Spartanburg High School

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Coordinates: 34°58′46″N 81°52′47″W / 34.97942°N 81.879639°W / 34.97942; -81.879639
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Spartanburg High School
Address
Map
2250 East Main Street

Spartanburg, South Carolina
29307

United States
Coordinates34°58′46″N 81°52′47″W / 34.97942°N 81.879639°W / 34.97942; -81.879639
Information
TypePublic
Secondary
MottoSapientia, Vires, et Pax
(Wisdom, Strength, and Peace)
School districtSpartanburg County School District 7
PrincipalVance Jones
Staff132.05 (FTE)[1]
Grades9–12
GenderCo-educational
Enrollment1,970 (2021–22)[1]
Student to teacher ratio14.92[1]
Campus size189 acres[2] (764,856 m²)
Campus typeUrban (small city)
Color(s)Navy blue and metallic gold
MascotViking
NewspaperNorse News
Websitewww.spartanburg7.org/Domain/20

Spartanburg High School is a public high school in Spartanburg, South Carolina, United States.[3] It is part of Spartanburg County School District 7.

The current principal is Dr. Vance Jones, a former assistant principal at the school. Dr. Jones will be succeeded in his duties by Dr. Andrew McMillan, principal of Chapman High School in Inman, South Carolina, effective July 1, 2023.[4]

History

Spartanburg High School was founded in 1897 when the Board of Trustees had erected the building known as the Converse Street High School. The faculty numbered 10 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, and from 1922 to 1959, the high school was housed in the Frank Evans High School building on Dean Street. The building became a junior high school in 1959 when the new Spartanburg High School was built in its current location.[5][6]

The school's football team until 1970 were known as Crimson Tide, and their colors were red and white.[7] The basketball team prior to 1970 were known as the Red Birds.[8]

In 1970, integration of public schools was forced by the federal courts, and Carver High School, the city's black high school, closed and was merged with Spartanburg High School,[9] which chose a new team name, the Vikings, and new colors, blue and gold.[7] The Carver campus was changed to a junior high school.[10][9] 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 addition to D-wing, the A, B, and C wings were completely renovated and air-conditioned.

Since 1996, the campus has undergone many needed renovations. The athletic department facilities were remodeled and expanded to accommodate a growing program. E-wing houses facilities for JROTC, state-of-the-art information technology equipment classrooms, acoustically designed practice rooms, rehearsal rooms for chorus and orchestra, and a space for the band. An enclosed hallway links E-wing with the front lobby. Renovations were completed in 1999 for the science department A-wing, a new front entrance with an atrium, and a reconfigured front parking lot. In the fall of 2005, a state-of-the-art weight room and multi-purpose room was completed in the athletic department.

In 2022, Spartanburg High School won exclusive rights to stage the musical Frozen, marking the non-Broadway-affiliated premiere of the work in South Carolina.[11] The institution was selected as a representative for the state as part of the "United States of Frozen: Love is an Open Door" competition, which resulted in the selection of one high school from every American state and territory to produce the work[12] as part of the first-ever school performances of the musical.[11] Starring 287 student actors from across Spartanburg County School District 7, with contributions from musicians, staff, and stage crew,[13] the school ran two free and four ticketed, sold-out[14] showings.

Relocation and new building

On March 15, 2016, residents of Spartanburg County School District 7 voted on a bond referendum allocating $185 million for three building projects, one of which proposed relocating Spartanburg High School onto a former country club property situated along U.S. Route 29 in Spartanburg. Construction of a new high school building on the site would be funded by a tax increase of 10 mills. The measure passed with 63% of 7,191 voters in favor of the plan.[15]

On December 14, 2016, ground was broken on the site of the future Spartanburg High School campus at a ceremony with about 200 attendees.[16] Work on the site commenced early in 2017, with as many as 200 personnel following an "aggressive" completion schedule for the project. During this period, construction went over-budget by around $10 million as a result of preparation of the property for building.[17] However, work was completed in time for the 2019-20 school year, with doors opening at the new Spartanburg High School at 2250 East Main Street on August 19, 2019.[18]

