the course to meet the academic needs of the students. The secondary program emphasizes academic independence and self-advocacy.
What experience do the staff members have?
All teachers at the Lighthouse are either Ontario Certified Teachers (OCT) in good standing or possess over five years of teaching experience in a school setting. Every staff member is trained in the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis and may hold a degree in Psychology or have completed courses or additional qualifications in teaching students with autism, other neurodiversities, learning challenges, and anxiety.
What “Ministry Inspected” means & why it matters.
“Ministry Inspected” signifies that the Ministry of Education conducts inspections of the Lighthouse to ensure compliance with Ministry policies. The Lighthouse’s BSID number is 884612, acknowledging it as a Ministry Inspected school.
It is important to note that not all private schools are Ministry Inspected. Schools meeting the “Ministry Inspected” criteria are authorized to grant credits towards the Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). This ensures that course credits are recognized by other secondary schools, colleges and universities within Ontario. Additionally, Ministry Inspected schools are able to hold and upkeep Ontario Student Record (OSR) files.
Our intake process at The Lighthouse is designed to be welcoming and thorough, ensuring that each student’s unique needs and goals are carefully assessed to create a personalized learning plan that fosters growth and success. It helps families determine whether Lighthouse is the right fit for their child’s learning needs, goals, and support requirements. Each step helps us better understand the student and create an environment for fun learning that supports growth, confidence, and success.
01 Inquiry
Families can inquire through our website or book a visit to learn more about the Secondary Program and ask initial questions.
02 Information Gathering
During the school tour, prospective families will sit with the Director of Education to learn more about the school programming, policies, procedures, fees, goals, values, and overall fit.
03 Academic Assessment
Students complete an academic assessment to help identify academic abilities, learning needs, behavioural/social skills, and support requirements.
04 Classroom Trial
Learners join a senior lesson to experience the learning environment and help determine whether the program is a good fit academically and socially.
05 Assessment Summary
Families receive a summary of the assessment and classroom trial, along with programming recommendations.
06 Decision & Acceptance
After reviewing the assessment summary, families are notified of the enrollment decision and provided with the next steps, forms, fees, and required documents.
At Lighthouse, curriculum-linked field trips are an important part of the Secondary Program. These experiences help students connect classroom learning to real-world settings, including museums, outdoor centres, science facilities, and local community businesses.
Field trips give students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of course material, explore future career pathways, and see how their learning applies beyond the classroom. They also support student engagement, independence, confidence, and social development.
Each year, the senior class also participates in an overnight trip. This experience encourages students to try new things, build collaboration skills, strengthen cultural awareness, and develop greater independence in a supportive environment.
Together, these real-world learning opportunities help students build practical life skills, strengthen social confidence, and prepare for future academic, workplace, and community experiences.
Each student has an Individual Learning Plan, based on the initial academic and behavioral assessments, and is updated as the students grow and change.
Learn MoreOur OT services are specifically geared towards enabling participation in the school environment.
Learn MoreWe implement programs that are deeply rooted in evidence-based practices like ABA and Natural Environment Teaching.
Learn MoreThe Lighthouse Learning and Development Centre is an approved Direct Funding Option under the Ontario Autism Program.
Learn MoreWe welcome visits from parents and children at The Lighthouse seeking the proper foundation for their future. Our staff will gladly show you around and answer any questions you have about our school and support for students.
Book a Visit