This report examines the experiences of secondary school students in the former City of Toronto inside and outside of school using data from the 1997 Every Secondary Student Survey. Student experiences are looked at within the context of their demographic backgrounds. In 1997, almost half the students were nonnative speakers of English, representing over 70 different language groups. Visible minorities made up over half of the secondary school students, and most had lived in their home countries before coming to Canada. These minority students were more likely to be from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Fewer than two-thirds of the students lived with both parents. Four main themes emerge from the survey findings: (1) the public school system serves an increasingly diverse population; (2) students from different backgrounds have different kinds and levels of needs; (3) the public school system has made a difference in narrowing the opportunity gap for students of diverse backgrounds; and (4) there are areas that need further attention by the school system and communities to enable all students to reach high levels of achievement. Four appendixes summarize findings by cultural group, racial group, gender, and parents' occupation. (Contains 1 table, 19 figures, and 7 references.) (SLD)