Arlington was the only high school in Saint Paul with no attendance boundaries and enrolled students from throughout the city.

The increasing number of children who attend public rather than non-public schools was attributed to part of the need.

In 1974, 53% of children born in St. Paul later entered kindergarten in the city public schools.

[4] Overcrowding was so severe that in 1992 a citizen's group recommended moving 9th grade back into junior high buildings.

[5] The overcrowding was blamed on a surge in the birthrate in Saint Paul and a sudden influx of students from the suburbs, an unusual occurrence in an inner city school district.

[9][10] As a result, the location was moved to a site approximately .5 miles (0.80 km) west.

[16] The alumni created a lobbying group and even enlisted the help of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Harry Blackmun, a 1925 graduate of Mechanic Arts.

In the spring of 2010 Saint Paul Public schools faced a $27.2 million budget shortfall.

Consequently, an emphasis was placed on technology being built into the school and providing the ability to add to the existing facilities in the future.

The outside of the building is composed of tall narrow windows and a curving facade which has led to one architectural critic comparing it to a suburban office park.

[25] As the first new high school built in several years, many unorthodox ideas were suggested.

[30] School officials wished to create a balance of college prep classes and vocational programs.

These smaller learning communities separated particular student interests into different areas of the school.

[34] Originally the school was opened with four focus areas; liberal arts, medical and environmental sciences, informational technologies and communication and policy-making and government but beginning with the 2008–2009 school year those career paths had changed.

[35] The money was used for hiring additional staff and adding more high-tech equipment and supplies to the school's "extensive" existing facilities.

[22] Students were to choose between three career pathways: bioengineering and technology, bio-business and marketing or biomedical and health sciences.

Arlington had the lowest test scores and highest concentration of poverty for Saint Paul Public Schools.

[35] As a result of not meeting Adequate Yearly Progress as a part of No Child Left Behind Arlington faced restructuring.

[37] Arlington was one of three schools in Minnesota and one of two in Saint Paul to have a Naval Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps unit.

The school has a Multicultural Excellence Program (MEP) that gives guidance to students of color who wish to earn a college degree.

The first year the school opened the athletic teams only competed in junior varsity competitions.

[47] Sports that are not offered at Arlington are played in co-ops with other Saint Paul City Conference members.