Harry E. Wood High School opened in the fall of 1953 with the specific purpose of providing vocational education at the secondary level. The high school building was originally the home of Manual High School, built in 1895. When Manual moved to its new buildings on Madison St., Indianapolis Public Schools refurbished the old buildings with an extensive $350,000 renovation.

While vocational training was the original purpose of Wood High School, the school board decided that the primary focus would be on academics, but with exceptional facilities and curriculum to provide students with the vocational training they would need to be successful after high school.

The new school was named for Harry E. Wood, who was an alumni of Manual High School. He became an renowned artist and craftsman, and was an educator and administrator at Manual. He also lectured at many universities and was president of several art associations. Wood retired from IPS in 1950 and died in 1951.

In athletics, Indianapolis Wood High School won several Sectional Championships in both basketball & track. The Woodchuck's wrestling team won the Indiana State Championship in back-to-back seasons, 1959-60 & 1960-61. Former Harlem Globetrotter, "Jumpin' Johhny" Wilson became the first black head coach of an integrated Indiana high school when he was named head basketball coach at Wood.

Wood High School was closed in 1978. In 1981, IPS sold off the buildings and parking lots. By 1996, the main building was owned by Seaboard Life Insurance Co., (USA) and the 100 year old gymnasium was the home of their corporate fitness and wellness program. In 2001, the buildings and the seven acre site were purchased by an office space developer.