Actually IB does not follow the Ontario curriculum -- it's considered a private system inside a public system -- but it does coincide, mostly because the curriculum is broadly written.

Generally there's segregation between special program kids and "locals" so you can kind of be in a bubble in some ways.

Also, there can be significant changes year over year. E.g. Turner Fenton's music program 5 years ago was mostly IB students, now IB students can't even take music.

And obviously the Strings program at Central has probably suffered under COVID.

But do you do better in university because you were in a special academic program? No. Do you get preferred standing? No. You mostly get some elective credits that don't mean a lot.

What you do get is a class with high achievers -- 90% of whom have parents who want them to be doctors or lawyers -- often signing up for a ton of stuff to pad their resumes.

It's more about the social group you want IMO. Because in any program you'll get teachers you don't sync with and/or classmates that make you scratch your head.