The San Antonio Independent School District prepared to open a brand new high school on the southeast part of town. This new gleaming high school was nestled atop a tall hill amongst many other hills. As district officials prepared to open the new school, they debated what to name the new facility. No one can remember which person said this, but someone supposedly mentioned that the area reminded them of the 'highlands of Scotland' in the United Kingdom and a name was therefore given to the new campus.

Highlands High School opened in the fall of 1958 with the first set of students finishing their first year on campus in the late spring of 1959. Adopting the 'Scottish' theme as a starting point, an owl was selected as the Highlands mascot. Owls were common birds in Scotland and many believed it appropriate to use this strong hunting night bird as the mascot; and the 'Mighty Fighting Owls' were born.