In 1899, Shasta County High School opened as a public school to serve the town of Redding, California. The inaugural class had only 70 students, 3 teachers, and a very small number of graduates. The courses were college preparatory and in addition vocational classes, such as bookkeeping and shorthand, were taught. The initial school was located in the residence of Judge Bell but in 1903, a two-story brick building was built for the 1904-1905 school year. After a countywide election in 1915, Shasta Union High School District was created and the school was renamed Shasta High School.