Prior to 1858, higher education was found in Toronto (Home District Grammar School).

Since there was not a school building, quarters were rented in Temperance Hall at Franklin and George Streets, on the site now occupied by the Markham Lawn Bowling Club.

The old site on Albert Street became the new home of the Markham Union Masonic Lodge and converted to commercial space in 2009.

The enrolment for 1971–72 in this large, well-equipped composite school is approximately eighteen hundred students.

The opening of Bur Oak Secondary School in 2007 was to reduce the number of students served by Markham DHS.

The construction of the new school would allow students within the permanent boundary and the existing gifted program continued attendance into the future.

The Markham Marauders boys curling team has been YRAA champions and OFSAA participants for the past four years.

In addition, the 1986 Markham Marauders boys curling team were YRAA champions and runner up at OFSAA.

Both of the Markham Marauders curling teams (boys and girls) won the 2015–16 YRAA championships and represented the school at OFSAA in Northbay in March 2016.

Until the 2010–11 academic year the school also offered Ancient Greek from levels 1 - 3 but dropped it due to lack of interest.

In Certamen, Markham maintains a strong level of commitment and dedication, consistently taking the top accolades.

A number of regularly occurring music ensembles exist at Markham District High School.

They broke ground in early November 2008, and opened the school in time for the 2010/2011 academic year.

The boundaries are the City of Markham within the following zone:[14] The school hosts approximately 44 clubs,[15] some of which are activist-based (for example, Amnesty International).

MDHS also offers the AP (Advanced Placement) Biology and Calculus AB courses and the Core Gifted program.