In 2009, a Charter School college-bound curriculum was established at George C. Thomas, and the interior building was renovated, along with the main entrance on the south side, facing Johnston Street.

[2] The school was named for George Clifford Thomas, a notable person in American history of the mid-19th century.

He was a prominent banker, Protestant church and civic leader, philanthropist and collector of art, rare books and manuscripts.

He was a banking-house partner of Jay Cooke and Company in 1861, where he took a prominent part in the work accomplished by the firm, which strengthened the finances of the government so that it was enabled to carry on the Civil War.

In 1870, Mr. Thomas originated and organized the Sunday School Association of the Diocese of Pennsylvania, of which from the year 1875 to the day of his death in 1909, he was vice president.