Built to accommodate 2,000 students in grades 9 through 12, the new high school was occupied by 2,400 students in the fall of 1963. The new property was purchased with the vision for expansion on a 40 acre tract. Thus, McAllen High School evolved from an old air style, over-crowded school building to a modern air conditioned building supported by its own natural gas turbine generators.
Initially, although obsolete, the old campus was maintained for instructing "migrant students." By 1973, however, the "migrant student" population had grown to more than 1,000 and school board officials decided to mainstream migrant students. Accordingly, the old property was sold to the McAllen State Bank and in 1976, the original campus was torn down. Today, the grounds of the old high school and stadium feature an ultra-modern banking and office center.
In spite of its long and proud history within the Rio Grande Valley, McAllen High School administration officials and faculty recognize that challenges of the future require continual evaluation, instructional innovation, hard work, and high expectations for our students. This "winning" attitude will not only help to propel McAllen High School into the 21st Century, it will also best serve the interests and demands of our community.