Cumberland High School opened in January 1962 with an initial intake of 270 students in First Form (now known as Year 7).
In addition to students from Carlingford, early students were drawn from as far afield as Pennant Hills, West Pennant Hills, and Beecroft to the north; from Epping, Ermington and Rydalmere to the east; from Dundas, Dundas Valley and Telopea to the south; and North Parramatta to the south-west.