Westisle Composite High School

In the late 1960s, the Government of Prince Edward Island embarked upon a joint project with the federal government known as the PEI Economic and Social Development Plan. One phase of the plan focused on education and called for a reorganization of the system. The first step was the establishment of five planning boards of 15 members each. After several meetings, the planning board reached the decision to reorganize the school system of western Prince County into six elementary schools, two junior high schools, and a senior high school.

In 1976, construction of Westisle Composite High School began, at the expense of discontinuing more localized secondary education that was taking place at Tignish High, Alberton High and O'Leary High schools. The decision was made to merge all of these former schools into one by then Minister of Education, Bennett Campbell.[1] Though some were against the initial change, many now feel it was an appropriate move.

The official opening of the school was held on November 2, 1979. The first principal was Frank Mugglestone. The vice-principals were Lorne MacDougald and Richard Roberts (the school continues to employ two vice principals). There was a teaching staff of forty-two, two secretaries, and a custodial staff of nine members. The school's namesake "Westisle" is derived from the school being located in the westernmost portion of Prince Edward Island.

In the beginning, Holland College began to use the school to offer programs such as electronics, cosmetology, office studies, and a "Leadership Institute" to its students in the western part of Prince County. The courses at Westisle were offered on an extension basis using personnel and resources from the college's Summerside-area campuses. Night classes began in January 1980 and continued until 1997 when the college ceased use of the school, requiring community college students from the area to commute to campuses in Charlottetown or Summerside. Students can now attend Holland College in the new West Prince Campus located in Alberton.