Located on the east side of Lancaster, it is named after John Piersol McCaskey, a local educator.

John Piersol McCaskey High School opened on 3 May 1938,[4] accepting Lancaster city's first gender-integrated class of students.

The high school was named for John McCaskey, a local educator, composer, and politician.

While the main building was subsequently extended, the original façade, lobby, and auditorium are set in Art Deco style.

In 2021, The outside of the JP McCaskey Building was used in an episode the Disney Channel TV show Bunk'd, as well as a trailer for the 2023 film “Bottoms”.