In 1876, the construction of the Perth High School was completed at a cost of $16,000.00. The student enrollment ranged from 150 to 175 the first year. The high school became the third collegiate institute in Eastern Ontario in 1880. The others were in Kingston and Ottawa respectively. Initially there were three teachers who taught English, History, the Classics and Modern Languages. The first principal, Mr. F.L. Mitchel, M.A. taught mathematics and science. To be rated as a collegiate the school was required to have a minimum of sixty boys taking Latin. The school was now eligible to receive an extra provincial grant of $759.00. In 1886, a football field was built at the back of the school by the senior Form IV under the direction of William Rathwell, the principal. One year later in 1887, a separate wooden gymnasium was built. This was the first gymnasium and contained the basic apparatus. At the rear of the original school, a larger gymnasium and two well equipped science rooms were added in 1915. In 1921 a Commercial Department with a class of 18 was established. A new wing was complete in 1925 which provided greater laboratory space and four new classrooms. The cost ran around $32,000. The enrollment at this time was approximately 300. In 1928 a special one-year secretarial business course was offered. Since then two considerably larger additions have been built. The first of these in 1959 at a cost of $700.00 added sixteen classrooms and a contemporary gymnasium, a cafeteria, kitchen, a large 662 seat auditorium, projection room and a foyer. The school became a district High School serving an area of a thirty-mile radius. It was then that Perth Collegiate Institute became Perth and District Collegiate Institute. In 1967 the Tech Wing and Commercial Department were added. In 1972, the resource center was built. The original building was completely demolished and the Home Economics, Music, Art and Theatre Arts rooms were added. In 1976, the enrollment of PDCI was 1,143 students and there were eighty courses offered, covering five levels of instruction. The original building was demolished in 1972.
Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)
A Specialist High Skills Major is a ministry-approved specialized program that allows students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector while meeting the requirements for the Ontario Secondary School Diploma, and assists in their transition from secondary school to apprenticeship training, college, university, or the workplace. Students often participate in a particular SHSM because of their course selections, they still have to take their courses as usual, but also participate in some training, certification, and reach ahead opportunities when these are provided. All of these opportunities are provided at no cost to the student. PDCI currently has seven Specialist High Skills Major Programs which are in the following economic sectors: Arts & Culture, Business, Non-Profit, Sports, Transportation Technology, Horticulture and Landscaping and Information and Communications Technology.
PDCI Livestream
PDCI's Media Arts class deals with video productions which follow Blue Devils School Sports and Events through Facebook's live feature, on their designated page. The idea was conceptualized in Fall 2016, but made a reality in Fall 2017 through trial and error. The first broadcast was of a Senior Girls volleyball game between PDCI Blue Devils and SFDCI Redhawks on Thursday, December 14, 2017. Perth won 25–19.
Les Douglas - NHL Forward - Detroit Red Wings, winner of one Stanley Cup
Tony Licari - NHL Forward - Detroit Red Wings
Gord Smith - NHL Defenceman - Washington Capitals and Winnipeg Jets
Floyd Smith - NHL Forward - Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres; NHL Coach - Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs; WHA Coach - Cincinnati Stingers, NHL General Manager - Toronto Maple Leafs
