North Trail High School
| North Trail High School | |
|---|---|
 NTHS Under Sunset  Main Entrance to the school  As viewed from Harvest Hills Boulevard | |
| Address | |
 | |
12500 Harvest Hills Blvd NE , , T3K 2S3 | |
| Coordinates | 51°10′03″N 114°03′56″W / 51.16738906179625°N 114.06547147364472°W |
| Information | |
| School type | Public secondary |
| Established | 2023 |
| School board | Calgary Board of Education |
| Principal | Michael Bester |
| Grades | 10–12 |
| Enrollment | 2053 (2024) |
| • Grade 10 | 747 |
| • Grade 11 | 707 |
| • Grade 12 | 599 |
| Colour(s) | Green and Navy Blue |
| Mascot | Nighthawk |
| Team name | North Trail Nighthawks
 |
| Communities served | Country Hills Village, Coventry Hills, Hidden Valley, Harvest Hills, Panorama Hills, Country Hills |
| Feeder schools |
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| Website | northtrail |
North Trail High School is a senior high school located in the northeast community of Coventry Hills in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The school's name is derived from the Siksika First Nation with historical significance from trails used by First Nations ancestors. North Trail High School offers the Advanced Placement (AP) program, French and Spanish second languages, and a variety of extracurricular activities. The school is part of the Calgary Board of Education's public school system.
History
[edit]The school had been planned for almost a decade before beginning construction, with students living in this area of the city having to go to schools several kilometer south such as John G. Diefenbaker High School and Crescent Heights High School, which could have up to a 50-minute travel time.[1]
The Calgary Board of Education announced in December 2020 that construction will begin in early May. The school finished construction around July 2023 opened for students on August 31, 2023. Originally given the placeholder name of North Calgary High School, the official name was announced by the Calgary Board of Education Trustees on April 7, 2023, after consultations with a local First Nations elder, citing Siksika and Blackfoot history.[2][3][4] The grand opening ceremony of the school was held on April 26, 2024. The name "North Trail" is derived from the trail that Blackfoot and Siksika peoples would travel to reach Nose Hill Park, a site where they held various ceremonies and gatherings.
On January 7, 2025, the school announced the beginning of a new lottery system to combat the school's higher than expected enrolment growth. Students who are unsuccessful in the lottery will be overflowed to Crescent Heights High School. The school also announced six new modular classrooms, to be installed in Spring of 2025.[5]
Academics
[edit]North Trail High School operates under the Alberta Program of Studies, which provides a comprehensive framework for curriculum development and educational practices in the province of Alberta.
North Trail High School is one of the 15 high schools in Calgary to offer the Advanced Placement program.[6] AP allows students with opportunities to engage in college-level coursework while still in high school. These courses are designed to challenge students and allow them to earn college credit based on their performance in the AP exams. Students can choose to engage in one or more areas of study of their choice and are offered by the College Board. North Trail offers AP courses in biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, English, social studies, French language, art and design, and computer science. AP courses are generally available starting in grade 11 and require students to have an average above 80% in the prerequisite course, as well as a teacher recommendation.[7]
Clubs
[edit]North Trail High School is known for its vibrant school community having numerous Fine Art Showcases throughout the school year, spirit days, pep rallies, and feeder tournaments. In January 2025, the school's Key Club hosted the school's first Winter Formal. Most notably, North Trail's abundance in clubs have strengthened the school's diverse and inclusive environment. Nearly all of the school's clubs are student-run, enabling students to learn how to efficiently lead and run a team.
| Competitive | Service | Interests |
|---|---|---|
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Dual Credit & Off-Campus Work Experience
[edit]North Trail High School currently offers the Unqiue Pathways & Off-Campus Education Program which gives students hands-on learning experience through workplace placements. North Trail provides workplace opportunities with Dual Credit courses, supervised by a CBE teacher, to support post-secondary learning. This program will help students explore their interests while gaining hands-on real-world experience and earn both high school and transerable post-secondary credits.[8]
CSSI
[edit]North Trail High School is one of the few high schools in Calgary to offer the Communication, Sensory, Social Skills, and Integration (CSSI) program, a specialized educational service designed to support students with complex learning, behavioral, and medical needs.[9]
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Athletics
[edit]North Trail currently competes in the Calgary Senior High School Athletic Association. North Trail offers a variety of different athletic teams including:
- Football
- Soccer
- Basketball
- Swimming
- Curling
- Golf
- Dance
- Volleyball
- Curling
- Cross Country
- Track & Field
- Field hockey
- Wrestling
- Badminton
In 2024, the junior boys volleyball team earned their first city championship banner in Division 3. Later, the badminton team won Division 3 Championships before securing their third championship as Division 3 volleyball city champions.
Robotics
[edit]North Trail High School's Robotics Team currently competes in FTC Robotics. During the 2025 City Championship, the Nighthawks Robotics teams secured placements in the provincial competition. The senior team was selected as the first pick for the Winning Alliance and received the third-place Inspire Award. Meanwhile, the junior team finished as the second-place Alliance and was awarded the second-place Inspire Award.
References
[edit]- ^ "Construction of long-awaited north Calgary high school will start in early 2021, province says". cbc.ca.
- ^ "Board of Trustees Names New North High School - News Centre - CBE". cbe.ab.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "CityNews". calgary.citynews.ca. Retrieved 2023-04-21.
- ^ "Name of long-awaited north Calgary high school nods to Indigenous history". calgaryherald.com. Retrieved 2023-04-07.
- ^ "Overflow and Lottery Information".
- ^ "Advanced Placement Courses" (PDF).
- ^ "Advanced Placement Courses".
- ^ "Unique Pathways & Off-campus Education".
- ^ "Complex Learning and Medical Needs".