Eastside Secondary School

"Eastside Secondary School is a public secondary school located in Belleville, Ontario, Canada, serving students with a commitment to academic excellence within a community-minded learning environment."

As part of the Hastings and Prince Edward District School Board, the school offers families a rigorous, internationally recognized academic pathway alongside the benefits of a publicly funded Canadian education. Founded in 2000, Eastside Secondary School has established itself as a distinctive option within the Belleville educational landscape, particularly for families seeking a challenging and globally oriented program. The school offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, commonly known as the IB DP, which is designed for students in their final two years of secondary education. The IB Diploma Programme is widely respected by universities around the world and is known for its demanding curriculum, emphasis on critical thinking, and its hallmark components including the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity, Activity, Service requirements. For expat families and relocating professionals accustomed to international education frameworks, the presence of the IB DP provides a meaningful point of continuity for students who may have studied within IB systems elsewhere in the world. As a Canadian public school, instruction at Eastside Secondary School is delivered in English, in keeping with the Ontario provincial curriculum that forms the foundation of the broader school program. The IB Diploma Programme sits alongside this provincial framework, giving students the opportunity to pursue Ontario Secondary School credentials in tandem with the internationally recognized IB qualification. Belleville itself is a mid-sized city situated on the Bay of Quinte in eastern Ontario, roughly midway between Toronto and Ottawa. The city offers a welcoming, close-knit community feel while remaining accessible to major urban centres, making it an increasingly attractive destination for families relocating within Canada or arriving from abroad. Eastside Secondary School reflects this community character, operating as a public institution rooted in the local area while reaching toward broader academic horizons through its IB offerings. What makes Eastside Secondary School particularly noteworthy for families evaluating their options is the relatively rare combination of a fully public school structure with an accredited IB Diploma Programme. This means that the internationally benchmarked academic experience of the IB DP is accessible without the tuition costs typically associated with private or independent international schools. For relocating families who prioritize academic rigour and university preparation, this represents a genuinely compelling value. Students who complete the IB Diploma at Eastside graduate well-prepared for post-secondary study at competitive universities across Canada and internationally, having met the same global standards as their IB peers around the world. Overall, Eastside Secondary School offers a focused and academically serious environment for secondary students in Belleville, anchored by public school values and elevated by the standards of the International Baccalaureate. Families considering a move to the Belleville area are encouraged to visit the school's website at ess. hpedsb. on. ca to learn more about admissions, program requirements, and community life.