Southern High School Magnet Career Academy (MCA) was built in 1951, and the first graduating class was in 1952.

Its mission is to prepare students to be "productive members of a technologically advanced society."

Starting in the 2011–12 school year, the "Freshman Academy", which is devoted to help freshmen adjust to high school, was opened.

However, they have taken a part of the 3rd and 2nd floor to be used as the Freshman Academy area.

Starting in the 2011–2012 school year, with the new principal came a change known as "Southern 3.0 Upgrade", in which the school has become more involved and more rigorous with learning.