Wade Hampton High School takes its name from Wade Hampton III who was one of the largest slave owners in the country, and went on to serve in the confederate army and as the governor of South Carolina.[4] He later was elected as a U.S. Senator from the state. His campaign as governor was marked by extensive violence by the Red Shirts, a paramilitary group that served the Democratic Party by disrupting elections and suppressing black and Republican voting in the state. They contributed to the Democrats regaining control of the state government in this period.[5]
The name has garnered mild controversy in the community, but so far there is no real push to get the name changed, despite efforts from students and other members of the community.[6]
Academics
Wade Hampton consistently scores higher than both the national and state averages on tests such as the SAT, ACT, and EOC.[7] The school's campus is also home to The Fine Arts Center of Greenville.
Athletics
The 1968 football team finished with a 10–1 record and met the Greenwood High School Emeralds for the first South Carolina state 4A championship, resulting in a loss.[citation needed] The Sandlappers defeated the North Carolina team 21–7.[citation needed] The boys basketball team won state championships in 1970, 1972 and 2011.[citation needed] The boys cross-county team won state championships in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003.
Notable alumni
This article's list of alumni may not follow Wikipedia's verifiability policy. Please improve this article by removing names that do not have independent reliable sources showing they merit inclusion in this article AND are alumni, or by incorporating the relevant publications into the body of the article through appropriate citations.(December 2022)
Jim DeMint – former member U.S House of Representatives, former U. S. Senator
