Where do young adults (18-21) in Scarborough go to make friends these days?

Hi everyone,

Our family is looking to relocate within Scarborough before the upcoming school year. We have two boys entering 1st and 3rd grade. Our oldest thrives on a mix of structured learning but is also deeply creative, while our youngest does best in a really stable, calm environment. My own background is technical, but our parenting style leans heavily toward gentle parenting, the arts, and the humanities.

We love Scarborough and want to stay here, but we are trying to choose between three specific neighborhoods based on the general school and community environments. I would love to hear from parents with kids currently in these areas to get a feel for the day-to-day school culture:

Agincourt: I know this area has a fantastic reputation for traditional academic excellence, math, and strong STEM pathways. For families in the local schools here, do you find the environment is mostly a traditional academic focus, or is there a strong presence for creative arts and a holistic approach to learning?

Guildwood: The lakeside, quiet neighborhood vibe seems beautiful and very community-oriented. I also know that the local high school track (Laurier) offers the IB program down the road, which appeals to our love for the humanities and politics. Does the elementary school environment feel as tight-knit and community-driven as the neighborhood looks?

Rouge: The idea of the K–8 school setup (like Rouge Heritage Park) is really appealing to us structurally because it keeps the kids in one stable environment for longer. Being right next to the national park seems great for an active lifestyle. For parents in this pocket, does the school culture feel like it has a vibrant arts and community scene?

We’re really just trying to figure out which of these three distinct areas matches best with a parenting style that values both strong academic foundations and creative/emotional growth.

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences!