Part of Tacoma Public Schools, it was named for Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth President of the United States.

On the grounds, the most distinguishing feature is Alonzo Victor Lewis' statue of Lincoln, unveiled February 12, 1918.

The inscriptions over the entrances - Reverence, Justice, Goodwill, Simplicity, Grace, and Courage - were suggested by the architects and were inspired by similar words which Bishop Keater, in a baccalaureate address at the university, designated as "gateways of the ideal democracy the public school aims to build."

Designed by K-12 architectural firm DLR Group, the renovation added a new academic building to support Lincoln's transition to a Small Learning Community based curriculum.

The walls of the short hallway on the left of the central hub were not yet covered with pictures because there had not yet been a graduating class to display there.

[10][11] Retired NFL quarterback Jon Kitna joined the staff of Lincoln High School from January 2012 through June 2015, teaching mathematics.

In 2015, Kitna accepted a position coaching football at Waxahachie High School in Texas.

[12] The visit of President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China in September 2015 provided opportunities for students to explore Chinese music, government and culture.