Most of the school's approximately 1,700 students are "day boys" from Palmerston North and surrounding townships such as Ashhurst, Levin, and Feilding.

In a 1990 case, M & R v Syms and the Board of Trustees of Palmerston North Boys High School [2003] NZAR 705,[7] the plaintiffs challenged the steps taken by the rector in suspending both students for consumption of alcohol, and later by the board expelling M. McGechan J gave judgment for the plaintiffs holding that the rector's discretion as to whether to suspend the pupils "is not to be ignored, as if non-existent.

The judge further found that the board did not exercise its mind on the ultimate discretion whether or not to uplift suspension or procure removal.

[14] In August 2017 the school was hit with media attention as a year 12 student was denied access to the ball as he did not have a partner to go with.

The school has experienced success nationally in sports such as football, cycling, badminton, squash, basketball, hockey and rugby.

Other rugby teams from Boys' High are likely to play in blue and white hooped jerseys, similar to Auckland or St Kentigern College.