South Charleston High School opened in the fall of 1926 in a distinctive five-sided building on Third Avenue and E Street. Miss Clara Smith served as principal for the first school year. As the only senior that year, Kathleen (Harless) Hamilton became the first and only graduate of the Class of 1927.

In 1931, the school (grades 7-12) became Loudon District High School and moved to a new building at Third Avenue and C Street. Two years later, the West Virginia Legislature terminated district boards. During the 1933-34 school year, the Kanawha County Board of Education assumed the administration of the high school and changed the name back to South Charleston High School. However, the name on the front of the building remained unchanged for another 26 years. Over the next four decades, SCHS changed to grades 9-12 and then to grades 10-12. Enrollment peaked with the “baby boomer” classes of ’64-’65-’66.

In the fall of 1971, South Charleston High School moved to One Eagle Way, a beautiful hilltop location in Spring Hill on the site of the former Southmoor Country Club. With the closure of Dunbar High School in 1990, additions were made to accommodate the increased enrollment. SCHS honored its own with the Robert L. Bryan Baseball Field, Marvin S. Lee Athletic Field, Tom Murphy Theatre, Marvin “Old Pro” Richardson Gymnasium, Harry S. Stansbury Tennis Courts and the Bryan-McIlwain Baseball Complex.

South Charleston High School became a four-year school again in 2001-2002 following a major construction project that included the Carl Tully Gymnasium. The home of the Black Eagles continues to be the pride of the Dunbar and South Charleston communities.