[1] Opened and operated by the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) district, Harrison was founded in 1910 as a branch of Farragut Career Academy.

Since its closing, The building has housed several schools; presently the Maria Saucedo Scholastic Academy.

By the mid–1960s, street gangs in the area began to adopt a racial identity, and the Mexican student population at the main campus, while still small relative to the overall population, was increasing; at the time racial tension between black and Mexican students increased.

[5] During a March 1972 protest, Mexican-American students demanding better conditions from the school board went on strike[6] Harrison competed in the Chicago Public League (CPL) and was a member of the Illinois High School Association (IHSA).

[2] The boys' track and field team were public league champions and class AA in 1975–76.