The first edition of the Senior High School Library Catalog was published in 1926 as an author-title list, followed by a fuller version in 1928 that also included a subject index and analytical entries. Since the appearance of the second edition in 1932, the Catalog has been published regularly every five years. Initially it was called Standard Catalog for High School Libraries, but when Junior High School Library Catalog (later Middle and Junior High School Library Catalog) was introduced in 1965, its scope was changed. It became Senior High School Library Catalog with the ninth edition in 1967.

Senior High School Library Catalog was retitled Senior High Core Collection in 2007.