Given the temporary nature of the enterprise, public secondary education for white, US employees' children was initially modest and fluid.

Students with last names ending in L through Z had the Bulldog as a mascot and their team colors were light blue and white.

Balboa High School operated a popular Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program in which a majority of male students participated.

Life magazine) The ensuing violent reaction by Panamanians at the border with the Canal Zone when news of the torn flag reached Panama City, resulted in an overwhelmed Canal Zone Police calling for support from U.S. Army units that became involved in suppressing the violence, and after three days of fighting, about 21 Panamanians and 4 U.S. soldiers were killed.

The incident is considered to be a significant factor in the U.S. decision to transfer control of the Canal Zone to Panama through the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties.

During the December 1989 "Operation Just Cause," which removed General Manuel Noriega from power and ended Panama's 21-year military dictatorship, the premises of the Balboa High School were temporarily used by the US Armed Forces to house civilians displaced from Panama City's El Chorrillo neighborhood by the fires resulting from the attack on the Panamanian Defense Forces' headquarters.

They included Guillermo Ford, vice president of Panama and Gustavo A. Mellander, noted historian and university administrator.

The gym, sauna, racketball court, track, and field (which was used by Balboa High School, as well as used as the field for weekly Friday football games and tryouts, and cheerleading meets and tryouts) are all leftovers of the Panama Canal Zone days, as well as the Balboa High School days.