Academic subjects were added to the curriculum in 1890 and art and shop in 1895, when it was renamed San Francisco Polytechnic High School.

[1] The school offered a college preparatory curriculum, as well as training in automobile repair, drafting, printing, and electronics through the Miranda Lux Laboratory.

[5] However, in 1972 the decision was made to close the school because of a continuing decline in enrollment and because all the buildings, except the girls' gym, were found not to meet the requirements of the Field Act for seismic soundness.

[6] As of January 2018[update] the boys' gym houses the San Francisco Circus Center and the girls', AcroSports.

[3] In November 2020, the Polytechnic Alumni Association offered a reward of up to $5,000 for the return of approximately 50 sports trophies that went missing after the school closed.