As with all NISD high schools, the school is named for a United States Supreme Court justice, in this case former Chief Justice William Howard Taft, who was also the 27th President of the United States.

Taft was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 1997-98.

In December 2001 the Taft Raiders competed in the 2001 class 5A Division 1 State Championship game.

The Taft Raiders faced the Mesquite Skeeters at Alamo Stadium in San Antonio,Texas.

But the Taft Raiders would lose to the Skeeters by a final score of 14-13.