The school provided a variety of curricular and extracurricular activities, including rugby teams, classics club, and Sears Drama Festival.

Barrie Central's Concert Band was founded in 1923 by W. Allen Fisher (1905–1989, a teacher 1931-1972 of English and History, Honorary LL D Queen's 1972, Member of the Order of Canada 1973).

The band was led 1972-1986 by Morley Calvert, under whom it won more than 25 first and second prizes, including gold medals in Kerkrade in 1974 and 1978 and the Major Brian S. McCool Trophy annually 1974-1966 and in 1978 at the Kiwanis Music Festival in Toronto.

Neil Mavor has spent many years as Pit Orchestra Director for Central's musical productions including Hair, Peter Pan and Les Misérables.

Other events included their annual (community) coffee house, BCC's Bucket list, and Dancing With the Teachers Since the founding of Central, Latin has been an important part of the curriculum offered within the school.

In September 2010, a Pupil Accommodation Review Committee (ARC) was initiated to address declining enrollment and facility conditions at Barrie Central.

Staff report to the Business and Facilities Standing Committee at least quarterly on the status of partnership discussions, and an attendance area review of the five Barrie secondary schools will commence in October 2014.

That the Board confirms that the requirements of the Request For Proposal, Barrie Central Partnerships issued on November 4, 2013 have not been fulfilled, as set out in Report No.

That the Board approve, if viable financial partnerships including private sector organizations are not secured by September 30, 2014 relating to the shared development and use of a new secondary school on the Barrie Central Collegiate Institute site, staff proceed with a school consolidation capital project business case, in accordance with Ministry Memo 2014: B08 Request for School Consolidation Capital Projects, dated August 27, 2014, for the purpose of accommodating students resulting from the closure of Barrie Central Collegiate Institute, dated September 24, 2014.