In 1899, Grimsley–then called Greensboro High School–opened its doors for the first time as a separate entity from the elementary school. Today, it stands as one of the oldest high schools in the state, carrying over a century of history and pride.

 

Greensboro High School was originally housed in the former St. Agnes Church, which was located near the Greensboro Public Library on Church Street. The inaugural school year saw only a handful of students being instructed by four teachers in seven courses. 

 

However, news spread quickly about GHS and the church soon became overcrowded.

 

In the fall of 1911, the school moved to a new building at the site of Weaver Academy and underwent a name change–this time to Greensboro Central High School.

 

While at the Spring Street campus, GHS flourished. Students participated in a multitude of extracurricular activities–including a strong band and chorus program, sports such as horseback riding and football, clubs, newspaper, and an all-male cheer team. The mascot “The Purple Whirlwinds” was also adopted during this time.

 

Despite the success of GHS, a shocking study done by Drs. G.D. Strayer and N.L. Englehardt of Columbia University in 1920 found that all the Greensboro city schools, GHS included, were physically substandard.

 

Greensboro residents, albeit surprised by the findings, took on the challenge and initiated a school-building program. 

 

In 1927, following significant delays due to a lawsuit, the school board purchased a 129-acre property on Westover Terrace and began construction on a revamped Greensboro High School. 

 

In the fall of 1929, three decades after its opening, GHS, now known as Greensboro Senior High School, welcomed 1,300 students in grades 9 to 11 to the Westover Terrace campus.

 

Unfortunately, the Great Depression loomed on the horizon and GHS was by no means exempt from its challenges.

 

In 1933, the school’s art, music, drama, and vocational programs were all discontinued, as well as many clubs and services. Teachers were forced to resign in droves, and the school year was reduced to 8 months.

 

However, the GHS community was strong, and emerged from the 1930s and 40s with a distinguished music program, of which the band was headed by the renowned Mr. Hazelman, a wide range of extracurricular clubs, and numerous state championships.

 

The 1950s and 60s are considered to be GHS’s second golden age, during which both academics and student life thrived. The first AP class at Grimsley, European History, was introduced during the 1964-65 school year. The football team continued to thrive under Coach Jamieson, and traditions such as May Day were at their peak. 

 

Also during this era, the student body voted to change the school colors from purple and gold to the current navy and white, and the mascot name was changed to be the “Whirlwinds,” more commonly referred to as the “Whirlies.”

 

In 1962, GHS experienced its most recent significant change: a name change. 

 

On January 16th, 1962, Principal A.P. Routh was called by the county school officials and told that due to the opening of additional high schools in Greensboro, GHS had to change its name. They warned Routh that if a new name was not selected in three hours, the school board would choose one for them. Routh and his staff, scrambling for an alternative that would allow the GHS moniker to remain, settled upon Grimsley Senior High School, named for Superintendent George A. Grimsley, whose idea it was to establish GHS in the first place.

 

Grimsley has remained the school's name ever since, a reminder of GHS’s long history that continues into the modern day.

 

Special thanks to Mr. Peter Byrd ‘74, Grimsley’s historian, for his assistance in the creation of this article.