According to the Sherman Indian Museum, SIHS was founded by the United States government in order to assimilate Native Americans into the mainstream society.

The enrollment then consisted of Southern California Indian children from the Tule River Agency to San Diego County.

Due to an inadequate water supply to conduct the primary subjects at the school, a better location was sought.

To meet earthquake standards, most of the original school buildings were demolished during the 1970s, and new structures were built in their place.

[6] During the 2008–09 school year, SIHS administration removed more than 30 staff from their facility, upsetting the students.

Officials stated that there were not enough Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) funds to pay the employees that had been let go.

[8] In 1995 Huell Howser Productions, in association with KCET/Los Angeles, featured Sherman Indian High School in California's Gold.

The Miss Sherman Pageant also occurs during this week annually, traditionally on Friday, the evening before the pow-wow.