"You grew up in Utah? Where did you go to high school?"
Whether or not we actually enjoyed high school, it's a way we can connect to many of our fellow Utahns. So when a high school is torn down or completely rebuilt, there can be some mixed feelings.
"Yay! No one has to look at those salmon-pink bathroom tiles anymore."
"Sniffle! No one can tease first-years from the senior bench anymore."
In no particular order, here's a look back at some Utah high schools that are no longer around — and some that have changed so much you wouldn't recognize them at your five-year reunion.
Granite High School
Granite High, 3305 S. 500 East in South Salt Lake, opened in 1906 as one of Utah's earliest schools. The Farmers said goodbye to their school in 2009, but the actual edifice wasn't torn down until 2017. Before the final demolition, graduates from 1940 to 2009 gathered — some dressed in letter jackets or school T-shirts — for a final photo shoot at the century-old building.
Jordan High School
Jordan High was also among the early schools of Utah, with its first classes held in 1907. The building that once stood at 9351 S. State in Sandy opened in 1914 and was later listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Maintenance issues and too-small classrooms made repairs cost-prohibitive, and it was razed in 1997. A new Jordan High was built just down the road at 9880 S. Beetdigger Blvd.
South High School
South High opened in 1931 at 1575 S. State Street in Salt Lake City. Due to a declining student population and high maintenance costs, the high school was officially closed in 1988. But after years of renovations, the building was reopened in 1992 as the south campus for Salt Lake Community College.
Cyprus High School
Opened in 1918, the main building at Cyprus High, 8623 W. 3000 South in Magna, underwent some significant structural and classroom changes over the years. It actually began as a junior high school, with grades seven to 10. It added a new grade each year to accommodate its first graduating class in 1921. A completely new school, set to open in fall 2025, replaces the original.
Skyline High School
Millcreek's Skyline High students began attending an all-new school at 3251 E. 3760 South in the fall of 2024, after their original classrooms were demolished that summer. Before it was torn down, students and alumni said goodbye to the school by writing their names and graduation years on the walls and lockers. The first building opened in 1962.
Hillcrest High School
{#hillcrest} The Huskies got a brand new home in 2021 when the original Midvale structure was razed. Built in 1962, it was the third school in the Jordan School District. The school's community council rallied to preserve some of the most meaningful features of the original, including the senior bench and a terrazzo-tile Husky inlaid in the floor. The new Hillcrest High, 7350 S 900 East, is the only high school in Utah to stand four stories tall.
Brighton High School
Crosstown rival Brighton High was also rebuilt with a new design, completed in 2022. Initially built in 1969 with a circular floor plan and curving hallways, it now has clear sightlines and natural sunlight. Located at 2220 Bengal Blvd. in Cottonwood Heights, students still get a stunning view of the Wasatch Mountains. Welcome to the new jungle!
West High School
Utah's first high school, West High, welcomed its first students in 1890 in downtown Salt Lake City. The Panther campus at 241 N. 300 West is getting a complete overhaul, which is expected to take seven years to complete. The iconic main entrance will be preserved, but new academic buildings will be built on the west side of 300 West, with the buildings connected by a sky bridge.
Highland High School
Built in 1956, the original home of the Highland High Rams will be no more. The school next to Sugar House Park is slated for a years-long rebuild, to be completed by 2030. Planners want the new school to be more compact so it is more energy efficient and gives students easy access to technology. The new main building will be on the north side of the current property, along 2100 South and 1700 East.
Payson High School
Payson High was the most recent Utah high school to be razed, wth demolition taking place in summer 2025. The Lions' first home, built at 1050 S. Main in 1967, has been replaced by a new building. Fans of the movie "Footloose" will be glad to know the locker made famous by Kevin Bacon was saved. It again sits among the others as a tribute to the school's cinematic moment.
Murray High School
Murray High first opened in 1911 (named Hillcrest at the time) on the east side of State Street and 5300 South. It was rebuilt in 1954 at its current location, on the west side corner. In 2003, the school was expanded and made more energy efficient. Another expansion is in the works for the Spartans, scheduled to be completed in 2027. The change will provide room for ninth graders to move up from middle school.
Granger High School
Granger High opened its doors to West Valley students in 1958. But by the 2000s, the student population had outgrown the school, and it no longer met building codes. A new, three-story home for the Lancers opened in the fall of 2013. At 440,000 square feet, thenew building at 3580 S. 3600 West was the largest high school at the time. Among the features are tall glass walls, wide-open gathering areas and an indoor pool.
Lehi High School
The Pioneers started the 2021 school year in an all-new school, rebuilt at 180 N. 500 East in Lehi — the same spot where the original opened in 1908. A three-year construction plan allowed students to continue their classes without much interruption. While the entire building is new, some pieces of the original were cleverly repurposed; the old gym floor is now a conference table.
Has your Utah high school come and gone? What were some of your favorite activities there? Share your cherished memories in the comments below.
