Port Colborne High School

Port Colborne High School, or Port High is a high school located in Port Colborne, just north of the eastern edge of Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the District School Board of Niagara and has been serving the communities of Wainfleet and Port Colborne since the 1920s. The school competes with students from communities in Wainfleet, Dunnville, and Port Colborne.Port High is a composite high school, where students successfully graduate to attend Colleges and Universities across Canada. The school offers 3 Specialist High Skills Major programs in Arts and Culture, Manufacturing, and Automotive Technology. The school also offers a specialty cosmetology program with a full service salon on campus. Students have the opportunity to participate in a full range of sporting and cultural activities Port High has a highly respected Technology department. The school also offers a wide range of academic and arts programs that prepare students for university, college, and the world of work. The school has a student population of just under 600 students.HistoryThe History of Port Colborne High School dates back to 1920 when the town of Port Colborne became a focal point of many new industries. The arrival of the International Nickel Company of Canada (INCO) in 1918, the prospering businesses of Canada Furnace, Maple Leaf Mills and Canada Cement along with the building of the forth Welland Canal brought many new residents and their families to the town. A need for an educational institution was realized. In 1920 the Port Colborne School Board purchased four acres of land from Dewitt Carter on the corner of Steel and Elgin Streets. Building started in 1920 and in 1921 the Port Colborne Continuation School opened its doors for the first time with four classrooms a science lab and a gymnasium (currently the theatre). This school offered students in Port Colborne grades 9-11. If a student wanted to further their education after grade 11 they needed to travel to Welland, via trolley, to complete their fourth and fifth terms (Grade12 and 13).