Paris was one of the original creators of the Apollo conference in 1970 alongside the schools of Newton, Charleston, and Robinson.

Architect Arthur L. Pillsbury of Bloomington designed the building in the Classical Revival style; his design included a two-story portico at the main entrance, stone and terra cotta arched doorways, quoins at the corners, and a dentillated cornice.

Architects Berger and Kelley of Champaign designed the gymnasium in the Streamline Moderne style.

[14] On May 29, 2015, Paris Cooperative High School left its original building for a new location.

[15] The original building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on April 16, 2019.