The school is located approximately ten miles (16 km) west of metropolitan Chicago in Proviso Township.

[8] In June 1955, the board accepted a recommendation to purchase a 60 acre site in the town of Hillside, and planned a bond issue for the autumn.

[11] In the summer and autumn of 1956, the district began accepting bids for construction of the new school which was to be designed by Perkins and Will.

[10] The gymnasium was to include a spectator gym with main floor and balcony seating and a swimming pool.

[13] In March 1960, the board of education began examining the need to expand Proviso West (including the addition of a fieldhouse).

[16] The referendum was defeated, but a classroom addition began construction in early 1962 with money being taken from the operating fund.

[4] Proviso West did not make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) on the Prairie State Achievements Examination, which with the ACT comprises the state assessments used to fulfill the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

The school sponsors interscholastic teams for young men and women in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, track & field, and volleyball.

The following teams have finished in the top four of their respective IHSA sponsored state championship tournaments or meets:[20] In March 1960, the U.S. Badminton Open, which included 300 players from the United States, Indonesia, India, and Denmark, among others, was hosted by Proviso West.