South High School opened its doors in Bakersfield in 1957-58. At the time, South High was the fifth high school
in Bakersfield along with Bakersfield High, East High, North High, and Garces High.
Tehachapi leads the series with South 7-0 by virtue of back-to-back victories over South's junior varsity teams in 1959 and 1960;
a 34-8 win over the Spartans in a CIF Central Section Division III game in 2017; a narrow 26-20 win in a 2022 league game;
a solid 35-7 victory in 2023; a thrilling 24-21 victory in 2024; and an easy 26-7 win in 2025.
As of May 7, 2021 the school mascot is known as the “Spartans” following a year long review committee
determination examine the prior mascot 'Rebel Man or Johnny Rebel which was patterned after a Confederate soldier.
Sports teams formerly referred to as the Rebels will now be known as the Spartans.
According to the Kern High School District, South High has a student enrollment of 2,320 (2022).
