GRHS offers a wide range of extracurricular activities, and has one of the few competitive field show marching band programs north of Minneapolis/St.

The school was the first in Northern Minnesota to offer courses in the International Baccalaureate program, and as of 2013[update] offered the University of Minnesota's College in the Schools Program, and Project Lead the Way, a project in conjunction with the Itasca Community College.

Friday also commonly has a shortened class schedule with a pep fest in the morning.

On October 5, 1966, 15-year-old David Black, killed school administrator Forrest Willey and seriously wounded fellow student, 14-year-old Kevin Roth.

As of 2024[update] all of the schools athletics were under the direction of activities director Dale Christy.