Established in 1958, the second affiliated middle school of East China Normal University is the only key high school directly under the Ministry of Education in Shanghai. In 2005, it was rated as the first batch of experimental demonstration high schools in Shanghai, the first batch of "advanced collective of national education system", the first batch of "top ten innovative schools of national science and technology education", and the "2049" innovative talent training base, as well as the member unit of Asian education reform APEID of UNESCO.
In April 2020, East China Normal University and Putuo District People's Government signed an agreement to jointly organize Putuo Campus (hereinafter referred to as "Hua Er Putuo"), which officially opened in September of the same year. Like other campuses, Hua Er Putuo and the Second Affiliated Middle School of East China Normal University share the same management team, school-running philosophy, education model and teaching, share the same curriculum resources and teacher management, and are closely linked with other campuses.