The school was founded at its current site in 1874, with the present building being built in 1918. In 1939, the Music and Industrial Arts wing was added, and the Fred J. Miller gymnasium was built in 1957. The "new wing" which includes a swimming pool and classrooms was built in 1962. In 1981 East High transformed from a three-year to a four year high school. In April 2002, a new administrative and counseling center and an addition that features a new cafeteria/commons, practice gymnasium, wrestling room and locker rooms were opened. The old cafeteria area on the 4th floor was converted into eight new classrooms. The newly renovated Elizabeth A.H. Green Auditorium reopened in October 2007. The Reggie Roby Fitness Center was opened in 2008. Additional renovations will take place in the years to come, funded by a local 1 cent local option sales tax.
Culture and diversity
East High is known throughout the state for its diverse student body consisting of proportions of minority students that far outpace the state averages. African Americans, bosnian, and, increasingly hispanic students make up a significant portion of the student body alongside white students. The racial makeup of the school during the 2015-16 school year was 49% White, 33% African-American, 11% Hispanic, 5% Multiracial and 2% from other races.
Athletics
The East High Trojans have a long tradition of athletics in both high school achievements and in athletes who have gone on to play collegiately and professionally. Some sports alumni include NFL all-Pro punter and 1980s All-Decade Team member Reggie Roby, NFL wide receiver/returner J.J. Moses and sprinter Kim Sykes, who held the state record in the 400m dash from 1979-1989. East High's men's basketball team is the marquee program at the school and has a long tradition of success, consistently reaching the state tournament and cracking national rankings at times. The Trojans have won state tournaments in 1974, 1990 and 2003, and were runners-up in 1960, 1991, 2002, and 2004. Head Coach Steve McGraw won his 500th game during the 2003 state tournament and was featured on the cover of the best-selling Successful Coaching textbook by Rainer Martens in 2004. East High has the distinction, as of 2005, of holding both the record for longest football winning streak and longest football losing streak in the state of Iowa. However, a youth program pioneered by Mike Sheeley, a retired guidance counselor and assistant football coach at the school, has generated a newfound interest in and focus on developing football talent in the area. Also, the NFL recently made Waterloo the only metro with a population under 300,000 to be named a site of one of their fully funded youth football camps, approving an application by Waterloo West head coach Doug Gee. The results of the emphasis on youth football in the area showed when the record losing streak was broken on October 13, 2006, and the 2010 football team made the playoffs for the first time since 1991. They continued to struggle, not winning a game from 2012-2016. This 37-game losing streak was broken with a win on August 25, 2017.
Jaron Nash, played in the NCAA for North Dakota and Texas tech,after having 3 seasons at East High, he is a professional basketball player, point guard who most recently played for Skrljevo in Croatia - Liga.
MarTay Jenkins, NFL receiver/returner. He transferred out of the school after his sophomore season.
J.J. Moses, NFL receiver/returner
Reggie Roby, Punter on NFL's 1980s All-Decade Team
