[4] Lakes Community High School opened to 600 freshman and sophomore students on August 23, 2004.

Construction began in 2001 on both the high school and the Antioch-Lake Villa Township Center, which contains offices and meeting space for district operations.

[5] In the spring of 2003, the board of education selected the school's name, mascot (Eagles) and colors (royal blue, white, red) from suggestions made by community members.

Initially all District 117 freshmen were to attend Lakes for 2004–2005, but in December 2003 the board of education revised the plan, keeping all students at the high schools they would eventually graduate from.

Lakes became a member of the North Suburban Conference - Prairie Division in the fall of 2005 and competed on its own with a full complement of varsity and sub-varsity teams.