Robert Thirsk High School


Robert Thirsk High School is a public senior high school in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. It derives its name from Robert Thirsk, a Canadian engineer and physician, and a former Canadian Space Agency astronaut. The high school is located in the Northwest Calgary community of Arbour Lake, and has a capacity of 1,500 students.
Robert Thirsk High School officially opened in September 2013. Over 800 grade 10 and 11 students attend the first school year. The high school accommodates students from Citadel, Arbour Lake, Scenic Acres, Ranchlands, Hawkwood, Rocky Ridge, and Royal Oak.
This new high school features three "Communities", classrooms and common spaces that help make a big school, smaller. There is a central Learning Commons that stretches the concept of a library into a cooperative learning space with virtual, "known" and human resources. The school offers career skills and fine arts programming, including:
The school is also home for some students who have special needs and attend the Assisted Learning Program.

Alberta High School Design Framework

The school has incorporated the elements of Alberta Education's high school design framework to guide its work: mastery, rigor, relevance, personalization, flexibility, professional development, assessment relationships, community involvement and welcoming, safe environment. The key elements also reflect the Robert Thirsk vision to personalize and connect learning so that students and staff can THRIVE.