Blue Ridge High School’s class of 2026 graduated on Thursday afternoon.
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Blue Ridge High School of Greer has been named a 2025-2026 Palmetto’s Finest School.
The first GreerNews.com Sports Awards will be held on May 14th at Turner Chapel, North Greenville University. The event will recognize high school athletes and teams from six schools in the area, with over 30 awards to be presented. Three nominees for each award will be invited to the event, which will be an ESPYs-style red carpet event. The awards include Male Athlete of the Year, Female Athlete of the Year, Team of the Year, Scholar Athlete of the Year, and Best Performance of the Year, among others.
Ashley Wardlaw, principal of Blue Ridge High School, has been named the 2026 South Carolina Secondary Principal of the Year by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators. Wardlaw, who has been principal for four years and is an alumna of the school, was surprised with the recognition at an assembly. In her time as principal, she has focused on community engagement efforts, including the Ridge Nation initiative, which organizes events to foster connection between the school and the surrounding community. Wardlaw will now compete for the title of National Secondary Principal of the Year.
Schools in Greer have performed at or above the state level in all subject areas, according to school officials. Elementary schools are demonstrating year-over-year growth, middle schools are making impressive gains in literacy, and high schools are excelling in English while strengthening math. Blue Ridge High School was the district's top-performing high school for the 2024-2025 school year, with 97.9% of students passing the English II End-of-Course Exam. Riverside High School has the highest percentage of students earning a WIN Career Readiness Credential, with 90.7% of students credentialed.
The Blue Ridge High School Athletic Booster Club held its first annual 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb Challenge on Saturday morning. With a little over 20 participants, the challenge kicked off just before 9 a.m. Attendees took time to remember the victims and first responders of 9/11, while simultaneously supporting young athletes at the school.
Greenville County Schools and Spartanburg Districts 1-7 began their new school year on Aug. 11, with many schools experiencing increased enrollment and construction projects. Principals from various schools in the area expressed their excitement for the new year and their goals for academic growth and creating a positive learning environment for their students.