Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute (ACCI) is a large, diverse public high school in Scarborough, Toronto, known for its strong academic focus, wide program range, and excellent athletic and arts facilities. It combines rigorous academics with rich extracurricular and leadership opportunities, giving students what the school calls the “Albert Campbell Experience” of Academics, Community, and Engagement.
Overview of the school
Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute is a public, co‑educational secondary school serving students in Grades 9 to 12 in the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). The school is located at 1550 Sandhurst Circle in the Agincourt North/Milliken area of Scarborough, a culturally diverse suburban community in northeast Toronto.
ACCI opened in 1976 and has built a long‑standing reputation for academic challenge, student support, and strong co‑curricular programs. Enrolment is typically around 1,200 students, making it one of the larger TDSB secondary schools in the area.
Quick facts box
Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute – Key Details
- Full name: Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute (ACCI)
- School type: Public, co‑educational secondary school (Grades 9–12)
- School board: Toronto District School Board (TDSB)
- Year opened: 1976
- Approximate enrolment: about 1,200 students
- Address: 1550 Sandhurst Circle, Scarborough, ON M1V 1S6
- Community: Agincourt North / Milliken area of northeast Toronto
- Focus: “Albert Campbell Experience” – Academics, Community, Engagement
Mission, culture, and student community
The school’s mission is to enable all students to reach high levels of achievement and well‑being and to acquire the knowledge, skills, and values needed to become responsible, caring citizens. ACCI emphasizes an academically challenging yet supportive learning environment, with staff focused on both performance and personal growth.
The “Albert Campbell Experience” highlights three core areas: strong academics, involvement in the school and wider community, and active student engagement in clubs, leadership, and service. The student population is highly diverse linguistically and culturally, and the school promotes respect, inclusion, and cooperation among students from many backgrounds.
Academic programs and courses
Albert Campbell offers the full Ontario secondary school curriculum at a variety of levels (academic, applied, open, university, college, and mixed), supporting all major post‑secondary pathways. Students can plan routes toward university, college, apprenticeship, or direct entry to work while meeting all Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requirements.
Main departments include English, Mathematics, Science, Business Studies, Canadian and World Studies, Social Sciences, Health and Physical Education, Arts, and Technological Education. Within these areas, ACCI provides a broad selection of compulsory and optional courses, allowing students to specialize gradually as they move from Grade 9 to Grade 12.
Enrichment and pathways
The school’s curriculum “focuses on performance and prepares students for university, college and the world of work,” with high expectations for academic achievement. A large proportion of graduates who apply to university gain admission to their program of choice, reflecting the school’s academic culture.
Students have access to specialized and pathway‑oriented options such as Extended French, cooperative education, e‑learning, and dual‑credit or transition opportunities that link secondary school with college and other training. Guidance counsellors assist students with course selection, pathway planning, scholarship information, and applications to post‑secondary institutions.
Support for diverse and newcomer students
ACCI serves many multilingual and newcomer students and provides English as a Second Language (ESL) and English Literacy Development (ELD) classes as part of its course offerings. These programs help students build language proficiency while progressing toward graduation requirements.
Guidance and student support teams work with families to address academic, social, and emotional needs, reflecting the TDSB’s emphasis on equity and student well‑being. The school’s inclusive environment and multicultural events help students feel welcomed and represented in school life.
Facilities and campus
Albert Campbell Collegiate Institute occupies a large, open‑concept, two‑storey building with extensive specialized spaces. The school has over 80 classrooms, ten science laboratories, three music rooms with a keyboard lab, a black box drama room, four art rooms, and two darkrooms for photography and technology.
There are around ten computer labs and six technology rooms, including spaces for automotive technology, construction, communications, computers, technological design, and green industries. The central Forum area, with the cafetorium and stage, is the focal point of the school and is decorated with more than 80 flags of the world, symbolizing the school’s global and multicultural community.
Athletics and recreation facilities
ACCI is particularly well‑equipped for athletics and physical education. The school features four gymnasiums plus an activity gym, a weight room located above one of the gyms, and a full 25‑metre indoor swimming pool that is also used as a community facility.
Outdoors, the school has a 400‑metre running track, a football/soccer field, and a baseball diamond situated at the back and side of the property. These facilities support competitive school teams as well as recreational and fitness programs for students and community users.
Sports teams and athletics programs
Albert Campbell maintains a strong athletic tradition with a wide variety of girls’, boys’, and co‑ed sports teams. School teams compete in sports such as basketball, volleyball, soccer, wrestling, rugby, swimming, track and field, badminton, hockey, curling, and archery, depending on the year and coaching availability.
Participation in athletics encourages leadership, discipline, teamwork, and school spirit, and many students balance sports involvement with demanding academic schedules. The combination of indoor and outdoor facilities allows the school to host practices and competitions throughout the year.
Clubs, activities, and student leadership
Albert Campbell C.I. offers a very wide range of clubs and student organizations, giving learners many ways to become involved beyond regular classes. According to the school’s clubs site, options include academic, arts, cultural, leadership, service, social justice, and special‑interest clubs.
Examples of active clubs and councils include an AI Club, Anime Club, Art Council, Athletic Council, Best Buddies, American Chemical Society (ACS) group, cultural clubs, and various interest‑based groups that change over time. Student Council and other leadership bodies help organize events, spirit activities, and charitable initiatives that build community across grade levels.
Technology, innovation, and digital learning
Technology plays an important role in teaching and learning at ACCI. Multiple computer labs, communications technology rooms, and specialized tech spaces allow students to explore areas such as digital media, design, and information and communication technology (ICT).
Clubs and activities related to technology, such as AI and science‑related groups, give interested students extra opportunities to extend their skills beyond the classroom, including hackathons and competitions highlighted in some school‑profile materials. These experiences support students aiming for future studies and careers in STEM, business, and digital fields.
Community connections and reputation
The school works closely with parents, local organizations, and community partners to support student learning and well‑being. Facilities such as the pool and gyms are used for community recreation programs, and the school is often involved in charity events and local initiatives.
ACCI is widely described as a school with “a tradition of excellence,” combining strong academic expectations with extensive co‑curricular options. Many graduates go on to university and college programs across Ontario and beyond, and alumni have achieved success in fields such as sports, design, and public life, reflecting the school’s impact over nearly five decades.
