With the new large building, many local organizations, as well as nationally known groups and individuals used the 1,060-seat auditorium for performances and other events.
The auditorium has been visited by such famous people as Helen Olheim, opera singer with the Metropolitan Opera (1937–38); Carl Sandburg, poet, biographer and entertainer (1939–40); Margaret Bourke-White, war correspondent, photographer, author (1943–44); Nancy Gean, FSHS graduate and fashion analyst for Butterick (1947–48); Nelson Bennett, world-famous model for painters and sculptors (1965–66); and Shawntel Smith, Miss America (1995–96).
The campus continued to grow with the addition of the Fine Arts building, learning lab, and elevator during the 1980-81 school year.
[2] The assumed course of study follows the ADE Smart Core curriculum that requires at least 22 units to graduate.
The Northside Grizzlies participate in the 7A Classification from the 7A/6A Central Conference as administered by the Arkansas Activities Association.
The Grizzlies compete in football, volleyball, golf (boys/girls), cross country, bowling (boys/girls), basketball (boys/girls), wrestling, swimming (boys/girls), soccer (boys/girls), tennis (boys/girls), and track and field (boys/girls).
[5] The Fort Smith Northside Grizzlies have won various athletic classification state championships, including: The gymnasium hosted the majority of home games for the Arkansas Fantastics of the American Basketball Association.