With a population of 2,409+ students operating out of two buildings on the Des Moines Southside, it was named after the 16th United States President Abraham Lincoln.

Their mascot is typically a senior at the school or a recent alumni dressed up as Abraham Lincoln.

[2] At that time, the school had 55 classrooms, a swimming pool, two gymnasiums, several labs, an art and music room, a cafeteria, and an auditorium, providing a total student capacity of 1,300.

On the floor of the vestibule is the school monogram done in bronze, surrounded by a design in variegated marble.

On the south wall is a portrait of The Boy Lincoln, painted by Russell Cowles, a former student of West High School.

In the main corridor is a bronze bust of Lincoln, the work of Laurence Stewart, a former student of East High.

The lower level of the Roundhouse holds the weight-training area, boys' locker rooms, and swimming pool.

All freshman classes were held at RAILS Academy (formally known as Kurtz Junior High building) from 2005 to 2018.

On the opposite side of Bell Avenue are two student parking lots, tennis courts, a general practice field, and Hutchens Metro Stadium (home to football and track events).

Lincoln competes in the South Division with the other Des Moines Metro Schools and Ottumwa.

The division included six teams: the five Des Moines schools (East, Hoover, Lincoln, North, and Roosevelt) and Ottumwa.

[3] Lincoln High School has 19 sports – ten for boys and nine for girls – and there are ample opportunities for students to get involved, either as participant or team manager.

The school district requires students to take several core academic courses, including Social Studies, English, Mathematics, Science, Art, and Physical Education.

The school district determines the amount of academic credit needed to satisfy graduation requirements.

However, the school compels lower-class students to schedule a full day of classes, to ensure satisfaction with district graduation requirements.