The school began in 1974 as eight demountable classrooms on the grounds of Cannington Senior High School. In January 1975, the school, comprising years 8 and 9, moved to the newly constructed campus at Parkwood. Bill Goulding was the first principal, who, with deputy principals Meredith Crossing and Peter Clark, instituted "Sincerity" as the school motto and the swan as the emblem for the school crest. Mauve was the colour of the first school uniform, later regarded humorously by school commentators as garish 1970s fashion.^[2]

In the beginning, many of the students were from families who immigrated from the United Kingdom. Student numbers were low. Students and teachers bonded into a close knit community. Hotly contested hockey and cricket matches were held often between students and teachers. In September 1988 during the Australian Bicentenary, a time capsule was constructed by Design and Technology teacher Frank Murphy and his Vocational Education students. Records of student work, music, and photographs were stored in the capsule. The time capsule was buried in front of the canteen and it will be opened in September 2038. During the 1990s, Lynwood became multicultural with students from families who emigrated from Asia, the Middle East and Africa.^[3] In 2018, Lynwood was awarded WA Secondary School of the Year.^[4]

The school catchment area, specified by the WA Department of Education in 2018, included the suburbs of Ferndale, Lynwood, Parkwood, and small parts of Langford and Riverton.^[5] The feeder primary schools, specified by the WA Department of Education in 2005, included Bannister Creek, Brookman, and Parkwood.^[6]

In 2018, Neighbouring high schools included Willetton Senior High School to the west, Canning Vale College to the south, Thornlie Senior High School to the east, and Sevenoaks Senior College to the north. The Canning River demarcates the northern catchment border.

Between 2007 and 2011, enrolments declined from 1,032 to 900. The fall in student numbers from 2010 was due to the change in enrolment age for students entering high school in Western Australia.

Lynwood offers specialist education in sustainability. Currently, Environment and Life Sciences (EaLs) education at the school is the only recognised sustainability curriculum course approved in Western Australia. Statewide, students may apply for, and attend, the specialist course from years 7 to 10. The course is enriched by strong partnerships with a range of universities, government and community organisations, and it is pioneering high school sustainability education in Western Australia.^[7]

The school offers a specialised football (soccer) program as part of the Lynwood Specialised Soccer Academy. In 2004, the program was endorsed as part of the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) by the WA Department of Education. During the 5 year program, opportunities arise for coaching, refereeing and organising events. The program also streams into upper school WACE units and VET courses specific to football for university or TAFE placements.^[8]

As well, the school hosts an Intensive English Centre (IEC) for newly arrived migrant students, between the ages of 12–16 years from various cultural backgrounds, to learn English as an additional language.^[9]

In 1986, Sherwant Singh Gill won the Beazley Medal for the top ranked academic student in Western Australia.

• Jacob Collard – A-League footballer
• Tareq Kamleh – medical doctor & member of outlawed Islamic State^[15]

• Devon Terrell – actor

• List of schools in the Perth metropolitan area

• Official website  

  Media related to Lynwood Senior High School at Wikimedia Commons