A number of notable alumni have called the school home, with the writer Vachel Lindsay being the most associated with the town, which featured prominently in his writings.

Springfield High School opened on 4 September 1857 in a small building on Market Street, now known as Capitol Avenue.

In 1917, Springfield High School opened at 101 S. Lewis St, previously the site of a church and Hutchinson Cemetery.

[4] 33 student clubs are hosted at SHS, ranging from academic and foreign language to school spirit and philanthropic.

[11] The school's scholastic bowl team finished fourth at the IHSA state championship tournament in 2008, as well as second in 2021.

SHS sponsors interscholastic athletic teams for young men and women in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, swimming & diving, tennis, and track & field.

[17] Recent musicals include Cats, created by Andrew Lloyd Webber,[18] Legally Blonde, Hairspray, and "Beauty and the Beast."