The school was established in 1972 in response to the boom of Tucson's east side in the 1960s and 1970s. It is named after nearby SabinoCanyon(Contemporary establishments Santa Rita High School and Sahuaro High School have similar facilities.) Starting with grades 9 and 10, it finally had a full graduating class in 1975. This class chose the school colors purple and gold, and chose Sabercats as the mascot. A committee of freshman at Sahuaro who were going to transfer as sophomores into Sabino came up with the choices put up to a vote of all of the incoming sophomores. The other option was maroon and silver, with the mascot of the Toros.