Fourteen students registered for classes on the opening day, of whom seven graduated at the school's first commencement in 1912.

[3] Half Moon Bay High School offers Advanced Placement courses in US History, World History, Spanish, French, US Government, English Language and Composition, English Literature and Composition, Studio Art, Biology, Physics, Calculus and Statistics.

[4] Half Moon Bay High School's graduating senior's SAT scores have consistently averaged well above the overall California state mean.

[6] The Cougars compete in the Peninsula Athletic League of the Central Coast Section of the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF).

Notably, the football team won the Central Coast Section (CCS) title in 2005, 2015, 2016, and 2017.