van der Lingen founded the school in the centre of town in 1858.

The school has produced some of South Africa's top rugby players, including Schalk Burger, Jean De Villiers, Marius Joubert, Handré Pollard and De Wet Barry.

[citation needed] Other alumni include the theologian Stephanus Jacobus du Toit[1] and politician Liezl van der Merwe.

Paarl Gimnasium High School has a large sporting program and takes part in the interschools tournament against Paarl Boys' High School, an event which attracts tens of thousands of spectators every year.

In August 2024 the netball team won the Kay Motsepe league and earned a spot to represent South Africa in Singapore with Leifo-Iziko Secondary School from Petsana Reitz, Free State.