In the early 1950s the Evansville and Vanderburgh County population was increasing and pushing in a northern direction. It was decided that a new high school was needed to relieve the burden on the existing public high schools. The location of the school on property near the Mechanic Arts Trades and Industry High School on the north side was chosen. Mechanic Arts' curriculum was incorporated into the new high school, which would allow students from the other high schools to come as shared time students. In fall 1956, the new North High School opened, serving students from the seventh through 12th grades. The first graduating class consisted of only 18 girls and 149 boys because students in the district were allowed to choose to remain at their present high school or to transfer to the new school. After the city/county merger in 1958, this district included Vogel, Delaware, Scott, Evans, and Oak Hill Schools, as well as some students from Howard Roosa and Stringtown Schools. This huge district stayed relatively stable through desegregation and a middle school reorganization. The high school, located on Diamond Avenue on the northern side of the city, was almost closed due to low enrollment in 1983. Since the community's successful effort to save the school, the northeastern part of the county has experienced massive population growth. A sixth feeder school is under construction in McCutchanville, replacing the original McCutchanville School that was consolidated into Oak Hill School in 1965. On November 4, 2008, Vanderburgh County voters approved a $149 million bond issue for the EVSC. A long list of projects included a new $58.2 million high school for 2,000 students and an adjacent $27 million junior high school for 1,000 students. In late November 2008, the EVSC purchased around near U.S. 41 and Baseline Road, nine miles north of Evansville, for the new campus. The new North High School building opened in January 2012, complete with its first football stadium.
The old North High School Facility is now used as the Academy for Innovative studies Diamond Branch, though AIS only takes up a small percentage of the school. The auditorium is still host to numerous musicals and plays, such as a 2014 production of Les Misèrables.
Notable alumni
Chuck Bundrant, billionaire businessman, founder, chairman and majority owner of Trident Seafoods Namesake of Bundrant Stadium on the Current Campus.
Dave Schellhase, All-American basketball player, NBA player, longtime college basketball coach
