It was opened as a segregated school, and named after Confederate Army commander Robert E. Lee.

[3] The community raised and donated money to repay the district for the cost of the new uniforms.

[3] In 1952, the school band performed for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, a neo-Confederate organization, at their national convention in Jackson, Mississippi.

The incident is mentioned in the Mean Gene Kelton song "Cruisin' Texas Avenue".

Shelby Webb of the Houston Chronicle wrote that students were relatively apathetic about the name while "Adults in the community have been more passionate on the issue.

The Historical Preservation Association believed that Lee was eligible for the designation because of its age, unique architectural facade, and its importance to the Baytown community, and deserved to be recognized.

[11] As of 2020, the school had an enrollment of 1,784, of whom 1,275 identified as Hispanic, 253 as Black, 215 as White, 12 as Asian, 6 as American Indian/Alaska Native and 21 as two or more races.