It is named in honor of Joe E. Newsome, a Plant City pharmacist and businessman who served as a board member of the School District of Hillsborough County, Florida, for 24 years.

[3] In 2013, Newsome was judged the best public school in Hillsborough County at educating students for college by Newsweek.

[10] The Newsome Wolf Pack Marching Band won first place in Bands of America regionals in Delaware with their performance “Flight: If Only I Could.” The following year they were selected to march in the 2016 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, the only school in Florida to receive an invitation.

[11][12][13] In 2024, during their first marching season under director John Owen Davis II, the Wolfpack Marching Band had a regular season clean sweep, being named grand champions earning the top spot at each regional competition they attended.

They also continued the Newsome Band Program’s longstanding pursuit of perfection by earning a Straight Superior rating at the annual Florida Bandmasters Association Marching Music Performance Assessment.