Our School

Maxwell Heights S.S., located in northeast Oshawa, offers a variety of programs serving a very diverse community. We are proud of our climate of high expectations and excellence in academics, arts, and athletics, at both the curricular and extracurricular levels.

Students enjoy a wide variety of custom programming in Specialist High Skills Majors, including Health and Wellness, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and construction. A selection of dual-credit options is available providing opportunities for earning college credits while still in high school.

Maxwell Heights S.S. was awarded the 2018 Dr. Bette M. Stephenson Recognition of Achievement by EQAO, acknowledging rising achievement in both academic and applied Grade 9 Math courses over the last three years. It is not surprising that the rise in achievement was also accompanied by a rise in students’ positive attitudes towards math.

Maxwell’s academic excellence extends to rising OSSLT scores as well as competitive STEM (Science, Technology, engineering, Mathematics); and Reach for The Top teams. Furthermore, our instrumental musicians and our vocal choirs recently earned silver at the national level; and we boast a widely decorated Maxwell Dance Company (MDC); OFFSA qualifying athletic performances in boys and girls Lacrosse, Wrestling, Track and Field, Cross Country and Tennis.

Maxwell Heights S.S. has deep ties to our community. Most notably our annual participation in, and fundraising for Relay for Life has resulted in annual contributions of more than $60,000 to the Canadian Cancer Society. Other community minded foci include an annual Empty Bowls event, raising money for local food charities; numerous food drives; donations to Canadian Blood Services; hosting Iftar Dinners; showcasing visual artwork in galleries; and visits to The Refuge- a local resource centre for impoverished youth. All of these initiatives underscore Maxwell’s commitment to contributing to the betterment of the greater community.

We at Maxwell Heights SS are proud of our students and staff and we look forward to continuing our pursuit of excellence.

History of Maxwell Heights Secondary School

The name, Maxwell Heights, was reclaimed from a previous set of schools once featured in the area.

In the early nineteenth century, on the North-east corner of Harmony Road and Taunton Road, there stood a one room school house owned by Mr. and Mrs. John Maxwell. The original school was a small log house with dirt floors, small windows, a fireplace and it could accommodate few students. The school was too small for the local children, so Mrs. Maxwell spearheaded a campaign to acquire funding for a larger schoolhouse. Because of her efforts, in the 1850's a new brick school was erected with windows, a stove, and a cloak room. In her honour the school was named "Maxwell's School".

In 1955, Maxwell's School was replaced by Maxwell Heights Public School. The new school was a one storey, concrete and brick structure. There were many windows with ample light for the classrooms. Green chalk boards were installed, and heat was provided to the school by two oil furnaces. These extras were superior advancements for the school. At the time, Maxwell Heights was an innovative school full of opportunity for staff and students alike. However, as urban requirements shifted and educational needs evolved, in the early 1990's the school was closed and later torn down in 1995.

To restore heritage in the community, the Durham District School Board has named its newest Oshawa high school, Maxwell Heights Secondary School. The school offers a unique and engaging educational experience to all its students. The school is equipped with state of the art technology and innovative resources that supports student success and education for all. Maxwell Heights Secondary School opened in September 2009.

For parents

Use the parent portal to get more information about your child's education.

Transportation, pick-up and drop-off

Help us support a culture of respect and harmony by reinforcing school bus and transportation safety. When driving your child(ren) to and from school, please use designated drop-off and pick-up locations. When using these locations, please wait outside for your child.

Questions and concerns

If you need help or have any questions or concerns, begin by contacting your child's teacher. If you wish to meet with another staff member, contact the school office to book a meeting. Please remember to sign in at the school office when you arrive