History

East High School opened in 1924 and operated as a high school until the late 1990s when it was closed for a couple of years and then reopened as an elementary school.

In 2008, East was re-established as a secondary school for grades 8-12. East currently serves approximately 1100 students in grades 9-12, making it one of the largest high schools in Kansas City. Diversity sets East apart from the other district schools with over 40 languages spoken, representing 42 countries. All levels of ELL are served from New American to Advanced. During the 2011 school year R.J. Delano, the district school for severely mentally and physically handicapped students, merged with East adding to the diversity.

At East, students are challenged to be leaders and achievers through academics and extracurricular activities. Exciting opportunities abound at East with the city's only agricultural program, complete with a green house, farm animals and an orchard. Students also have the opportunity to take engineering classes in a state-of-the-art STEM Lab in partnership with the KC Current, as well as a number of AP and dual credit courses. Numerous extracurricular activities are encouraged as well, including Varsity and Junior Varsity sports, JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps), Robotics, Art Club, and Bicycle Club, among others. In 2023, the East Bears boys' soccer team won the school's first State Championship after making it to the championship game in 2022.