The construction project for Building Five (the science wing) concluded the fall of 2010, preceding the 2010–2011 academic school year.

[7] District Champs: 1985 12-5A, 1988 12-5A, 1994 11-5A, 1998 9-5A, 1999 9-5A, 2000 9-5A,2023 6A In 1994, Plano East was on the losing end of a wild and memorable regional semi final game against John Tyler High School in which five touchdowns were scored in the last two and a half minutes (courtesy of three consecutive successful onside kicks, followed by a regular kickoff returned for a touchdown).

They won against Rockhill, Highland Park, Allen, V.R Eaton and Keller to finish out their regular playoff season.

In Houston, Plano East swept Sachse (2-0), Killeen (2-0), Ellison (2-0) and, finally, defeated the defending champions Garland Lakeview 2–1.

In 2011, the girls team won the state championship, defeating Katy High School in the final round.

Hockey is also not an officially recognized sport by the Texas University Interscholastic League In 2022, the Plano East Panthers Varsity won the TAHA Division 2A State Championship, defeating Birdville 6-2 in the championship game played in Mansfield on January 23, 2022.

Plano East offers International Baccalaureate, Advanced Placement, Honors, Regular Level, Special Education and Remedial classes.

The Plano East journalism department houses the school focused student-run newsmagazine and website, Panther Prints.

Juniors and Seniors are required to take one subject from each of the six groups:[10][11] The IB Diploma Program also requires students to take Theory of Knowledge (TOK) starting in their junior year, participate in Creativity, Action, Service (CAS), an extra-curricular program, and write an extended essay of 4,000 words in their senior year.

[12][13] Plano East Senior High has a JROTC program that currently holds the Honor Unit with Distinction (HUD).

The Plano ISD Health Sciences Academy is a health and science program offered at Plano East Senior High School for grades 11 and 12 at Building 4 (B4) for students interested in pursuing a job in the medical field.

Students from the Williams High School Health Sciences Academy come to Plano East for the second half.

[14] With a partnership with Collin College, students gain many opportunities: college credits, workforce certifications, working with real medical equipment and communicating with the local medical professionals (through field trips and clinical placements in skill-based classes).

In addition, the band has 40 consecutive years of Superior Ratings and Sweepstakes Awards in the University Interscholastic League (UIL) for marching, concert, and sight-reading competitions, with the band recently being a finalist in the 2024 UIL 6A Area J Marching Contest, getting 10th place.

[18] TMEA restrictions allow the school to participate in the honor orchestra contest only every other year after if they win.

In March 2016, the Plano East Men's Choir was selected to perform at the Southwest Division of the American Choral Directors Association in Kansas City, Missouri.

All students are able to take advantage of experts that are brought in for workshops, particularly professionals from neighboring Southern Methodist University, UT Dallas and Collin College, as well as attend the North Texas Drama Auditions if they are in the 12th grade.

All advanced tech students send submissions into the annual state UIL design competition.

Theatre Major Studies is a double block, audition only class, where students focus primarily on performance and script analysis.

Brand new to Plano East, the Musical Theatre Production class was established in 2016 by Brian Grunkowski.

The theatre department produces twelve major productions each school year: A Theatre Major Studies show (limited to students in the program), a Theatre Honors Production show (limited to students in the program), the 9th/10th One Act, an open audition musical, a Drama Intensive show (limited to students in the program), six senior-directed one act plays, and the open audition one act.

In 2006, under the direction of Lisa Hale, Plano East won the state championship for their production of The Marriage of Bette and Boo.