The new campus of Spartanburg High School measures nearly 200 acres,[18] a ~300% increase in size from the previous site on Emory Road in Spartanburg. The main academic building contains 124 classrooms across two stories and four wings.[2] Two outdoor wings exist as courtyard spaces, and a basement wing serves as the athletic department.[19] Attached to the academic building is the District 7 Fine Arts Center, which possesses a seating capacity of 1,000, and the Viking Arena, which can seat 2,500.[2]

Outdoor features of the school's campus include the Viking Stadium, which has 7,500 seats. There are numerous other athletic areas that support track and field, baseball, softball, and tennis.[2] Spartanburg High School's walking trails, outdoor classroom, wetlands, and irrigation system, alongside the property's energy efficiency measures, resulted in the school receiving two Green Globe Awards from the Green Building Initiative in 2020;[20] it is the ninth such institution nationally to receive this distinction, and the first in South Carolina.[21]

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ a b c "Spartanburg High". National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved May 1, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d "Spartanburg High School". M. B. Kahn Construction Company, Inc. Retrieved May 3, 2023.
  3. ^ "Zoning Map" (PDF). City of Spartanburg. Retrieved 2021-07-05.
    Compare to the address: 2250 E Main Street Spartanburg, South Carolina - Despite an outdated Google Maps view, the school is in the city limits.
  4. ^ arollins@postandcourier.com, Asia Rollins. "Spartanburg High gets a new principal". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  5. ^ Jill H. Rodgers (May 2012). "Frank Evans High School" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
  6. ^ "Frank Evans High School, Spartanburg County (142 S. Dean St., Spartanburg)". National Register Properties in South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Retrieved 2014-07-01.
  7. ^ a b "Second set of Tolbert twins continues family legacy at SHS".
  8. ^ "Reunited Class of '47 relishes good old days".
  9. ^ a b "Carver High School celebrates 80 years of history". 7 July 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  10. ^ "The Early Years". Retrieved 22 January 2019.
  11. ^ a b arollins@postandcourier.com, Asia Rollins. "Spartanburg school wins rights to perform Disney's 'Frozen' musical". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  12. ^ "The United States of Frozen Contest - Educational Theatre Association". schooltheatre.org. 2022-06-15. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  13. ^ "Upstate school district lands 'Frozen' musical". WSPA 7NEWS. 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  14. ^ "All shows are now sold out!". Facebook. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  15. ^ "Spartanburg voters say yes to District 7 building plan". Spartanburg Herald Journal. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  16. ^ "Ground-breaking ceremony held for new Spartanburg High School". WSPA 7NEWS. 2016-12-14. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  17. ^ Lavender, Chris. "Spartanburg High School construction on schedule". Spartanburg Herald Journal. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  18. ^ a b "Inside look at new $134 million Spartanburg High School". WSPA 7NEWS. 2019-08-20. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  19. ^ "The NEW Spartanburg High School / The New Spartanburg High School". www.spartanburg7.org. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  20. ^ Swann, Samantha. "New Spartanburg High School recognized for being energy efficient school". Spartanburg Herald Journal. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  21. ^ "Our Story / School History". www.spartanburg7.org. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
  22. ^ "Byerley appointed Vice Dean for Education". Vital Signs. UNC Health Care News. 2013-09-12. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  23. ^ "Stephen Davis". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 22, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  24. ^ "Art Fowler Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  25. ^ "Steve Fuller". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 20, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  26. ^ "U.S. Congressman Trey Gowdy". Retrieved March 27, 2013.
  27. ^ "Anthony Simmons". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  28. ^ 1989 Topps baseball card # 716
  29. ^ "William Childs Westmoreland Papers". Retrieved March 27, 2013.

External links


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