However, we can trace elements leading to what we might recognize as "high school night programs" to different periods:
* Early 20th Century: Vocational education started gaining prominence in high schools, often with evening classes offered to working adults. This wasn't strictly a "night program" in the sense of extracurricular activities, but it represents a precursor to offering structured evening activities at high schools.
* Mid-20th Century: The post-World War II era saw a boom in suburban high schools and a growing emphasis on extracurricular activities. While not specifically "night programs," many activities like sports, clubs, and rehearsals naturally extended into evenings.
* Late 20th and Early 21st Century: The modern sense of a structured "high school night program," perhaps involving open houses, parent-teacher meetings, and showcasing student work, likely developed gradually throughout this period. This is when the formalized structure and marketing we associate with the term likely emerged.
Therefore, there's no definitive starting year. The concept developed incrementally over decades as high schools expanded their offerings and community involvement.