 Scarlett refers to John Scarlett, an early land owner and entrepreneur in the area.Former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was a graduate of the school.The school was originally constructed in 1962 under its working name, "Hilltop Collegiate Institute" at the cost of $1,311,800.00 ($11,100,260.48 in 2019 dollars) when the Etobicoke Board of Education approved the Hilltop application on December 19, 1961.