[4][5] The newest high school in the district, it is named after openly gay civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, himself a West Chester native.

June Cardosi, one of the board members, opposed Rustin's "un-American" anti-war efforts and brief membership in the Young Communist League.

[11][12] Designed by Gilbert Architects, construction on Rustin High School began in 2003 and cost $46 million to build.

[16] Rustin's Science Olympiad team started the same year the school opened, 2006–2007, and has made nationals five times, in 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2019 placing 14th, 18th, 13th, 21st, and 16th respectively.

[citation needed] Rustin also hosts an invitational for middle school teams every year, one of the largest on the east coast.