Later, the students met in the Good Samaritan Hall on Branch Street while the first dedicated high school building was built.

[6] This was the first high school built in the area between San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria.

Over the next two decades, a shop building, a tennis court, and hot air heating were added.

The curriculum requires four quarters of Advisory, Language Arts, Mathematics, Social Studies, Physical Education, Science, and grade-specific electives.

[7] Seventh grade electives include the Wheel (a rotation of health, college and career awareness, exploring technology, and fine arts courses), math and language support, and AVID: A class for students who aspire to go to college, although their parent(s) did not, band, drama (limited entry), and guitar.

[7] Eighth graders may choose from electives including Leadership/Government, Band (advanced or intermediate), Drama/Speech, Art, Math and Language support, AVID,[8] Spanish, Guitar, and Yearbook/Graphic Production.

Like the other two middle schools in the district, Paulding is built on a hill overlooking the surrounding city.

The athletic fields for the school are located 30-feet below the locker rooms across the busy East Branch Street.

[9] Students use a chain-link fenced pedestrian bridge and a steep stairway to reach the fields below.

The faculty adviser, Mr. Calderon, volunteers his time, and the club receives quite a bit of community support.

The February 2002 team (joint with Judkins Middle School) of Daniel Angel, Bryce Blue (Wassup Rockers), Zac Efron (High School Musical), Anthony Martin, Chris Reinacher, and Brogan Sterns won the Global Finals in the challenge "The Art of Improv, Middle Level".

[18][19] In February 2011, the "Extreme Makeover, Disaster Edition" (a joint team with Arroyo Grande High School) and "The Cavorting Beasties of Cyclical Proportions" (joint with Nipomo High School) earned perfect scores in the regional competition.