Your Life After High School Survey

Why is the WRDSB interested in Grade 12 students’ transition to their next steps after high school?

Moving from high school to what comes next represents a major milestone. It’s an exciting time to grow, but it can also feel a bit uncertain. We want to hear about your experiences so we can make sure every student has the resources, opportunities, and support they need to be ready for life after high school.

What are students being asked to do?

You are invited to complete an online survey during class time that will take 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

What kinds of questions are there on the survey?

We want to hear about the experiences that have helped you to get ready for your next steps after high school. For example:

• What are your plans after high school?
• How prepared do you feel for your next steps after high school?
• What are you looking forward to, and what are you concerned about?

What else do students need to know about this survey?

This survey is voluntary and anonymous.

• It’s your choice: You don’t have to take this survey. If you choose not to, it won’t affect your grades or your relationship with your teachers.
• Skip what you want: If you don't want to answer a question, just leave it blank.
• It's private: No one will know which answers are yours. We won’t ask for your name, email, or student ID.
• Change your mind? If you start the survey and decide you’re done, just close the browser before hitting "submit".

How will the information that students provide be protected?

How we will protect your privacy:

• Group focus: Your answers will be mixed in with everyone else’s. We only look at the results for the whole Grade 12 group, so your individual identity stays hidden.
• Limited access: Only a few specific staff members will see the data to help analyze it.
• Safe and secure: Everything is kept in password-protected files on a secure computer for 7 years to make sure your information stays private.

How will the information that students provide be used?

We'll use your feedback to improve how we help students get ready for life after high school. We will share a summary of what we learned with school leaders (e.g., school principals, superintendents, trustees) and the Ministry of Education.

Who can students contact with their questions about this survey?

If you have questions about this survey, please talk to your teacher, school principal or contact research@wrdsb.ca

Do you agree to participate in the Your Life After High School Survey? By agreeing to participate in this survey it means you understand the information shared above and have decided to answer the survey questions.

Note: This is the only item you are required to answer to take part in this survey. You can skip any other item on this survey by leaving it blank.

○        Yes (choosing this option will take you to the first survey question)

○        No (choosing this option will close the survey)

School Information

What is the name of your school?

○        Dropdown list of WRDSB secondary schools [Alternative Education Programs (e.g., Choices, U-Turn) → Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School]

What is your grade?

○        Grade 12

○        Fifth year option (Grade 12+)

Did you participate in any of the following programs at any point during high school?

Choose all that apply

□        Alternative Program (e.g., UTurn, Choices, New Dawn, SWAC)

□        An Education & Community Partnership Program (e.g. Starling/Lutherwood, Ray of Hope, Camino, Lang's)

□        Co-op

□        Dual Credit

□        International and Indigenous Languages Program credit courses

□        Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)

□        Summer School (either in-person or through eLearning)

□        Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP)

□        No, I have not participated in any of these programs

Your Next Steps After Finishing High School

In September, I'm planning to:

Choose all that apply

□        Return to high school for a 5th year (i.e., Grade 12+)

□        Pursue an apprenticeship

□        Attend a college program

□        Attend a university program

□        Enter the workplace full-time

□        Volunteer

□        Take a gap year

□        Work part-time

□        I am not sure

□        Another option that is not listed above

This item is displayed for students who select “Return for Year 5 Selected” in response to the item “In September, I'm planning to:”

Why are you returning to high school for a 5th year (i.e., Grade 12+)?  

Choose all that apply

□        To earn credits to graduate

□        To earn additional credits

□        To improve marks

□        To complete the requirements for a specialized program (e.g., SHSM, OYAP, Dual Credit, Co-op)

□   Another reason not listed above

These two items are displayed for students who select “Pursue and apprenticeship” in response to the item “In September, I'm planning to:”

What skilled trade are you pursuing?

Do you have an employer who has agreed to hire you as an apprentice?

