The school has merged two previous schools – the former Bancroft Public and the former North Hastings Senior Elementary Public School – into a new school with a significant amount of restructuring. Students have a safe and healthy learning environment based upon the Growing with Character attributes of caring, co-operation, honesty, humour, integrity, respect, responsibility, and trustworthiness. The school has a Design & Technology Room and Music Room for enhanced learning activities. In addition, York River provides an Extended French Program for Grades 5 to 8, two classes of the Early Learning Program, and an after-school program sponsored by North Hastings Children’s Services. The school is next door to the North Hastings Community Centre, and uses the centre for a number of school-related events.

Students from York River proceed to nearby North Hastings Secondary School for Grades 9 to 12.