Spartanburg Day School was established on September 12, 1957, at the Drayton Mill Community Building, with 35 students in 1st–5th grades. As more upper-level grades were needed, a new location for SDS was established on Skylyn Drive, where the school is currently located. In October 1962, the new campus was officially opened. The lower school did not move to the current campus until 1993.[citation needed]
When the families of foreign expatriates began moving to the Greenville-Spartanburg area in the 20th century, most of the children attended Spartanburg Country Day School.[4]
Athletics
Each student from grades 7 to 12 is required to participate in one athletic team each academic year. SDS offers cross country, volleyball, soccer, physical education, tennis, basketball, swimming, cheerleading, baseball, lacrosse, golf, and track and field.[5] The school does not deny students from participating in its athletic programs due to inexperience or ability.[6] SDS has enjoyed much athletic success in recent years, including back-to-back baseball SCISA championships in 2001 and 2002, as well as SCISA championship teams in men's and women's tennis.[citation needed]
Landya B. McCafferty (class of 1980), Chief United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire and first female judge to serve in the District of New Hampshire.[9]
Betsy Wakefield Teter (class of 1976), co-founder of the Hub City Writers Project, an independent press, and 2017 recipient of the Elizabeth O'Neill Verner Governor's Award for the Arts.[10]