During most of the twentieth century, Meridian and surrounding areas were separated from Boise to the east by a significant amount of agricultural land, which later became developed.

In 1975, a larger, more modern campus (initially containing four buildings) was built at the present location, at the intersection of Pine Ave. and Linder Rd.

Growth continued into the mid-1980s, forcing the school to adopt a split-shift schedule to accommodate the 2,400 students attending a facility built for 1,800.

With rapid growth in the Meridian and west Boise area, four additional high schools in the district opened in the next two decades to relieve congestion.

The school's yearbook is called the Mana Ha Sa which is said to be how MHS is pronounced by some unspecified Native Americans.