It was a co-educational high school operated by the New South Wales Department of Education and Training with students from years 7 to 12.

However, due to declining enrolments the school was closed in December 2002, coinciding with the establishment of the Northern Beaches Secondary College.

Following the announcement, local residents formed a committee to prevent the closure, and later to prevent a Government sale of the school site and make the site available for the community, known as the Retain Beacon Hill High School Committee.

The closure of the school was criticised by the Greens New South Wales Education spokesman, John Kaye, who said in a media release: The demolition of Beacon Hill High School is a monument to poor planning, developer-driven government decisions and a deceitful and inadequate closure process.

The site was granted development approval by the Minister for Planning, and the school buildings were demolished in January 2007 to make way for a 26 allotment residential subdivision.