The centrally located school's 44-acre (180,000 m2) campus and the building's Collegiate Gothic styling make it an urban landmark.

The campus is also home to WSU Tech, a division of Wichita State University which provides technical training and education.

In 2012, the school opened the new performing arts center, featuring a 600-seat theater, instrumental rehearsal spaces and vocal music room.

[10] In 2017, Architectural Digest named East the most beautiful public high school in the state of Kansas.

Wichita High School East is regionally recognized for both academic and athletic success.

The school also offers the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program for selective students.

[citation needed] East has a large and successful debate and forensics squad and consistently qualifies students for the national tournament.

The Big Do, a club fair held after school one evening each September, consists of all student organizations gathering on the front lawn to sell food and host activities.

In addition, the Blue Aces football team, who have won 4 state championships, has been increasingly successful in recent years due to leadership changes as well as two highly acclaimed and heavily recruited brothers, Arthur (Class of 2008) and Bryce Brown (Class of 2009).

East's football team was Wichita State's opponent in the first game in the program's history.