Placer High School’s origins can be traced back to 1882 when three young men from the East Coast arrived in Auburn with a dream of creating a college for Northern California.

The trio met with influential members of the community in the Placer County Courthouse and began a campaign to solicit donations to the building fund of the Sierra Normal College and Business Institute.

Two years later, in 1903, the county purchased the building and grounds from Dr. Ward, the president and sole owner of the former Sierra Normal College.

The addition of a young coach from the University of California, Earl Crabbe, enabled the girls’ and boys’ basketball teams to achieve great success.

During the period of time the Placer Band came into prominence under the guidance of Otto Fox, entertaining the school and the community at concerts and public performances.

Steve Barooshian, a slightly built, Armenian refugee with a Stanford education, came to the foothills to teach the feared “mountain boys”.

Earl Crabbe continued his career during this time, leaving coaching but creating journalism program at both the high school and college.

Howard Woodside joined the high school staff during this period of time, coaching baseball and football before moving on to an illustrations career at Placer Junior College.

Placer High, which began as a one-building facility in 1897, had an upper and lower campus comprised by 11 white stucco and red tiled buildings.

By the end of the sixties the school boasted an on-site stadium for football and track, a new library, and new history and English wings which replaced the 1906 brick building.

The 1926 science and auditorium wings had been renovated by the seventies and a new practice gymnasium was built behind the venerable Earl Crabbe Gym in 1982.

Homecoming became a colossal event beginning in 1967 when a five-day celebration was declared, including a night rally, a bonfire, a dance, and the annual Senior Powder-Puff football game which had remained scoreless throughout its then six-year run until for the first time in the fall of 1972, when Janice Mihayloff made history by rushing for two touchdowns; all a prelude to the big game against arch-rival Roseville High School.

The student newspaper was revived under a new name, The Hillmen Messenger, several years after the demise of the Placer Union, and is currently being taught by Dan Wilson.

The Vocational Industrial Club of America came into existence in the eighties, garnering several regional and state gold medals in competitions.

Placer excelled in sports during this period of time as Tom Barry took over the helm adding to the heritage of the Crabbe and LeFebvre coached teams, and creating his own glory.

His teams won eight league titles in 12 years, including six in a row, at one point in the seventies, and he retired in 1979 averaging twenty wins per season.

Before retiring, he coached his grapplers to seventeen league championships and guided two wrestlers, Steve Stratton and Gary Anderson, to state titles.

Miller went on to coach the girls' tennis and build a state powerhouse team that won 12 straight league championships and nine Sac-Joaquin Section titles.

[2] At the end of the 2006–2007 school year, principal David Horsey resigned to take a position with the district, and Bill Roderick replaced him.

Placer High School is known for some of its tournaments and athletic events, such as the Le Febvre Relays (Track) and the Kendall Arnett (basketball).