Built in 1956, it is named in honor of the oldest high school in Cedar Rapids.

In 1887, Abbie S. Abbott began her 34-year tenure as Washington High School principal.

In 2003, a large wing of six classrooms and six science laboratories was added to the southwest corner of the building.

At the same time, a new band room was completed and the entire original music area was remodeled to house the growing vocal and string orchestra programs.

After the 2020 school year, John Cline resigned from the job and moved back to North Carolina.

[12] In the spring semester of 2017, transgender student Jeffrey Abraham was elected as the President of the class of 2020.

The speech was recorded and streamed live on Youtube, due to the in-person commencement ceremony being canceled in the wake of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

[13] The gallery includes works by Grant Wood and Marvin Cone, who both graduated in 1910 at the "old Washington" school.