Spartanburg High School history

Students are surrounded by timeless reminders of the school’s historic past, such as the main entrance clock honoring the establishment of Spartanburg City Schools in 1884, while also benefitting from efficient design that is conducive to 21st century teaching and learning.

Spartanburg High School began in 1897 when the Board of Trustees had erected the building known as the Converse Street High School.

Spartanburg Day School opened its doors as the first independent school in Upstate South Carolina in 1957.

The building became a junior high school in 1959 when the new Spartanburg High School was built in its current location.

In 1964, the school awarded diplomas to its first graduating class of just six students.

The school’s history is replete with “firsts.” In 1967, SDS was the first independent school in the state to be accredited by SACS, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

In 1969, SDS was the first school in South Carolina to establish a chapter of the Cum Laude Society, the highest national honor society for academics in independent schools.

A construction program at Spartanburg High School was begun immediately, and in the fall of 1974 D-wing was completed, adding 41 new classrooms, a new library-media center, and a new student center.

In 1999, the Mildred Harrison Dent Fine Arts Center opened.

In the fall of 2005, a state-of-the-art weight room and multi-purpose room was completed in the athletic department.

The next year, in 2011, a new Upper School, Presnell, opened its doors and was also awarded LEED certification.