 Founded in 1922 as "Scarborough High School", the school became "Scarborough Collegiate Institute" in January 1930, before becoming "R. H. King Collegiate Institute" in 1954 and renamed again to "R. H. King Academy" in 1989.The school was built on David Pherrill's farm, a member of the Pherrill family who farmed in the area.The first few months of the school year in 1922 began at Birch Cliff Congregational Church.