The school was founded in 1911 as an offshoot of the Central Technical School. The eight commercial classes which had been taking place in Central Tech were first moved to King Edward Public School and then to Clinton Street Public School. In 1916, the classes were moved into a permanent home when the Collegiate Gothic Central High School of Commerce building opened as a school of business and commerce on Shaw Street. Over the years it has developed into a composite school that offers a broad range of programs, complemented by a full range of core academic subjects, computer classes, music, art, drama, and health and physical education. Courses are offered at the University, University/College and College levels for grade 12 students. Central Commerce Collegiate was renamed to Central Toronto Academy in September 2014.