The school stood on wooden pilings, which started to rot when Lake Washington was lowered owing to the building of the ship canal.

Funds were collected from private donors to expand the project to turn the school's auditorium into a performing arts center, at an estimated additional cost of $1.5 million.

[6] When the school first opened, there were only 43 students: 17 freshmen, 19 sophomores, 3 juniors, and the 4 seniors who made up the first graduating class, in May 1911.

By comparison, the largest graduating class, that of 1965, when Renton was still the only high school in the district, comprised 809 seniors.

[3] The nickname "Indians" was adopted in honor of Henry Moses, who from 1916 through 1920 was the school's sole Native American basketball player.

The Indians compete interscholastically in football, golf, volleyball, cross country, swimming, soccer, basketball, wrestling, gymnastics, baseball, softball, tennis, and track.

[15][16][17] Home football and soccer games, as well as track and field events, are held at Renton Memorial Stadium, a few blocks to the north of the school.