○        Yes

○        No

○        I'm not sure

These three items are displayed for students who select “Attend a college program” in response to the item “In September, I'm planning to:”

What is the name of the college you plan to attend?

○        Algonquin College

○        Cambrian College

○        Centennial College

○        Conestoga College

○        Fanshaw College

○        Fleming College

○        George Brown College

○        Georgian College

○        Humber College

○        Mohawk College

○        Niagara College

○        Seneca College

○        Sheridan College

○        St. Clair College

○        Another college that is not listed above

Have you accepted an offer of admission from this college?

○        Yes

○        Not yet

What is the name of the college program you plan on taking?

These three items are displayed for students who select “Attend a university program” in response to the item “In September, I'm planning to:”

What is the name of the university you plan to attend?

○        Algoma University

○        Brock University

○        Carleton University

○        University of Guelph

○        Lakehead University

○        Laurentian University

○        McMaster University

○        Nipissing University

○        OCAD University

○        Ontario Tech University

○        University of Ottawa

○        Queen's University

○        Royal Military College

○        University of Toronto

○        Toronto Metropolitan University

○        Trent University

○        University of Waterloo

○        Western University

○        Wilfrid Laurier University

○        University of Windsor

○        York University

○        Another university not listed above

Have you accepted an offer of admission from this university?

○        Yes, and I'm planning to attend

○        Yes, and I'm planning to defer

○        Not yet

What is the name of the university program you plan on taking?

This item is displayed for students who select “Enter the workplace full-time” in response to the item “In September, I'm planning to:”

Why have you chosen to enter the workplace full-time in September? 

Choose all that apply

□        The workplace meets my current personal and/or career goals

□        To earn money before pursuing post-secondary education

□        To gain additional work experience and skills

□        I am still undecided about my future plans

□        Another reason not listed above

Information & Resources for Next Steps After High School

Did you attend any apprenticeship, college or university guest speakers' presentations at your school this year?

○        Yes

○        No

○        I'm not sure

Did you attend Level Up, or any other skilled trade career fairs this year?

○        Yes

○        No

○        I'm not sure

Did you attend the Ontario College Fair, Ontario Universities' Fair or any other post-secondary education fairs this year?

○        Yes

○        No

○        I'm not sure

Did you go on any college or university campus tours this year?

○        Yes

○        No

○        I'm not sure

Support for Exploring Pathways and Making Choices About Your Next Steps

Select how much you agree with the following statements.

On myBlueprint, students can work on tasks related to their Individual Pathways Plan (IPP), such as the "Who Am I" surveys and setting goals. 

Have you accessed myBlueprint this school year?

○        Yes

○        No

Have you worked on your IPP tasks (e.g., “Who Am I” surveys, setting goals) on myBlueprintat any time during high school?

○        Yes

○        No

Have you shown myBlueprint to your parents or caregivers?

○        Yes

○        No

Support for Exploring Pathways and Making Choices About Your Next Steps

Select how much you agree with the following statements

Feeling Prepared for Next Steps after High School

Thinking about my learning at school, I feel prepared for my next steps after I finish high school

○        Strongly agree

○        Somewhat agree

○        Neither agree nor disagree

○        Somewhat disagree

○        Strongly disagree

This item is displayed for students who select (a) “Strongly agree”, “Somewhat agree”, “Neither agree nor disagree”, or “Somewhat disagree” in response to the item, “Thinking about my learning at school, I feel prepared for my next steps after I finish high school.”, and (b) select one of the programs in response to the item, “Did you participate in any of the following programs at any point during high school?”

What things have helped you feel prepared for your next steps after finishing high school? 

