Reasons given for the closure included the start of the Civil War, economic depression, and a feeling among the residents of Dubuque that an elementary education was sufficient.

In 1893 the proposal to issue bonds in the amount of $75,000 to purchase a site and erect a new high school on the corner of 15th and Locust Streets was approved by Dubuque voters by a margin of 956 to 235.

Central High School was constructed of coarse-cut Wisconsin red sandstone with massive arches and a soaring clock tower.

However, because of construction delays, the Stephen Hempstead Senior High School was not ready for classes on September 2, 1969.

Today, the Dubuque Senior High School facility comprises 288,580 square feet (26,810 m2) of space to support greater educational opportunities.

Further renovations are scheduled to begin in the summer of 2007, projects are expected to include the reopening of the balcony, new seating, a new stage floor, a new sound system and refurbishment of the house.

[2] Beginning in 2017, renovations began to provide a new entrance and office area, a new library, a new cafeteria, a new gymnasium, and several new classrooms to the building.

The AP subjects taught are Human Geography, World History, US History, English Language and Composition, Statistics, English Literature and Composition, Biology, Chemistry, Psychology, Computer Science A, Government, Economics, Calculus AB, and Calculus BC.

The Advanced Placement students that took the AP tests in 2006 earned Senior the 8th place in the state of Iowa for their scores.

Jay Berwanger, first Heisman trophy winner while at the University of Chicago, played his prep football at Dubuque Senior.

The past two retired theatre directors (Ms. Sybil Lamb and Ms. Francis Hedeman) have both been inducted into the Iowa Thespian Hall of Fame.

During the 2008-2009, Senior production of "Almost, Maine" was 1 of 7 main-stage shows around the world selected to perform at the International Thespian conference.