R. H. King Academy, formerly known as Scarborough High School, Scarborough Collegiate Institute and R.H. King Collegiate Institute is a secondary school and a de factoalternative school located in Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario, part of the Toronto District School Board. The school was established in 1922, then became a collegiate in 1930, renamed in 1954 and again in 1989. This school was named after Reginald Harold King, a Canadian educator and classicist. It was the first secondary school built in the former township of Scarborough and second-oldest surviving institution in Scarborough, after Agincourt Collegiate Institute. The R. H. King school motto is "Per Ardua Sapientia" which translates into Through the hard task of wisdom.
History
Founded in 1922 as Scarborough High School, the school became Scarborough Collegiate Institute in January 1930, before becoming R. H. King Collegiate Institute in 1954 and renamed again to R. H. King Academy in 1989. The school was built on David Pherrill's farm, a member of the Pherrill family who farmed in the area. The first few months of the school year in 1922 began at Birch CliffCongregational Church. The 1922 Collegiate Gothic building was built by architects Burden & Gouinlock in association with Harold E. Carter, who later worked on the 1952 addition as Carter, Coleman and Rankin Associates. Allward and Gouinlock worked on the 1962 addition which featured 10 classrooms, a double gymnasium and a new modern entrance in the western side. While the 1952 additions and the archway remain, the majority of the original 1922 structure was demolished in spring 1976. The former structure was replaced by a new, modern structure completed in 1975. The new replacement addition consisted of newer academic and science classrooms, library, swimming pool, offices and cafetorium.
Student Life
Arts This school provides many opportunities for students to participate in visual arts, dance, photography, arts management, communications, technology, drama, fashion, media, improv, music, musical theatre, presentation skills, technical theatre production, technological design, video production and writers' craft. R.H. King provides a Leadership: Arts and Culture stream where successful students have 4 years of certain arts-based classes. Athletics This school provides many opportunities for students to participate in volleyball, basketball, hockey, flag football, cricket, field hockey, curling, lacrosse, golf, cross country, rugby, soccer, swimming, ultimate frisbee, slo-pitch, badminton and track and field. Leadership This school provides two different streams for leadership alongside their regular stream. -Leadership: Future Leaders -Leadership: Arts and Culture Musical productions
