Tempe Union High School was established by a vote of the people of Tempe in 1908. It was required, as the Normal School in Tempe no longer would enroll students with 8th-grade diplomas. Classes were held in rented space in downtown Tempe for the 1908–09 school year, as the school's permanent location was built. The first building opened in the fall of 1909 on the southeast corner of Mill and University. Kemper Goodwin, a prominent local architect, would go on to graduate from Tempe High in the mid-1920s, then design its current campus in the 1950s. Games were played at Goodwin Stadium, the home of the ASU Sun Devils until 1957, and in the 1920s, the two teams played against each other on numerous occasions. It was not until 1969 that Tempe High's campus hosted football games. In 1953, the current Tempe High School opened with the administration and library buildings; three classroom units; and the cafeteria.. The gymnasium and auditorium remained at the former site for two more years until both burned down in 1955, both to clear the land for construction of Tempe Towne Center and to provide practice for the fire department. The "modular site" was fleshed out by the end of the 1960s.
Explosion of enrollment
Tempe expanded tremendously during the 1950s and 1960s. It grew so overcrowded at Tempe High School that double sessions were featured during the fall of 1964. The evening sessions were titled McClintock High School. Both Tempe and McClintock would share a defining rivalry in Tempe sports. Their football and basketball games, due to heightened interest, often wound up on ASU's campus and fields.
Today
Tempe High's enrollment generally ranges between 1,300 and 1,400 students. As of the 2017–2018 school year they have over 1,800 students enrolled. THS offers a wide variety of curriculum, including an honors Curriculum, the International Baccalaureate program, and H.O.P.E. which allows students to explore and train for medical professions by partnership with Tempe St. Luke's Hospital.
Centennial
During the 2007–08 school year, Tempe High celebrated its 100th anniversary, beginning with a Centennial Homecoming Celebration. To celebrate this momentous occasion, a Centennial Committee was formed under the wing of the Tempe High Buffalo Foundation. The Buffalo Foundation is the prime alumni organization for Tempe High School. This organization helps preserve the proud traditions and history of Tempe High and serves as an alumni resource for reunions and fundraising events. Centennial events included: Athletic Hall of Fame dinner, Homecoming parade down Mill Avenue, Back to the Future celebration, and the Embassy Suites Blue and White Bash.
Athletics
The Buffaloes have won three state championship titles since Tempe varsity football began in 1924. The first came in 1956 when Tempe High went undefeated with a 10–0 record under coach John Zucco. Between 1954 and 1957, Coach Zucco led the Buffaloes to a 32-6-1 record that included an 18-game winning streak. The Buffaloes' second championship came in 1989 when they shared the 4A title with Agua Fria. In the final playoff game in Sun Devil Stadium, which was attended by more than 11,000 fans, the Buffaloes and the Owls fought to a 10–10 draw. The tie game capped a 13-1-1 season under second-year coach Jim Murphy. The Buffaloes last state championship came with a win at the 4A state championship in 1996, beating Glendale Ironwood 20–17 in an overtime thriller. The Buffaloes won by a touchdown pass from Todd Mortensen to Justin Taplin. This victory capped a perfect 14–0 season, led by Tim McBurney. In 1989 one of the greatest football games was played between the two schools, more than 10,000 fans were in attendance to watch Tempe High defeat McClintock 25–24. Both teams went on to claim state championships that year.
