The school is named in honour of Edward Merewether, a prominent businessman and civil servant in the Colony of New South Wales who later became the Superintendent of the Australian Agricultural Company in Newcastle.

[6][7] Merewether High students have consistently achieved some of the highest results in the Higher School Certificate, outperforming other schools in the Greater Hunter Region[citation needed], with many students achieving state rankings in select courses.

He was appointed Superintendent of the Australian Agricultural Company in Newcastle in 1861 and became a significant landowner and local benefactor.

The final principals of both schools are memorialised in the naming of the Bensley Hall and the Foley Library on the present campus.

[citation needed] In 2020, asbestos was found in the roof cavity of K Block, necessitating air monitoring and ceiling encapsulation works.

Merewether High School has participated in Odyssey of the Mind since at least 1992 and have had many successes in this pursuit, including a team of Year 9 students winning the Ranatra Fusca Creativity Award in 2008.

[14] The school has many various sporting teams including: cricket, association football, basketball (The Weathers), rugby union (Merewether Moos), rugby league, Australian rules football, hockey, netball, volleyball, rowing, aerobics team, water polo, tennis, table tennis softball and baseball.