Year visited: 2024

Time of Year: December

Ever since I found out my friend in Salt Lake City lived near the school where they filmed High School Musical, I have been waiting to go! In fact, I bought a shirt (a year ahead of time…) the last time I was visiting my college (in Indiana), so I could represent the “wildcats” at the Salt Lake City East High school.

Not gonna lie… I was a little intimidated to just walk in some random high school and start taking selfies. Going anywhere new intimidates me (even just a restaurant I’ve never been to before…), but that’s why I blog! To tell you absolutely everything you need to know about how to visit the real life High School Musical school, so you don’t have to feel awkward doing the iconic jumping photo shoot at East High.

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What’s in this Article:

• Where was High School Musical Filmed?
• How to Visit East High in Salt Lake City
• East High Filming Locations
• Other Things to Do in Salt Lake City

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Where was High School Musical Filmed?

All of the High School Musical movies, as well as the Disney+ series, were filmed at East High, a real life school in Salt Lake City.

The first movie was filmed there in the summer of 2005. The sequel takes place during the summer, and was mainly filmed at The Inn at Entrada. However, you do see East High featured in the opening scenes of the (2007) film. The third film of the High School Musical trilogy was filmed at East High in summer 2008.

From 2019-2022, High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, the Disney+ TV series based on the popular movies, was filmed at East High and Salt Lake City.

• Good to Know: Though you will find the majority of High School Musical filming locations at East High, there are some scenes (like the auditorium and rooftop garden) that were actually filmed at other schools in the area or on sets.
• Fun Fact: In the movie, the mascot is the wildcats, but East High’s actual mascot is the leopard.

East High is located in Salt Lake City. Murray High, filming location of the auditorium, is about a 20 minute drive from there.

The Inn at Entrada (filming location for High School Musical 2), is in the very bottom corner of Utah, and is over a 4 hour drive from Salt Lake City.

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How to Visit East High in Salt Lake City

You can take an Uber or drive yourself to East High and do a self-guided tour if you want to visit the school where they filmed High School Musical.

Where to Park at East High

East High is located in the city, so it can become crowded with traffic and pedestrians. There are a few parking spots right out front of the school, by the flagpole (on Leopard Lane). This is the main entrance by the office, where you will enter the building.

There is also a large parking lot out back, that leads into the commons/cafeteria area. I am not sure if those doors would be unlocked to enter, but you can park back there if there is no room out front.

We parked on the street along the side of the school, and walked around to the front to enter.

How to Tour East High

You can do a “self-guided” tour of East High. Visitors are allowed in the school from 3:30 pm-5:30 pm on weekdays during the school year. The office is also open from 9:00 am-2:00 pm in the summer. According to the souvenir map, you can buy East High merch from the office during their summer hours.

• You can contact the school using the phone number on their website to double check the hours. When we called after office hours, there was a recorded message that confirmed the open hours.

The main entrance is out front by the flag pole (where you take the jumping photos). The office is right inside this door, where you can grab a “souvenir map” that tells you where all of the filming locations are.

These main doors should be unlocked. However, when we visited (about 4:30 pm in December), they were locked, but we went in another door to the side that was open.

• Our Experience: On our way to Salt Lake City from Moab (in Dec. 2024), we found an article saying they were no longer allowing tours inside East High! In a panic, we called the school, but it was just after 3:30, and the office had closed. The recording (and the signs on the front doors) confirmed that the school was open for tours from 3:30-5:30. When we got to the school, the doors were locked, and the recorded message from the doorbell said there were no tours due to construction in the school! However, we saw people come out with the souvenir maps. We followed someone else through the side door by the gym, which was open. We then asked a counselor who was in her office, and she told us of course it was ok to be there, and gave us a copy of the map. We did not see any construction.

Best Time of Year to Visit East High

Remember that East High is an actual high school, with students and events going on.

The school is open for tours on weekdays after school. The later you get there, the better, because there are students going about their business there. They are very used to HSM fanatics though, so don’t feel weird about visiting.

I’ve read that you can’t visit in the summer, but according to the souvenir map, you can purchase East High merch in the office from 9:00 am-2:00 pm. My local friend also said if we came back in the summer we could get shirts, so I assume you can also tour the school during these hours. It would be super cool to be able to authentically rep East High (granted, it’s also super cool to wear the Disney version) when you visit.

They also have lots of events going on. I was legitimately super bummed that we were there a week before the winter “musi-cal!” That would be so fun to watch a high school musical at the school where they filmed High School Musical! Be sure to check the calendar on their website to see what’s on.

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High School Musical Filming Locations at East High

There are plenty of High School Musical filming locations to find at East High! As I said above, you can get a map that lists out all of the locations at the front office when you first enter.

