When it was built, Tabor Park became the first junior vocational high school in the former City of Scarborough catered to slow learners and students with disabilities.

On September 7, 1965, Tabor Park opened for classes with 10 classrooms, a small library, cafetorium, double gymnasium, professional kitchen, several shops for cosmetology, merchandise, textiles, automotives, sheet metal, carpentry and greenhouse.

As enrollment numbers had begun to erode to less than 500 students, the SBE began holding public meetings regarding Tabor Park on November 6, 1985, along with Maplewood the next day.

In its early years, Tabor housed several agencies including Scarborough Housing Assistance: Placement and Education for Singles (SHAPES), the counseling service Metro Youth Services, a day care facility operated by NYAD (Not Your Average Day Care), and the board's Community Liaison Office.

In addition to its basic academic programs for English, mathematics, science, art and geography; the school’s facilities were equipped with shop classrooms for automotives, woodworking, welding, plumbing, electrical, production assembly, sheet metal, greenhouse, textiles, hairdressing, child care, professional kitchens, building maintenance and merchandising.