Until the 1960s, a brick building on Main Street, which was once Rollings Middle School of the Arts, and now is the district building for all schools in the Dorchester area, was the only high school in the Summerville area. As Summerville's population increased rapidly in the late 1960s and early 1970s, a larger campus was needed. In 1969, the present building on Boone Hill Road was opened to students. From the first day of classes, the new facility was too small. Because of the unexpectedly high enrollment, several mobile units were set up on the campus.
In 1970, Summerville High School and Alston High School were combined to integrate the school district. Attendance continued to increase throughout the 1970s. In 1972, double sessions were used until an additional underclassman campus was completed in 1975. Another classroom wing was created by the spring of 1978.
In 1992, Fort Dorchester High School was opened, splitting the school's student body. As a result, the Gregg underclassman campus was renovated as a middle school, and the switch to a single campus was completed in 1998. Construction of a fine arts hall and cafeteria expansion was completed in the fall of 2001.[2]
In 2008, Ashley Ridge High School was opened to further ease congestion in the Dorchester District Two school system. When attendance zones were realigned for the opening of the new high school, the Ashley Ridge zone contained mostly students who would have attended Summerville high school, whereas only a small portion of the Fort Dorchester attendance zone was diverted.
Statistics
As of 2004, Summerville has a 78.9% graduation rate. However, the school boasts a 97.3% passing rate of the state's standardized exit exam.[3]
Athletics
Wrestling
The Green Wave won five state championships between 1979 and 1993. In total, Summerville wrestling has won 12 state championships (1981, 1987, 1988, 1992, 1993, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008). The program has several high school All-Americans, an NCWA national champion, a JuCo national champion, three NCAA All-Americans, an NCAA national champion, a USA Wrestling national assistant coach of the year, and a USA Wrestling man of the year.
Football
The team has won 12 state championships. The Green Wave won the State Championship in 1998. John McKissick was the coach from 1952 to 2014. His 621 wins is the most by any coach at any level.
Baseball
Summerville has won a total of five 4A baseball state championships. Their most recent championship was won in 2016.
Swimming
Summerville swimming has a total of 4 state championships, 2 girls (2000, 2001) and 2 boys (2003, 2004).
Track and field
In 2010, the girls' team was the 4A state runner-up team. In 2011, the Lady Green Wave won the state meet. In 1985, one student achieved All-American status, a world ranking in the Decathlon and was named the University of South Carolina's track athlete of the decade for the 1980s. In 2016, the Lady Green Wave etched their name in the history books as the girls 400m hurdle state record[4] was broken by Imagine Patterson who went on to win four consecutive state titles in the 400m hurdles from 2015 to 2018 , two consecutive 100m hurdle state championships in the 2017 and 2018 seasons, and two consecutive USATF Junior Olympic National Championships in the 400m hurdles in 2016 and 2017.
Soccer
In 1996, the girls' team won the state 4A State Championships.[5]
Marching band
The Summerville Marching Band (SHSCPE) is a six-time South Carolina state champion, winning most recently in 2014.[citation needed]
