 Founded in 1837 as Auburn Academy , Auburn High School is the oldest public secondary school in Alabama , and is the fifth @-@ oldest extant public high school in the American South . From 1852 through 1885 , the school was known as the Auburn ( Masonic ) Female College , offering secondary and , prior to 1870 , collegiate degrees . From 1892 through 1908 , the school was named the Auburn Female Institute , providing collegiate programs equivalent to an associates degree . Auburn High became Lee County 's flagship high school in 1914 as Lee County High School , and gained its present name , Auburn High School , in 1956 . The school moved to its current 36 acres ( 0 @.@ 15 km2 ) campus in 1965 . 
