Kenmore State High School opened its doors in 1972 with the first group of students graduating in 1976. The school grew steadily until the 1990s, then growth accelerated, peaking in 1996 at 1,455 students. Enrolment numbers have increased rapidly since then, with 2,010 enrolled students in 2021.
The school's logo was developed with the following features:
- the Munich emblem is a reminder of the school's foundation year — the year of the Munich Olympics
- the book symbolises learning
- the castle represents Kenmore Castle in Scotland, the home of some of the original settlers of Kenmore
- the trees are a symbol of the environmental focus of the school
- the birds also reflect the environmental focus.
The school has eight sporting houses. Their origins are:
- Bimbi - taken from the Aboriginal phrase 'Bim Bim Bi' meaning 'Place of many birds'
- Carrawah - taken from the Aboriginal language of the district meaning 'Plenty of birds come to rest here'
- Tarcoola - taken from the Aboriginal language of the district meaning 'A river bend'
- Wyuna - taken from the Aboriginal language of the district meaning 'Clear water'
- Allunga - taken from the Aboriginal language of the district meaning 'Beautiful place'
- Jarrah - taken from the Aboriginal language of the district meaning 'Eucalyptus tree'
- Kinta - taken from the Aboriginal language of the district meaning 'Laughter'
- Alkira - taken from the Aboriginal language of the district meaning 'The sky'.
The school's sporting house colours are:
- Bimbi - Purple
- Carrawah - Green
- Tarcoola - Red
- Wyuna - Dark Blue
- Allunga - Yellow
- Jarrah - Orange
- Kinta - Pink
- Alkira - Light Blue