In 2006, the Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education made headlines when students at South Rowan started up a gay–straight alliance.

In response to public complaint, led by Flip Benham of Operation Save America from neighboring Cabarrus county,[3] the board adopted a policy banning "Sex-based student clubs" at all schools in the system.

[4] Graduations are generally held at South Rowan's own James Donnell Stadium, on the school's campus.

The demographic group makeup of the student population was: White, 81.88%; Hispanic, 9.01%; Black, 6.42%; American Indian, 0.62%; and Asian/Pacific Islander, 0.31% (two or more races, 1.76%).

For the same school year, 43.79% of the students received free and reduced-cost lunches.