The post-war baby boom generation entered high school in the early 1960s, prompting the construction of new schools in Lakewood. The Clover Park School Dsitrict was in line.
Lakes High School opened in 1962. The original building was designed by architect Donald F. Burr and built by G. Kirkebo & Sons Inc. The ground-breaking ceremony was held on June 20, 1961. The school didn't have a name until three months into construction.
The school had its colors before the name, mascot and completion of the school.
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Orange and blue colors were selected by Gerry Austin, the school's first athletic director. His decision came before shovels had even dug into dirt. The decision for orange and blue were simple; no other school had the same color scheme.
The Lancers mascot won in a student-body popular vote during the first year.
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Notable alumni are Reggie Williams, former wide receiver for the Seattle Seahawks, blue guitarist Robert Cray and serial killer Ted Bundy's sixth victim Georgeann Hawkins.
The campus has changed a lot since then. The open breezeways are gone and buildings were added or expanded as the decades passed. The recent additions came just this year with BCRA Architects designing the new gym and Student Success center with the passing of a levy in