Glacier Peak was opened in 2008 to relieve overcrowding at Snohomish High School; the 230,000-square-foot (21,000 m2) facility designed by NAC Architecture and built by Lydig Construction.

The site is adjacent to the former Cathcart Landfill, which opened in 1980 and closed in 1992 after reaching capacity.

[2] The school opened in an almost completed state on September 3, 2008, for grades 9–11.

Grades 9-12 have attended GPHS since September 2009, and the first senior class graduated on June 17, 2010.

A performing arts center provides a venue for GPHS's performances, including plays and musicals as well as jazz band, concert band, and choir concerts.