The school has gone through many changes over the years including an additional wing added in the early 1950's with an essentially new facility opened in the academic year 1993/94 as detailed below.

The original school was demolished circa 1992 as shown in the picture here.

Lady Evelyn has a long-standing history in Ottawa East, one that predates 1900. The earliest records are from 1889 when the school consisted of one room. Ottawa East was a fast-growing community and the-needs were greater than the small school could offer. In March of 1905 it was decided by the Board of Public School Trustees for Ottawa East, that a " building would be erected on Ella Street that would house the new school.
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On Friday, October 27, 1905, Ottawa East Public School was officially opened by, His Excellency Lord Earl Grey who was' then the Governor General. He was accompanied by his daughter Lady Evelyn Grey, who was presented with a bouquet of red roses at the opening by two young students. On March 24, 1908 Major Winter, then Chair of the Board of Trustees requested that Ottawa East Public School be officially renamed Lady Evelyn Public School. This application was granted and soon after the street name Ella Avenue was changed to Evelyn Avenue.

After this initial flurry of activity it was pretty much business as usual at Lady Evelyn. The student population grew until it reached as many as 300 in the 1960s. In 1980 things began to look-grim for the 75-year-old school. The enrolment had dipped below 100 'and the Ottawa Board of Education intended to close Lady Evelyn. But people in the neighbourhood were attached to the school. Many who had attended it as children had fond memories of their time there. Closing it would mean "children would have to be bused long distances. A committed group of parents" who were involved with the Parent Pre-school Resource Centre banded together and using To Herald a Child, written by Laurier Lapierre as inspiration, they proposed that Lady Evelyn become an alternative school. This was the first attempt to have an alternative school in the Ottawa area. The challenges seemed to fuel their energy and in 1982 Lady Evelyn Alternative School was established as a pilot project on the condition that seventy-five children were enrolled. The parent's hard work was met with success and since that time the enrolment has increased steadily and the school is now thriving. With the beautiful new facility opened in the school year 1993/94, Lady Evelyn is able to continue its philosophy of self-directed, individualized programming which the principal, parents and teachers share.