Their first full-length, The Great Compromise, was released on British Records in 2004 while the band's members were still in college, and was warmly received by critics.
After frequent touring in the Chicago area, their energetic live shows led to their signing with a leading Chicago-based independent label, Victory Records, in 2004.
They have also opened nationally for a number of well-known emo and punk acts, including Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heroes, Rise Against, Straylight Run, The Starting Line, Motion City Soundtrack, TheAUDITION, Bayside, Sullivan, Number One Gun, Aiden, Amber Pacific, and Good Charlotte.
The vocalist/bass player at this show was Brandon Carnes who used to be the frontman for Midnight Fall, a band from Springfield, Illinois.
On October 21, 2007, Andy Wildrick announced that the group would be going on indefinite hiatus, and that the band members would be going to college but may do occasional one-off shows locally in Illinois.
On December 28, The Junior Varsity had their official farewell show at Club Chrome in Springfield, Illinois, with opening bands The Graduate, Wise & Burn, and Greenwood.
The initial show was in Bloomington, Illinois, on September 1, 2016 and the tour also included dates in Chicago, Springfield, and St. Louis.