It is located in the Chamizal neighborhood in the South Central part of the city next to the border with Mexico, not far from the Bridge of the Americas linking El Paso with Ciudad Juarez, across San Marcial Street from Chamizal National Memorial.

It was named for Texas Revolution hero and Alamo defender James Bowie.

[2] The first school building still exists on South Cotton Street at Sixth Avenue in the Segundo Barrio (Second Ward) section of South-Central El Paso; it is now Guillen Middle School.

Bowie High was eventually relocated to its current location as a result of restructuring in South El Paso.

Prior to 1964, the land on which Bowie High sits was Mexican territory.