Scarlett Heights Entrepreneurial Academy, formerly known as Scarlett Heights Collegiate Institute is a Toronto District School Board facility that was originally operated as a secondary school, opened in 1963, and whose curriculum was broadened through a Student Leadership Development Program. This program extends the base curriculum. Although the TDSB closed the school in June 2018 due to low enrolment, the school facility will be used to temporarily accommodate students from York Memorial Collegiate Institute.
History and overview
Scarlett refers to John Scarlett, an early land owner and entrepreneur in the area. Former TorontoMayor Rob Ford was a graduate of the school. The school was originally constructed in 1962 under its working name, Hilltop Collegiate Institute at the cost of $1,311,800.00 when the Etobicoke Board of Education approved the Hilltop application on December 19, 1961. The original design consisted of 9 standard classrooms, 1 art, 1 music, 3 science labs., a library, 1 home economics, 1 shop, 3 typing rooms, double gymnasium, cafeteria, secretarial, merchandising, accountancy, and business machines classrooms. Scarlett Heights Collegiate opened in September 1963. In the September 2006 issue of Toronto Life, Scarlett Heights was named “Best For Business” in the rating of the “10 Best Schools In Toronto”. Students at Scarlett Heights are required to wear a uniform consisting of a white and grey shirt typically with the school's name imprinted on it; with black pants. Entrance to this academy requires students to demonstrate their commitment to a high academic achievement. Students wishing to apply for entrance complete an admissions portfolio, sign a learning contract, adhere to the Academy's uniform dress policy, and commit to a social responsibility component in the curriculum. Optional attendance students must have a minimum grade 8 average of 70% to be eligible for admission to the school. Approximately 700 students attend Scarlett annually. Most students come fromRexdale, Mimico, Islington, Scarlett Manor, Scarlett Wood Court, Dixon, Fontenay Court, Richview, La Rose as well as other parts of Toronto. The school is served by many different TTC routes, including 73C Royal York, 52 Lawrence West, 58 Malton, 32 Eglinton West and 37 Islington. Like many other high schools, overcrowding on the buses does occur, especially the 73C northbound towards Rexdale. The school contains a large gymnasium, a weight/fitness room, a library, a cafeteria, an auditorium, four full computer labs, two partial computer labs, an outdoor soccer field, basketball court and a newly paved jogging track, they also share a field with Hilltop Middle School. The school is also known for holding many sporting events including tryouts for kids basketball teams like Etobicoke Thunder. SHEA, along with most schools in Toronto, is an ethnically diverse school. The largest ethnic groups represented in the school include Somalis, Indians, Afghans, Serbs, and many others. Feeder schools include Hilltop Middle School and Dixon Grove Junior Middle School.
Second life
Due to the fire at York Memorial Collegiate Institute on May 6, 2019, Scarlett Heights property is proposed to be used as a temporary home for York Memorial students beginning in the 2019–20 school year.
