History
Before Forest Park existed, its campus had been the site of an amusement park known as Forest Park Highlands. The park opened in the late 19th century, and was destroyed in July 1963 by a major fire that started at one of the park's restaurants.
Two years after a $47.2 million bond was approved to pay for its construction as part of the new Junior College District (JCD), classes began at Forest Park Community College in 1967. In 1976, the JCD changed the school's name to St. Louis Community College–Forest Park.
In 1999, the Jack E. Miller Hospitality Studies Center opened at Forest Park, with "state-of-the-art facilities for culinary arts".
On September 24, 2009, a suspicious package was found in a men's restroom in the D Building. It was removed by the St. Louis Police Department Bomb and Arson Squad. The next day, the police announced that the package had contained a live bomb and would have caused "moderate to heavy damage" if it had exploded.
The campus is home to the Mildred E. Bastian Center for the Performance Arts, although it has been closed since 2023.
Programs
Forest Park is known for its allied health care education. Associate in Applied Science Degrees offered include: Nursing, Radiologic Technology, Dental Hygiene, Dental Assisting, Respiratory Therapy Polysomnography, and Clinical Laboratory Technology.
The college offers a number of construction-related degrees in Automotive Technology, Building Inspection & Code Enforcement Technology, Plumbing Design Engineering Technology, and Fire Protection Technology.
The Jack Miller Hospitality Studies Program prepares students for the hospitality industry, including programs in Culinary Arts, Baking and Pastry Arts and Hotel Management. Practical culinary courses include intense studies in the process of making chocolate.
Class A and Class B commercial driver's license (CDL) courses are offered, with driver training facilities on campus.
An associate degree program in Funeral Services is offered.
Athletics
St. Louis Community College operates as a single entity in athletic competition; Forest Park students are permitted to participate if eligible. The school's teams compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) as part of the Missouri Community College Athletic Conference.
Forest Park serves as home court for both men and women's basketball teams.
St. Louis Community College teams are known as the Archers. Prior to St. Louis Community College consolidating athletic programs under one banner, Forest Park athletic teams were known as the Highlanders.
