By 1981, the school's enrollment had fallen to 814.[6] As a result, North High was closed in 1981,[1] and would become one of four schools to close during the 1980s.[1] As a result of the closures, two lawsuits were filed, accusing the Phoenix Union High School District of discriminating against ethnic minorities and low-income students by closing schools in their neighborhoods, in addition to unfair resource allocations.[7] The lawsuits were later consolidated into the Castro v. Phoenix Union High School District lawsuit,[7] in which a federal judge ruled against the school district.[4] That ruling resulted in the reopening of North High, as well as, among other measures, the establishment of magnet programs across the district.[7]
Phoenix Union High School District's website makes no reference to the controversy surrounding the school's closure and eventual reopening, merely stating that the school closed, due to declining enrollment, and later reopened.[1]
Reopening
The school reopened in 1983, and in 1984, 875 students were enrolled at the school.[6]
The school is noted for having built-in lockers in the hallways, at a time when every other school within the Phoenix Union High School District has removed theirs.[4] Film and commercial producers have said the school reminds people of a traditional high school.[4]
The school's football field contains lattice tower light poles and a concrete grandstand.[4]
Charles Barkley filmed his "I am not a role model" commercial for Nike at the school's gymnasium.[4]
Notable alumni
This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations.(July 2017)
