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Toronto Arts School Faces Backlash Over Lottery Admissions

9/3/2025

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Summary

Story summary

In 2022, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) switched the Etobicoke School of the Arts (ESA) admissions from competitive to a lottery system to enhance equality.
Critics claim this change diminishes the school's artistic standards and community identity, likening it to a standard high school.
There are growing calls to restore merit-based admissions, raising concerns about the future of Canadian art and culture.

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Story summary

In 2022, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) switched the Etobicoke School of the Arts (ESA) admissions from competitive to a lottery system to enhance equality.
Critics claim this change diminishes the school's artistic standards and community identity, likening it to a standard high school.
There are growing calls to restore merit-based admissions, raising concerns about the future of Canadian art and culture.