It was founded in 1974 by the Sisters of St. John the Baptist, and is named after Dante Alighieri, a major Italian poet of the Middle Ages in the 13th century.

In 2011, the Toronto Catholic District Board received provincial funding to reconstruct Dante Alighieri Academy's outdated facilities.

[3] This culminated when Villa Charities, the owner of the Columbus Centre and the TCDSB announced a joint venture in December 2012 to build a new joint-use 400,000 sq.

[4] The announcement has met with controversy and opposition within the community protesting against the proposed demolition of the 1980s apartment building being redeveloped.

[citation needed] The school also offers various programs such as arts, technological studies, English, Mathematics, science and guidance.