Reno High was the first high school in Reno, which is celebrated by its slogan: "Reno High - Older than Reno". High school students in Reno in the 1860s were originally taught in the basement of a building on the corner of First and Virginia Streets, on the future site of the Mapes Hotel. Today there is a city plaza at that location, which is across the street from the Reno City Hall. In 1869 High school students were moved to a one-room school. In 1879, due to Reno's expanding population, a larger high school, called "Central School," was built near Arlington and Fourth Streets. This was commonly referred to as "Reno High School", and 1879 is the generally accepted year of the school's founding. In 1910, a fire in the chemistry lab destroyed the school's main building. The school was rebuilt in downtown Reno in 1912, at a location currently occupied by the former Sundowner hotel-casino. In 1951, Reno High was moved to new facilities on located on Booth and Foster Streets, just south of the Truckee River and near Idlewild Park.
Extracurricular activities
Athletics
Reno High has won numerous state championships in many sports. The boys' cross country team has been the most dominant, winning 11 state championships. The girls' basketball team won the state championship in 2001, then won back-to-back state and region championships in 2013 and 2014. The Reno High football team won the Nevada state football title in 2003, the Reno baseball team won the state championship in 2004 and the boys' basketball team won the championship in 2006, knocking off North Las Vegas' Rancho High School. The Reno Huskies compete in the High Desert League of the Northern Nevada 4A Region, which is the large-school level in Nevada. Since 2003, the Reno High boys' sports varsity teams have won Nevada state championships in football, basketball, baseball, track and field, swimming, diving, tennis, and snow skiing. On Friday, February 22, 2008, the Reno Huskies defeated Cheyenne High of Las Vegas 76 to 72 for their second state basketball championship in three seasons. The Huskies won at least one state championship in seven different sports in every year from 2002 to 2008. Reno High football placekicker Dirk Borgognone set a world record for the longest high school footballfield goal in 1986. The 68 yard long field goal, which was kicked in a game at Sparks High School is the second-longest in organized American football at any class level, just short of Ove Johansson's 69-yard field goal in 1976, for NAIA college school Abilene Christian. Reno High cross country runner Marie Lawrence holds the U.S. high school record in the 2,000 m and 3,000 m steeplechase.
Orchestras
Reno currently has three performing orchestras:
Chamber Orchestra
Sinfonia
Concert Orchestra
The Chamber Orchestra tours each year, participating in college level master-classes and festivals at schools and Universities such as Stanford University, San Francisco State University, San Jose State University and University of the Pacific. Members of the Orchestras audition for and consistently participate in the Reno Philharmonic Youth Symphonies, the Washoe County Honor Orchestra and the Nevada State Honor Orchestra.
Bands
Wind Ensemble
Jazz Band
Concert Band
Pep Band
The Jazz Band, Wind Ensemble and Concert Band are ranked highly in the district, winning festivals year round.
Choirs
Vocal Motion
Chorale
Mixed Choir
Performing arts
The Reno High School Theater Program, known as the Booth Street Players, presents three to four shows a year, along with outside school community performances. The fall production is a play, and the spring production is a musical. Past shows have included Little Shop of Horrors, Our Town, Grease, The Boy Friend, and Pippin.
Other activities
Speech and Debate has consecutively won the state championship for 24 years in a row There are many clubs as well offered at Reno High Publications
