Construction of the school began in 1838, there being a serious interest among Užice craftsmen and traders for the development of education in the city.

They are members of the reviewing committee including the Dobrosav Ruzic, professor and poet.

When the foundations of the new buildings were laid in 1891, Realke Ljubomir Simovic in Užice wrote: July 29, 1891, when they are at the Square of St. George, across from the Cathedral, officially laid the foundation for building the high school.

The Užičani, by their old custom, celebrated by ringing bells and firing guns (prangija).

Two years later, in September 1893, at a ceremony in which the whole town participated, the architect, Venceslav Čihak and the contractor, Lika Mileticwith handed over the keys of the newly built grammar school to its director, Peter Zivkovic.