South Grand Prairie High School originally opened in the fall of 1969 with 448 students enrolled, 87 of which were seniors.

[citation needed] In 1990, The building was expanded again including New Football Locker room, 22 more classrooms, a Discipline Office, Gymnasium Addition, and a Teachers Lounge.

[citation needed] In 1999, South Grand Prairie was named a "New American High School National Showcase Site" by the U. S. Department of Education.

Specifically included is a concentrated literacy emphasis, which at SGP is referred to as the WRAD program - Writing and Reading across Disciplines.

In 1994, he won the Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting for his work on "The Dallas Morning News" team project, "Violence Against Women."