It was previously a part of the Gallup-McKinley County Schools. It was built in 1956, making it the first public high school in the community. It included 16 teacher housing units.[5]
In 1968, Ramah High School in Ramah, New Mexico closed, meaning students in that area would be bussed to Zuni High School. Several area students took two buses each, with Ramah being the transfer point.[6]
Circa 1977 the dropout rate was 43%. Of any New Mexico high school, this was the highest such rate.[7] In 1980 the school was transferred into the control of the Zuni School District.[8]
In 1997 the school had fewer than 400 students. In the fall of that year groundbreaking of the current building occurred.[9]
Curriculum
In 1974 the school began a course called "Publication", about Zuni culture and history, which could be used for Social Studies or English credits.[10]