James Lick High School opened its doors in 1950 at the base of the East Foothills of San Jose, CA. James Lick was the first of eleven comprehensive, traditional high schools in the East Side Union High School District, and it quickly became the standard for educational quality in the emerging district. The school built a tradition of excellence in the classroom and on the athletic fields. For many years after its opening, James Lick was viewed as the "jewel" at the base of the foothills.