Richard J. Reynolds High School

Made possible through the philanthropy of Katherine Smith Reynolds-Johnston, the widow of R. J. Reynolds and the mother of Zachary Smith Reynolds, who donated the land for the School and the Auditorium.

The School and Auditorium sit on a piece of land known as "Society Hill". The complex consists of five buildings, three of which are contributing buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. They are the High School Building (1922–1923), the Power House (1923), and the Auditorium (1923–1924). They were designed in the late 1910s by architect Charles Barton Keen of Philadelphia and built as part of a single project.[3]

Original plans for the School included two grand school buildings sitting on either side of an Auditorium. Construction on the School began in 1919, under the direction of Reynolda House architect Charles Barton Keen. The first classroom building was finished in 1923, but construction on the second building was delayed and eventually abandoned after the Stock Market Crash of 1929. In the early 1990s, the high school building was thoroughly renovated and restored to its original appearance with some modern updating (e.g., a computer lab to replace the former language lab, and central air-conditioning).

The R. J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium is on the campus and is often used for school functions. The auditorium was constructed in 1924, and a formal opening was held the same year, with Harry Houdini performing. An extensive renovation was completed in 2003. A customized acoustical shell was added to Reynolds Auditorium in 2009.

A fine arts/performing arts building, named the Judy Voss Jones Arts Center for a member of the class of 1968, is on the campus between the R. J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium and Hawthorne Road. Reynolds became a magnet school for the arts in fall of 2007.

The Richard J. Reynolds High School and Richard J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.[2]

• Richard Burr, United States Senator
• Howell Binkley, professional light designer in New York City[4]
• Carter Covington, television writer and producer[5]
• Luciano Delbono, former professional soccer player[6]
• Kenny Duckett, former NFL wide receiver
• Mitch Easter, musician, songwriter, and record producer
• Jim Ferree, professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and Senior PGA Tour[7]
• Ben Folds, musician
• Lois Patricia (Peaches) Golding, High Sheriff of Bristol, England, 2010–11[8]
• Tommy Gregg, former MLB player and current coach[9]
• Kimani Griffin, American speed skater who competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics[10]
• Julianna Guill, actress
• George Hamilton IV, American country musician[11]
• Mark Harris, pastor and politician[12]
• Whit Holcomb-Faye, professional basketball player[13]
• Peter Holsapple, musician who formed The dB's, a jangle-pop band[14]
• Greg Humphreys, singer, guitarist, and songwriter[15]
• Othello Hunter, NBA player
• Burgess Jenkins, actor[16]
• Anthony Levine, NFL player
• Ed Lyons, former MLB player[17]
• Melissa McBride, actress best known for her role as Carol Peletier on the AMC series The Walking Dead[18]
• Norman M. Miller, highly decorated USN Aviator during World War II
• Ryan Odom, men's college basketball head coach[19]
• T. R. Pearson, writer[14]
• Riley Redgate, author of young adult fiction[20]
• Brian Robinson, basketball coach[21]
• Stuart Scott, former ESPN anchor, sportscaster and media personality
• Chris Stamey, musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer[22]
• Reyshawn Terry, professional basketball player and 2005 NCAA Champion with North Carolina[23]
• Michael Wilson, stage and screen director[24]

• Richard J. Reynolds High School