The school was founded in 1958 as the second of seven high schools in the former La Puente Union High School District. It is now one of four high schools in the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, which was created in 1970 by a vote of the electorate unifying four high schools and the Hudson Elementary School District. Enrollment levels of the school have varied over the years. In 1978, it reached its highest enrollment, of 2,850 students. In the early 1990s the enrollment dropped to about 1,500. It currently hovers around 2,100.
Sports
Boys' Volleyball
The Boys' Volleyball team won the CIF Division IV Title in 2019 for the first time in school history by defeating the Windward Wildcats. This was Los Altos' first championship appearance since back-to-back title losses in 1984 and '85. This team was led by Freshman sensation Jordan Lucas whom delivered clutch plays late in the match finishing with 28 kills to lead Los Altos 25-23, 25-23, 25-22 sweep.
Girls' Water Polo
The Girls' Water Polo team won the CIF Division V Title in 2015 for the first time in school history by defeating number one-seeded Palm Desert High School 8-7.
The Los Altos Academy of Engineering was founded in 1989 by Robert Franz, and was a joint program between the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District and the La Puente Valley Regional Occupational Program. They have won awards for building and racing a solar car in international competition, and won 1st place in the DaimlerChrysler/Trellis Build Your Dream Vehicle Competition in 2005 and 2006. From 2007 to 2009 the Academy's engineering students competed in the Shell Eco-Marathon Americas, taking 1st place in the hydrogen division in 2007 and presenting the first hydrogen internal combustion engine to compete in 2008.
Los Altos Visual and Performing Arts Academy
The Visual and Performing Arts Academy is a cross-curricular program. The program is available to students for performing arts on a higher level. The five areas that comprise the VPAA come together for spring productions.
Michael Smith - former All-America basketball player at BYU and first-round pick of the Boston Celtics, current television and color announcer for the Los Angeles Clippers
Edie Robinette-Petrachi Class of 1977 Member of the Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA. Television actor, singer, songwriter. Film producer. Pee-Wee Herman's Playhouse, Nightmare on Elm Street, New Monkees, American Tails, Zorro, Summer Children among others. Alumna of Berklee College of Music.
Annie Wegelius Class of 1977. Television Visionary in Stockholm Sweden. Creator of Swedish Academy Awards The Kristal. Started first commercial film production company and first commercial television network in Sweden.
Bob May former PGA Tour pro golfer, lost to Tiger Woods in a 3 hole playoff in the 2000 PGA Championship
