"Gus" Grissom, killed in the Apollo 1 fire at Cape Kennedy, Florida on January 27, 1967.

The school board named June Kalange, then a vice-principal and former science teacher at Grissom, as his replacement in early August 2013.

In 2007, Newsweek magazine ranked Grissom among the top 5% of all high schools in the United States.

In 2008, Grissom's Debate and Speech Team qualified for, and competed in the NFL National Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Grissom High School offers Advanced Placement Program courses in the following courses,[26] including, but not limited to: Students from Grissom can participate in a dual enrollment program and take classes at Calhoun Community College, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa through correspondence.

[27] As of 2007, Grissom has football, boys' and girls' basketball, volleyball, baseball, cross country, softball, track, golf, swimming and diving, boys' and girls' soccer, boys' and girls' tennis, wrestling, and cheerleading teams, a dance program, a choral program, a theatre program,[28] Greenpower team, Robotics team, as well as marching, symphonic, and jazz bands.

[29] Grissom's wrestling team has won seven AHSAA State Championships, and has been runner-up seven times as well.

[32] Grissom's bimonthly newspaper is The Imprint, which is recognized by the Alabama Scholastic Press Association.