• Good to Know: When you enter through the main entrance, you are technically on the “2nd floor.” The school is located on a bit of a hill, and the back parking lot is one level down from the main front entrance.

Here are some of the most recognizable locations, and how to find them.

• Pro Tip: Be sure to sport your “Wildcat” gear for the photo ops at Salt Lake City East High school! I wore a real life wildcats shirt from my actual college, while my sister sported Troy Bolton’s #14 jersey. You could also wear real life East High gear from their bookstore or office, if it’s open!
• (I also love the idea of dressing like one of the characters, like wearing this “I come with my own background music” shirt that Chad wears!)

Front Courtyard

The front of the East High school in Salt Lake City is very recognizable from the movies. A lot of action takes place out here.

At the far end of the parking lot is an engraving of the school, which is featured in the movies. Then you can go up to the main entrance and take your iconic jumping photo (or take one in both spots…).

The best news is, even if the school is closed and you can’t get inside, you can always get your jumping photo!

• Fun Fact: The East High sign out front is different in all 3 movies.

East High Cafeteria

One of the most recognizable High School Musical filming locations is the East High cafeteria, or as they refer to it, the commons. This location is featured heavily in all 3 movies, and is the centerpiece of the actual school.

When you first walk in the main doors by the office, if you keep walking forward, you will end up looking down on the commons area. Then you can head to the stairs on your right, and get in touch with your inner Sharpay as you slow-mo walk down them with a haughty expression…

The doors from the commons lead out to the large back parking lot behind the school.

Sharpay’s Pink Locker

Besides the front of the school and the cafeteria, Sharpay’s locker(s) was the other spot I most wanted to see!!

The map is a little confusing, but basically if you are in the main entryway, facing the commons, turn left, and then turn left again down the next main hallway you come to. Sharpay’s lockers are down that hall on the right.

• Bonus! You might also find fun HSM references on posters and bulletin boards along the wall.

The Gym

We entered a door to the right of the main entrance, and it was right next to the gym! We could hear the sounds of shoes squeaking on the basketball court, which seemed a fitting soundtrack for touring East High!

We did not go in the gym (I think there was a game going on), but as long as it is not in use, you can visit the gym on your High School Musical tour. Fair warning, most of the blogs I have read said the gym was in use. Though… if it’s in use for a game (as opposed to practice), you could watch an actual basketball game at East High!

If you come in the main door, turn right, and then turn right again at the next main hallway.

Entryway and “Wildcat” Statue

The Salt Lake City East High school’s mascot is a leopard. But he could easily pass as a wildcat, and that’s exactly what this statue does in the films!

The statue is located right inside the main entrance, overlooking the commons. You will also recognize this entryway area from all of the movies (and TV show!).

The Auditorium

The auditorium that is featured in the first movie was actually filmed at Murray High School. However, East High’s auditorium was used in the third High School Musical movie.

If you happen to be around for a winter musi-cal or other event, you will be lucky enough to experience the auditorium for real! Otherwise, you may or may not be able to view it, depending on if it is in use during your visit.

Keep heading down the hall from Sharpay’s locker to reach the East High auditorium.

Other Filming Locations:

Those are the most recognizable and worth-while filming locations at East High. We did not stop to see anything else, as we were feeling a little awkward having come in the side (despite being told that we were allowed in!).

But here are a few of the other locations you could see if you tour East High:

• The shop class, featured in the original movie
• Yearbook/graphics room, featured in the third movie
• The science classroom from the first movie
• Ms. Darbus’ room, featured in all 3 HSM movies
• The library, from the first and third movie
• Various lockers and hallways from significant points in the movies

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Other Things to Do in Salt Lake City

If you’re an obsessed Disney fan visiting Salt Lake City to tour East High, then you’re going to want other things to do while you’re there. The good news is, there are so many cool things to do (and eat!) in Salt Lake City, not to mention incredible places nearby.

I am working on a complete guide to Salt Lake City (with tips from my local friends), but until then, here are some quick ideas for your trip:

• Visit Temple Square (note that it is currently under construction)
• Clark Planetarium
• Natural History Museum
• Get a drink at a soda cafe
• Go shopping
  • City Creek Center
  • The Gateway
  • Explore other cute neighborhoods
• See an actual rooftop garden from the Coliseum-esque library (Although the roof is currently under construction…)
• Day trip to Park City
• Day trip to the Great Salt Lake (Antelope Island is a good place to go)
• Rent a car to drive to one of 5 nearby National Parks!

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I hope you find this information helpful for your own tour of East High in Salt Lake City! Feel free to share your own experiences in the comments below!

Any more questions?

If you have any questions about how to tour East High in Salt Lake City, feel free to email me or comment below!

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