During World War II, the school's buildings were used by the Japanese as a prison camp, Lunghua Civilian Assembly Center.

More than 1750 students from the United States, Japan, Korea, Canada, England, Italy, Germany, Australia, Yugoslavia, Iran, Egypt, Venezuela, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan represent just some of the fifty plus countries and regions represented at Shanghai High School International Division.

The international division of Shanghai High School, SHSID currently enrolls over 3000 students.

The Shanghai High School puts much emphasis on education of winners in Olympiad competitions.

For those who won gold medals on the international and national levels, the school awards them "summa cum laude".

Within these classes are students who are both interested in and very good at Mathematics (or other science subjects like Physics and Chemistry).

Alumni include over 100 provincial level or higher leaders, 29 People's Liberation Army generals, and 51 Chinese Academy of Science members.