Through its long history, the high school has been named and renamed and nicknamed several times over.  McKeesport High School, Tech High, Voc, South Hall, North Hall.  They've all had their day.

When this new high school was completed in September of 1961, the School Board named it McKeesport Senior High School.  From 1967 until 1983, the building was known as McKeesport Area Senior High School (MASH) whereupon the "senior" was dropped in 1984.  From 1984 until now, it has been known as McKeesport Area High School.

The high school  became a Grade 9-12 building with the start of the 2000-2001 school year.  In 2003-2004, new additions to the high school building provided room for the five remaining vocational/technical classes that were housed at North Hall.  Culinary Arts, Cosmetology, Building Construction, Auto Body, and Auto Mechanics are now all a part of the comprehensive high school that offers its entire academic and vocational/technical curriculum under one roof.  

Highlights of the high school project included a modern Tiger Inn restaurant for the culinary arts program, new cosmetology labs, an expanded graphic occupations department, modern office areas for the vocational/technical program, and an expanded physical fitness area, along with, much needed, additional classroom space.

Upgrades were also made to the Weigle-Schaeffer Tiger Stadium that features new restroom facilities to the visitor side of the field, a new artificial grass field, and an updated all weather track that includes specialized areas to conduct field events.

No matter what the name, no matter what the year, when graduates are asked where they attended high school, the answer still is simply "McKeesport."  Whether students spent their days at Shaw Avenue School (the first district building erected solely for use as a high school) or at "Tech High" on Cornell Street and Bailie Avenue, or at the current structure on Eden Park Boulevard, McKeesport High alumni all share one thing:  pride in their school.  "Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger" still resonates with alumni young and old.

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The Red and Blue
Words and Music by Mr. Douglas A. Smith
Music Revisal by Edwin P. Shiner

                         I
Hail, Alma Mater's colors proudly flying,
Red and Blue, we pledge to thee our love.
Dearer to us than crimson's deep or purple.
Guide of our way, as true as stars above.

                               II
Emblem we love, thy colors softly blended,
Speak of the life that all our sons must share;
Red for the sun whose beams are shining on us,
Blue for the sky, so bright and so fair.

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