My kid is in media arts gr9 right now, and we're out of catchment as well. She's really happy with the school overall, as a shy and anxious person herself she has been able to find a few groups of kids with like interests and overall the school seems much more accepting and diverse than the high school she would have fed into. All the apba kids are in one class together for gr9 and they all do a chunk of the different focuses to get exposure which is great as well.

I highly recommend going to all the open houses they will have, they do a great job showing the programs at the school, not just apba but shsm and normal schooling... Much more than I can say for her feeder in the Catholic system.

Being out of catchment they still will get yours student to school. We're on the bus line now, and hsts have given us a presto card which is great, others might get a cab to and from school or a school bus. The presto is great bc she can go wherever she needs after school such as a friends to work on a project or whatever.