York Region school board offers most specialist programs in Ontario

Specialist High Skills Major programs offered to York Region high school students

Yorkregion.com
Sept. 25, 2017
By Ali Raza

The York Region District School Board leads the province in Specialist High Skills Major program offerings.

SHSM is a specialized program that offers students a customized, career-focused learning experience while contributing to the students' OSSD requirements.

Students, usually in grades 11 and 12, complete a bundle of eight to ten courses relevant to their desired industry. They go on to learn industry certifications and co-operative education placements.

SHSM sectors include business, manufacturing, information technology and more.

YRDSB high schools can boast the largest offering of the programs among all school boards in the province. Of the board's 32 secondary schools, 103 separate programs are offered representing 13 specific sectors.

Every high school under YRDSB offers at least one SHSM sector.

In the 2016-17 school year, YRDSB had 2,800 students participating in SHSM, and added ten new sectors in eight new schools.