It was initially intended to serve dual purposes as both the high school for Bethel Park and a campus for the Community College of Allegheny County.
In 2010, the ground was broken in an area just south of the campus that had previously served as a parking lot and practice field for the school.
There are smaller exercise rooms surrounding the gymnasium and an 8-lane pool with two diving boards on the bottom level.
The courtyard in the center of the U-shaped high school has a large grass field and a recently installed pond.
However, many other clubs and organizations contributed to the project, including but not limited to PACS, SGA, and even the football team.
In 1949, a gymnasium was added to the Park Avenue school, and in 1952, an upper wing was constructed to meet growing enrollment and student educational needs[3] In 1956, the Board of School Directors purchased an 80-acre (320,000 m2) plot on Church Road, known at that time as McCormack Farm.
Plans were drawn to create a campus environment, and in the fall of 1959, sophomores, juniors, and seniors moved to their six-building campus, which consisted of two academic buildings, a library, an auditorium/cafeteria, physical education building, a boiler house for $4.1 million for construction and equipment.
[3] The new Bethel Senior High School was dedicated on October 23, 1960, but the campus would not grow to its current size until seven years later.
Phase III was completed in 1967 with the construction of the fourth academic building and a 6,300-seat football stadium and track, three tennis courts, seven basketball courts, and a baseball field, as well as additions to the library, cafeteria, and physical education building.
Curriculum in the 1930s consisted of English, History, French, Home Economics, Social Studies, Music, Latin, Science and Math.
Events like the May Day Celebration, class banquets, Halloween Parties, and a New Year's Dance were part of school life.
Clubs such as Girl Reserves, Hi-Y, The Secret Sixteen, and the Junior Birdmen were popular among the students.
Female students did their part in the war effort by participating in organizations such as the Girl Reserves to knit mittens and socks for the soldiers.
After the war, school life returned to normal, with music and dancing in the cafeteria during lunchtime for those who stayed.
[3] The curriculum expanded to include classes such as Shorthand, Wood Shop, Art, Physical Education, Spanish, and Penmanship.
Adding bleachers meant students could attend sporting events and cheer for their teams from the stands.
Events such as the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the onset of the Vietnam War prompted students to break away from conformity.
[3] The spirit of rebellion continued into the 1970s, accompanied by a great deal of self-evaluation, as students became skeptical that they could change the world.
For example, Bethel students won the right to an Honor Study Program, the right to drive to school, and the right to influence the curriculum.
But as conservatism dominated the late 70s, many of these privileges were revoked as the curriculum headed to a "back to basics" philosophy.
The 1970s saw the creation of several girls' sports teams, including Volleyball, Swimming, Tennis, Softball, Golf, Track, and Cross Country.
[3] The curriculum included interesting offerings such as an Independent Living Relations Class, which held a Greek Orthodox Mock Wedding.
[3] Issues such as drunk driving brought about the creation of a SADD group in the 1990s, as well as a Newcomers Club to welcome new students to campus.
Traditions that had their inception in the 1990s and continue today include Senior Appreciation Day, the Cheerleaders' Annual Fashion Show to benefit Make-A-Wish, the SGA Volleyball Tournament, and the ever-popular Man of the Year dance competition, which debuted in 1991.