The name "Playford" was in recognition of Sir Thomas Playford, the state premier whose government established Elizabeth, a reference seen today in the name of the council area which was formed by amalgamating Elizabeth and Munno Para.

With the growth of the suburbs, enrolment rapidly outgrew the permanent buildings in the north-eastern corner of the site.

A third wing was added to the "permanent" buildings and enrolment continued to grow to over 2000 students in the latter half of the decade.

Enrolment eventually declined with the maturing population of the city and the establishment of another high school in Elizabeth West closer to developing suburbs that had extended northwards into Munno Para.

The state government provided $7 million over four years to build a centre for advanced technologies, maths, science, arts, multimedia, and refurbish classrooms.