For 50 years, the Halifax Grammar School has been lighting the way. Our School, in the minds of its founders, would be unique – “raising the standard” by striving to be a school of excellence and a beacon of hope for education in Nova Scotia. Inspired by this vision, a small and determined group of parents seeking a better education for their children, banded together in September 1958 to found a school of their own.

The Grammar School began as a school for boys.  In the Fall of 1958, 53 boys in grades one through six filled four classrooms in a large white clapboard house on Tower Road. The school was a success from its inception and soon outgrew its original home. By 1962, a building was constructed on Atlantic Street on a 2.5-acre site near Saint Mary’s University in the south end of Halifax. After a lively debate in the early 1960s, HGS admitted girls and became coeducational in 1964.

The Atlantic Street school gradually expanded in stages. Library facilities and the gymnasium were added in 1973; science labs, a music room, and space for the first Primary class appeared in 1980. A major building renovation in 1987 transformed the façade of the Atlantic Street property, adding spacious classrooms, and an auditorium. The School’s student enrolment grew dramatically, beginning in the mid-1990s. A distinct Middle School was created in 1998 and housed in a newly renovated older building on Saint Mary’s University campus, a five-minute walk from the main school.

The School’s fortunes changed dramatically in the spring of 2000.  In a bold move,  HGS secured the historic Tower Road public school building from the city. An extensive renovation to the Tower Road Campus building occurred over the summer of 2000 and the Middle School opened in September 2000.  A successful $3 million capital campaign provided funding for the purchase of the Tower Road property and the conversion of the Tower Road gymnasium into a 300 seat multi-purpose theatre.

The School has always offered an enriched academic curriculum. Since 1993, HGS has led the way in the adoption and expansion of the International Baccalaureate Program. We embraced the IB global curriculum as the best possible preparation for success in university studies. Since 1996, the School has produced increasing numbers of IB graduates who have achieved results significantly above the international standards. All HGS graduating students now complete the full IB Diploma program.  Over the past seven years, the School has ranked among the top three in Canada with some 90 per cent of students securing the coveted IB Diploma.

Today’s Grammar School focuses on further enhancing the all-round student experience. Since 2005, HGS has welcomed a new Headmaster, renewed its Mission, and adopted a far-reaching Strategic Plan for 2006-2011. We are fully committed to providing a place of learning where students can thrive and where teachers have the freedom to inspire.