Choose all that apply

□        Alternative Program (e.g., UTurn, Choices, New Dawn, SWAC) or Education & Community Partnership Program (e.g., Starling/Lutherwood, Ray of Hope, Camino, Lang's)

□        Classes

□        Community involvement or volunteer hours

□        Creating a post-secondary plan

□        Co-op, Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), or Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)

□        Exams or tests

□        Family members

□        Friends or peers

□        International and Indigenous Languages Program credit courses

□        Job or work experience

□        My own research

□        Study habits or skills I learned

□        Planning or time management skills I learned

□        Special programs (e.g., French Immersion, IB, Integrated Arts, Strings, or Leadership)

□        Summer School

□        Teachers, guidance counsellors or other school staff

□        Another option not listed above

This item is displayed for students who select (a) “Strongly agree”, “Somewhat agree”, “Neither agree nor disagree”, or “Somewhat disagree” in response to the item, “Thinking about my learning at school, I feel prepared for my next steps after I finish high school.” and (b) select “No, I have not participated in any of these programs” in response to the item, “Did you participate in any of the following programs at any point during high school?”

What things have helped you feel prepared for your next steps after finishing high school?

Choose all that apply

□        Classes

□        Community involvement or volunteer hours

□        Creating a post-secondary plan

□        Exams or tests

□        Family members

□        Friends or peers

□        Job or work experience

□        My own research

□        Study habits or skills I learned

□        Planning or time management skills I learned

□        Special programs (e.g., French Immersion, IB, Integrated Arts, Strings, or Leadership)

□        Teachers, guidance counsellors or other school staff

□        Another option not listed above

This item is displayed for students who select, “Strongly disagree”, “Somewhat disagree”, “Neither agree nor disagree”, or “Somewhat agree” in response to the item, “Thinking about my learning at school, I feel prepared for my next steps after I finish high school.”

What things have prevented you from feeling prepared for your next steps after finishing high school? 

Choose all that apply

□        Classes I needed were not available

□        Demands outside of school

□        Not having a job or enough work experience

□        Not having a financial plan for my next steps after high school

□        Not having enough opportunities to apply my learning to real world situations

□        Not having enough opportunities to learn about financial literacy

□        Not having enough opportunities to learn employability skills (e.g., communication skills, writing a resume and cover letter, job search skills)

□        Not having enough opportunities to learn about or explore different pathways (e.g., apprenticeship training, college, community living, university, or the workplace)

□        Not having enough opportunities to write final exams

□        Not having enough support from family

□        Not having enough support from friends or peers

□        Not having enough support to develop a plan to achieve my goals after high school

□        Not having good work habits or study habits

□        Not having good stress or health management skills

□        Not knowing how to plan or manage my time

□        Poor academic performance in my courses

□        Uncertainty about the path I want to take after high school

□        Another option not listed above

When you think about your next steps after you finish high school, what are you most looking forward to?

Choose all that apply

□        A new or fresh start

□        Continuing my education in my program of choice (e.g., apprenticeship, college or university program)

□        Finding a job or starting a career

□        Growing as a person

□        Having more freedom or being independent

□        Making money

□        Making my own choices or decisions

□        Meeting new people or making new friends

□        Moving to a new city or place

□        Learning about myself

□        Learning about things I’m interested in

□        Leaving or moving on from high school

□        Life at college or university

□        Living away from home or living on my own

□        Travelling

□        Trying new things or having new experiences

□        Another option not listed above

When you think about your next steps after finishing high school, what do you have concerns about? 

Choose all that apply

□        Balancing or managing my time

□        Being happy with my life

□        Being prepared academically for my classes or program (e.g., course difficulty, workload, pace of learning, learning independently)

□        Being successful in my job or career

□        Doing well in my classes or program

□        Finding a job

□        Housing or finding a place to live

□        Living on my own for the first time

□        Managing stress or my health/mental health

□        Meeting new people or making new friends

□        Moving away from home to a new city or a new place

□        Money or finances

□        Not having teachers or guidance counsellors for support or advice

□        Another option not listed above

You have now completed all the questions on the Your Life After High School Survey, and you are about to submit your responses. Once you click the "Submit" button below, you will not be able to change your responses. If you need to make changes to your responses, please make them now by using the "Previous page" button to go back.

Please click the "Submit" button below to submit your responses.

Generated date: 2026-04-02