| Laurel Heights Secondary School | |
| Address: | 650 Laurelwood Drive |
| Country: | Canada |
| Coordinates: | 43.4711°N -80.5945°W |
| Former Name: | Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School (SJAM) |
| Religious Affiliation: | Interdenominational |
| Motto: | Audere est credere |
| Motto Translation: | Dare to believe |
| Established: | 2004 |
| Principal: | Bryan Lozon |
| Grades: | 9-12 |
| Enrollment: | 1 756 Approx. 450 at each grade level |
| Average Class Size: | 25 |
| Language: | English |
| Colours: | Light Blue, Dark Blue and White |
| Team Name: | The Hurricanes (2022-present) Highlanders (2004-2022) |
Laurel Heights Secondary School (formerly Sir John A. Macdonald Secondary School) is a high school in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, operated by the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB). It opened in September 2004 and provides both academic and vocational programs. The school had 1,500 students as of the 2020–21 school year.[1] Each year, around 450 new grade 9 students are enrolled from the following elementary schools: Centennial Public School, Edna Staebler Public School, Laurelwood Public School, and Vista Hills Public School [2] The school is located on 650 Laurelwood Drive in northwest Waterloo. It was originally named after Sir John A. Macdonald, the first prime minister of Canada; in 2022, it was renamed to Laurel Heights Secondary School (LHSS).
Construction of the $27 million, 206000square feet school was plagued by construction delays. It opened two months before construction was complete, with students initially limited to partial days of classes. The name was selected in 2003 by school board trustees. When they asked for suggestions, the most frequently submitted name was Oscar Peterson, but because he was still alive, Peterson wasn't eligible to have a school named after him.[3]
The school name garnered attention in 2018 because of civic awareness regarding the historical treatment of Indigenous peoples in the Canadian residential school system.[4] [5] In 2021, the school board determined that the name must be changed; in March 2022, the new name of Laurel Heights Secondary School was confirmed.[6]
The drama department participates in the annual SEARS festivals. In the 2012–13 school year, they advanced to regionals. In 2014, they hosted the festival for Waterloo schools, and in 2018 they hosted NTSDF.[7]
LHSS offers numerous clubs, teams, and activities with over 10 choices per season.[8] As of 2019, the Fraser Institute ranked LHSS as one of the best schools in Ontario with an average performance score of 8.1 out of 10.[9] LHSS ranks better than 90 per cent of schools in the Waterloo Region and 85 per cent of schools in all of Ontario.[10]