Canberra High School is a Year 7 - 10 school within the ACT government schooling system.  It is located in the suburb of Macquarie and the priority enrolment area encompasses the suburbs of Aranda, Belconnen Town Centre, Bruce, Cook, Emu Ridge and Macquarie.  However, 74% percent of the school's enrolment comes from outside the priority enrolment area.  This percentage has been steadily increasing over the last few years.  In addition, students live in more than 56 postal areas and were born in 42 different countries.  There are approximately 630 families that make up the Canberra High School community.

The school population at the 2007 School Census was 740.

There are about 75 members of staff, some of whom work part-time.

Introduction
Canberra High School was constituted at the beginning of 1938 and moved to Telopea Park School into the new building at Acton, now the school of Art, on 21 August 1939.  Thirty years later, on 21 August 1969, the present school site was officially opened.  During these years the school catered for students from Year 7 to year 12 and this remained the position until 1975, when a new secondary system was developed.  By 1977 Canberra High School had become a Year 7 to 10 high school.

Provision for gifted and talented students became more of a focus after the ACT government’s ‘Towards 2020’ initiative was announced and Canberra High School was designated as a school which extended gifted and talented students.

School vision and goals

Canberra High School recognises the diversity of abilities, aptitudes, interests and multicultural backgrounds of its students. Canberra High School aims to provide a welcoming, safe and community environment striving for inclusively, excellence, rigour and respectful relationships for staff and students. This is achieved through delivery of an excellent curriculum, which provides a variety of opportunities and subject choices across all key learning areas.

Canberra High School has a strong focus on the wellbeing of the school community with a supportive pastoral care program.

Canberra High School continues to develop as a cohesive and caring community actively committed to the development of students who will be prepared for a changing society.