Our Story

In the fall of 1970, Spartanburg and Carver High Schools merged into a single high school (to be known as Spartanburg High School) as part of the final step in the desegregation of the Spartanburg City Schools. The history of the old Spartanburg High School began in 1897 when the Board of Trustees had erected the building known as the Converse Street High School. This six-classroom structure cost $10,000. The faculty numbered ten and the student body was less than 200. In 1921, the Dean Street wing was added and the school was renamed in honor of Dr. Frank Evans, Superintendent .

Carver High School, named for the great black scientist, Dr. George Washington Carver, was born in 1938. The building, a twelve-classroom structure, was erected at a cost of $65,000. Mr. C. C. Woodson began his tenure of thirty-five years in the office of principal. His first faculty numbered 13. As part of the consolidation plan of 1970, Carver High was converted into Carver Junior High School and all students in grades 10-12 were placed under one roof at the present Spartanburg High School site on Dupre Drive. A construction program was begun immediately, and in the fall of 1974 D-wing was completed adding forty-one new classrooms, a new library-media center, and a new student center. In addition to D-wing, A, B, and C-wings were completely renovated and air-conditioned, giving Spartanburg High School one of the most modern facilities of its time. Since 1996, the campus has undergone many needed renovations.

The Athletic Department facilities have been remodeled and expanded to accommodate a growing program; ready to house championship teams. E-wing now houses new facilities for JROTC, state-of-the-art ITE classrooms, acoustically designed practice rooms and rehearsal rooms for chorus and orchestra, and a new addition for the band. Noteworthy is the enclosed hallway linking E-wing with the front lobby. Renovations were completed in 1999 for the Science Department in A-wing, a new front entrance with an atrium, and a reconfigured front parking lot.

In the fall of 2005, a stat-of-the-art weight room and multi-purpose room were completed in the Athletic Department. Recent additions/renovations to athletic facilities include new tennis courts, practice fields, football fields for use by community youth programs, and state-of-the-art spaces for track and field events. The MondoTrack FrX running track is the same surface that was used in the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008. The first floor of D-wing which once held the media center was gutted and renovated for the media center as well as business education department, bookroom, and computer labs. The media center renovation was featured in the American Libraries magazine. Upgrades have also been made to the student cafeteria and courtyard. In the fall of 2012, the Freshman Academy building was completed and the gym and gym lobby were completely renovated.

The New Spartanburg High School

In 2016, the residents of District 7 endorsed a bond measure to fulfill a number of projects designed to bring about significant advances for our school system. Among those was construction of the new Spartanburg High School at 2250 East Main Street, the former site of the Lan-Yair Country Club. A groundbreaking ceremony was held in December 2016 and the facility opened in Fall 2019.

Constructed in a manner that comfortably combines the visual ideas of traditional and contemporary design, the new Spartanburg High School fulfills a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to address the global economy by shaping the minds of future generations. 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.

Learning takes place anytime and everywhere on this beautiful, welcoming and responsible campus. Constructed for a capacity of 2,500 students, the 189-acre site includes a 1,000-seat Fine Arts Center, a comprehensive athletic complex, a 7,500-seat athletic stadium, and a 2,500-seat arena. Large classrooms, science labs, lecture labs, and formal and informal meeting and collaboration areas throughout the building and site accommodate project-based learning and foster a culture of open exchange. The Viking Student Center, Viking Vendor, Viking Dining Hall, Veranda and Library create meaningful opportunities for teachers and students to engage and interact in what many describe as a “collegiate-like” environment.

Fine arts, health and wellness, student activity and athletic facilities support performances and athletic events; and a modern guidance and career center is optimally equipped to prepare students for success beyond high school. Ample parking, robust state-of-the-art security systems, optimal visibility and egress welcome all who are served by this flagship school.

An outdoor environmental classroom, designed with input and guidance from students, faculty, a renowned naturalist, and community partners was incorporated into the campus design along with walking trails, ponds, functional courtyards, and plazas. These natural resources across our new camps provide for learning, wellness, and conservation.

The new Spartanburg High School is the ninth high school nationwide – and the only in South Carolina – to achieve Two Green Globes. This certification is awarded by the Green Building Initiative for resource efficiency and reduction of environmental impact.