Admission to the school is by audition and students sing in concerts in Canada and internationally and during weekly mass at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica.

[2][3][4][5] In addition to music and the performing arts, the school's alumni include professionals in business, academia, law, medicine, media, and politics.

Then called Cathedral Schola Cantorum, the school's founding was inspired by Pope Pius X's Tra le sollecitudini and started in a single room at 67 Bond Street, Toronto.

[14][15] Monsignor Ronan was a composer[16] and graduate of the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome, Italy, and remained principal until his death on October 15, 1962, a date that is now commemorated annually as Founder's Day at the school.

[15] The affiliation authorized St. Michael's Choir School to grant the degree of Bachelor of Sacred Music, with a specialization in Gregorian chant.

[29] The choirs have also performed at Roy Thomson Hall and other venues around the city, both on their own and with other musical groups, including the Victoria Scholars Men's Choral Ensemble[30] and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra.

[31] The school performed for Pope John Paul II in 1984 during his papal visit to Canada and again in 2002 during World Youth Day.

The celebration includes a performance of Thou Royal Knight from Courts on High, the school song composed by Monsignor Ronan in 1942.

[57] On November 11, the graduating class provides music for the school's Remembrance Day ceremony at St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty.

During Tenebrae, alumni return to sing responsories alongside current students in a traditional ceremony where candles are gradually extinguished throughout the service and choristers slap hymnals on pews to create a loud noise in the darkened church.

At the center of the Choir School’s academic effort to make the universe (circle) intelligible to growing minds is an experience of music (treble clef) for the praise of God in Jesus Christ (Chi Rho cross).

Students wear maroon or navy blue blazers, sweaters, and polo shirts according to their grade level, as part of the school's uniform.

[67] The school houses, Ronan, Hopperton, Mann, and Armstrong, are represented by the colours blue, yellow, red, and green, respectively.

[68] St. Michael's Choir School came under scrutiny after 17-year-old student Kenneth Au Yeung died by suicide by leaping from the Prince Edward Viaduct on December 11, 1997.

[69] Earlier that afternoon, Principal John Ryall called Au Yeung and five other classmates to his office about a prank involving potentially libellous remarks linking the school choir director to a sex scandal.

Graduates earn an Extended French Certificate from the Toronto Catholic District School Board and are considered functionally bilingual upon completing the program.

[88] Students from the Junior, Senior and Tenor-Bass choirs also participate in the school's semi-annual tours, which take place around Christmas and in the spring, in Canada and internationally.

[91][92] The school supports a varied sports program and offers volleyball, tennis, swimming, cross-country, soccer, ultimate, and flag football.

[102] In 2018, the Ministry of Education announced it would spend $11.2 million CAD[103][104][105] to construct a new consolidated school building at 67 Bond Street designed by KPMB Architects.