Adelaide Botanic High School opened on 29 January 2019 under the leadership of Foundation Principal Alistair Brown, who had previously held the role of Principal at Heathfield High School in the Adelaide Hills. The school opened on the site of what was previously known as the Reid Building, which housed the University of South Australia's School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences before its relocation to the university's City East campus. The six-storey building underwent extensive renovations as part of the Department for Education's $100 million development project and another seven-storey building was constructed on the southern side of the building. Both of these buildings are conjoined by a six-storey atrium which includes several multipurpose learning areas.[3][4][5][6]
At the time of the school's opening, student enrolment numbers totalled to approximately 350 students in Years 8 and 9.[1] In 2022, the school's Year 7 cohort commenced as part of the Department for Education's statewide transition of Year 7 into the high school setting.
In 2022, it was announced that the school will be expanded.[7] Soon after, the expansion began.
On 24 August 2021, a 13-year-old school boy was charged with aggravated assault, carrying a dangerous weapon and common assault, after stabbing another student with scissors.[8] On 23 February 2022, charges were dropped in "30 seconds".[9]
^"School stabbing charges dropped in just 30 seconds". adelaidenow.com.au. 23 February 2022. Prosecutors claimed he was so dangerous he had to be banned from all 'edged weapons' – today, all charges against an alleged school stabber were dropped without a word.
