Aurora High School is one of five high schools in Aurora, Ontario, and is one of two under the jurisdiction of the York Region District School Board. It serves students from Grades 9 to 12. Aurora High School has a strong French immersion program, and used to serve as the feeder school for many local French immersion public schools, however as of the 2019âÂÂ2020 school year, the only French immersion elementary school is Lester B. Pearson PS in Aurora. This includes Aurora, Whitchurch-Stouffville, Oak Ridges, and King City
According to the 2025 Fraser Institute, Aurora ranks 46th in Ontario and is ranked 8.4/10.
The original Aurora High School was built in 1888 on Wells Street. This building was rebuilt in 1923. Parts of this school building are incorporated into the Wells Street Lofts residential complex. The high school student population eventually outgrew the Wells Street building and a new high school was built on Dunning Avenue. This high school, which opened in 1961 and is still in operation in 2018, is called the Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School. From 1961 to 1972 Dr. G. W. Williams Secondary School was the only high school in Aurora, Ontario. In 1972, the new Aurora High School opened at 155 Wellington Street West. It can accommodate a student population of approximately 1500 students. As of the 2017/2018 school year Aurora High School has required 4 portable classrooms to accommodate the influx of new students.
In 2012, the Robotics club won second place in the 2012 Robofest World championship in the Senior Exhibition division.
The school has a strong arts program, though most of the focus is on its music program. The music department has several ensembles. These include:
In addition to these ensembles, the music department also has a Music Council, in which students and teachers plan for music-related events that the department has to offer, such as:
Along with competitions, the music department travels with their students around the world to places like Washington, Cleveland, New York City, Rome, Florence, Venice, Salzburg, and Vienna every year.