Opened in 1932 in northeast Spokane, the school is named after John Rankin Rogers, the third governor of the State of Washington.

[3][4] In September 2009, extensive renovation was completed on the school, adding another 170,000 square feet (16,000 m2) to the three-story Art Deco structure.

Both movies included hundreds of current and former members of the student body of Rogers High School as extras, as well as former members of the Pirates championship wrestling team, including award-winning coach and social studies teacher, Ken Pelo.

Built in 1907, Hillyard High served a smaller community surrounding James J. Hill's Great Northern Railway train yards.

[8] While the need for a new school was readily apparent throughout Spokane, the approval of a large bond measure, following the recent 1929 stock market crash was considered a shot in the dark.

With the more westward location of the new school, Rogers was able to accommodate the city by serving an expanded geographic area and student population.

The auditorium theater was two stories high, with tiered seating for 635 students on the main level and another 250 on the upper balcony.

The new school had the first building-wide public address system in Spokane; the first 8-circuit electric signal clock, which rang class bells automatically; the first built-in-the-wall student lockers in Spokane; modern acoustical ceilings; and a new ventilation system, which reduced fuel bills and kept the building temperature at 70 degrees.

The external and internal design used zigzags, chevrons, circles, parallel and stepped back lines, and stylized vegetation.

The historic portion of the school uses brick and cast stone, built onto a reinforced concrete superstructure.

The architectural form of the building is a geometrically-balanced edifice with symmetrical rows of large, multiple-pane windows, which are softened by the ornamental use of Art Deco design details.

[10] A number of features visible from the roof include ventilation louvers, elevator penthouses, and skyview crow's nest, in keeping with the Pirate mascot used throughout the school.

The skyline of the school is dominated by a tall, square chimney stack, featuring elaborately designed corbelled brick edging.

On January 7, 2011, John R. Rogers High School was honored with an official listing on the National Register of Historic Places, representing an outstanding example of the Art Deco style in Spokane, as applied to public structures.

[17] In 2002, the thriller Hangman's Curse, based on the Frank Peretti novel of the same name and starring David Keith and Mel Harris, was filmed at the school.

The story involves a mystery of school bullying, suicide, ghosts, and spiritual warfare, told from a Christian perspective.

[26][27][28] Beyond required classes in the core areas (math, science, social studies, and English), John R. Rogers offers a wide variety of elective courses, including an honors and Advanced Placement (AP) program.

Summer opportunities and assignments provide students with resources to get a head start on the upcoming school year.

The school also offers remote access for online books and resources, available through Cengage Learning databases.