Originally established in 1903, the Commercial High School was an attempt by the district to serve the emergent service sector in the city.

It was intended to retain previously disengaged students by ensuring they had viable skills for the workforce upon graduation.

[3] As a high school focused on technical education, Tech had many amenities designed to teach students in specific areas.

The auditorium at the school was built to accommodate 2600 people (legal seating capacity was listed at 2120).

Cornelia Otis Skinner made her first high school appearance at Tech in January 1930.

[4] In 1966, an African American youth activism group called the Black Association for Nationalism Through Unity started a chapter at Tech and one of its leaders became a student government official.