Fredrick H. Collins Secondary School was opened January 13th 1963 by Commissioner G.R. Cameron. At that time the school had 20 teachers and 315 students from grades nine through thirteen. In 1968 an Industrial building was opened housing workshop facilities and several lecture rooms. Another wing was added to the school in 1970, to provide larger facilities for Home economics, General Business, Science and Math departments. The student body grew to just over 1000 during the 1972-73 term but was halved by the opening of a new junior secondary school in September 1973. At the present time F.H. Collins had a student body of about 500, in grades ten, eleven and twelve.

The school was named after a former commissioner of the Yukon Territory, Fredrick Howard Collins, who served as commissioner from 1955 to 1962. During his term in office, he initiated several changes in the field of education and much improved the standards of the system.

In spite of its northern location the school offers a full high school curriculum, to provide full opportunities for students. A Northern Studies program, a course of strictly northern history, crafts, economics and development, is offered to enable students to become more aware of their own heritage.