[3] Providing for the formal education of its youth has been important to the citizens of Nacogdoches since the first European settlers arrived in the area.

Beginning during the Spanish Colonial period, the recorded history of the town is filled with references about the need for and the establishment of schools.

The establishment of the University gave Nacogdoches the distinction of being "the cradle of public education in Texas".

The Chamberlain and Rusk buildings continued to house Nacogdoches High School until the fall of 1979, when another "new" high school building was completed on the southwest corner of Loop 224 and the Appleby Sand Road at 4310 Appleby Sand Road.

On September 13, 2013, the Nacogdoches Dragons football team beat their longtime rival, the Lufkin Panthers, for the first time since 1992 with a score of 28 to 24.

[4] NHS Athletics cover a wide variety of varsity sports: cross country, football, basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, power lifting, swimming, tennis, volleyball, golf, and track & field.

The games are hotly contested, with every sport boasting a win against the Lufkin Panthers in the last three school years.

Nacogdoches High School offers many extracurricular activities and clubs, including a chapter of the National Honor Society, a chapter of Key Club, a chapter of the National English Honor Society, Model United Nations, the Nacogdoches Golden Dragon Band, a choir, Student Council and many small interest clubs.