Craigslea State High School first opened its doors to students in 1975. It was the first Queensland secondary school with lowset buildings. Unlike traditional high school designs, the high percentage of space taken up by verandahs and staircases has been reduced to some 5% of the total floor area of the Craigslea complex. The official opening of the school occurred in 2000 by the then Minister for Education, the Honourable Dean Wells.
Craigslea SHS is situated in the northern suburb of West Chermside. The main entrance accesses Hamilton Road, while Maundrell Terrace and Toomey Street provide alternative access to the grounds. The high school adjoins Craigslea State School. Some facilities are shared with the primary school and hence the transition to secondary education for these young people is a natural one.