It is the first public high school in the United States to use all-wireless laptop technology and fully digital (no textbooks) curriculum resources.

[2] Empire opened to students in August 2005 as the first one-to-one laptop, textbook free, comprehensive high school in the nation.

[citation needed] Empire hosts a wide variety of athletics, including football, track and field, baseball, softball, golf, volleyball, cheer, soccer, basketball and cross country.

[citation needed] Empire's fine arts programs include classes and extracurricular activities focusing on guitars, choir, pop symphony, art (including an AP class on drawing), steel drums, photography, ceramics, theatre, and technical theatre.

The Empire Drama Department has won countless superior awards in a variety of categories at competitions across the state, and has earned the chance to go to Nationals for their one act plays in the 2013-2014 and 2022-2023 school years.