Applied or Academic: High impact decisions for Ontario students

This report examines the gap between Ontario’s stated policy regarding students’ choices in high school and the reality on the ground. It includes a comparison of the demographic characteristics of Ontario schools with the highest and lowest percentage of students in Grade 9 Applied Math. It also looks at whether grade 8 students should be required to make decisions that have such important short and long term consequences in light of international evidence suggesting that it contributes to lower outcomes.