Gate City High School offers a variety of sports and recreational programs, competing in soccer, track and field, swimming, cross-country, forensics, speech and drama, and academic tournaments.

[2][6][7] Gate City additionally won the 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2013 and 2014 state championships in volleyball.

[2] Gate City alum Mac McClung holds the Virginia state high school scoring record, formerly held by Allen Iverson.

He also broke J.J. Redick's state championship game scoring record (McClung had 47 to Reddick’s 43).

In 2009 the American Civil Liberties Union sent a letter to the school objecting to a Christian prayer having been read over the public address system before a football game.