In the early 1920s, Maine Township became the first high school in Illinois to teach courses in automotive repair and telegraphy.

The idea spread and, in 1952, the chapters at individual high schools were incorporated as Modern Music Masters.

As a result of their efforts, the students were invited to a dedication ceremony at the local Douglas Aircraft plant, where C54 Skymaster cargo planes were built for the war.

The original natatorium, located in the basement, has been shut down due to the need for financially unfeasible repairs, but is kept for its irreplaceable decorative mosaics, which could be damaged with further exposure to water and chemicals.

Starting in 1988, the school's ecology club began a clean-up and restoration of a small section of the property which was native savanna.

[10] The school offers 18 Advanced Placement courses: English language, English literature, biology, environmental science, chemistry, physics (C), calculus (AB & BC), statistics, computer science (AB), Spanish language, Spanish literature, U.S. history, European history, government and politics, economics, music theory and studio art.

[11] Maine East has been ranked in the top 1,500 of America's public schools (based on the Challenge Index), as reported by Newsweek.

[12] Maine East High School is active in United States policy debate and hosts a tournament with regional significance to Great Lakes-region high school debaters, as those advancing far enough receive a bid to attend the national Tournament of Champions.

[citation needed] The following teams were placed in the top four of the IHSA sponsored State Championship Tournament of their respective competitive activity:[13] Maine East High School is also home to the Park Ridge Rotary Interact Club, founded in 2013.

The Interact Club boasts a large amount of student involvement and has led major fundraising and community service initiatives.

The school sponsors interscholastic teams for men and women in basketball, cross country, golf, gymnastics, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, volleyball and water polo.

There are men's teams in baseball, American football and wrestling, while women may compete in badminton, cheerleading and softball.