Robert E. Steele High School was opened in 1893 and was home to all of Dayton's high school students until 1906. The school was located on the Southeast corner of Main Street and Monument. Prior to Steele's opening, Dayton high school students attended Central High School located at Fourth and Wilkinson Streets. The school colors were red and black and the school mascot was Leo the Lion. After a declining enrollment, caused by the opening of several other high schools in Dayton, Steele closed in 1940. The remaining students left at Steele transitioned over to Wilbur Wright in 1940 to complete their education. The Steele building was demolished in 1955. Today the CareSource building stands in place of the high school and Newcom Tavern (which was there prior to the high school) is on display at Carillon Park.

Leo the Lion, the bronze sculpture that keeps watch from the Dayton Art Institute, was the original mascot for Steele High School located on the corner of Main Street and Monument Avenue in Downtown Dayton. The mascot was the brainchild of the school’s decorative arts department.