University High was founded in 1925 and until moving into the new building, they did not have a single outdoor athletic facility of their own. University High School has been trying to build a new legacy with the athletics program. In 2008 the doors opened to 1400 students and 400 student-athletes with only gymnasium space and an unfinished multi-purpose stadium completed. Since then funding and construction of locker rooms and a temporary concessions area have been added. University High School has seen their athletics programs grow over the years into a recognizable school in the landscape of West Virginia High School Athletics.

To acquire these outdoor facilities there was a bond set up with Your Community Trust that is worth $3.5 million. That funding was used to develop the current facilities. Through private, corporate and foundation funds the bond has been generously paid.

History

In 1925, University (Demonstration) High School was founded by West Virginia University. It was not uncommon in the south for colleges to found "demonstration schools", ostensibly as a place for education students to learn educational techniques, but also because many professors were unwilling to send their children to the poor public schools of that era.

It was originally located in the Old Tea Room on the corner of Willey and Spruce Streets. This original school had 35 students and three teachers, and quickly attracted more people. In 1928, strained with over two hundred students, the school was relocated to the third and fourth floors of a building on the corner of Stewart Street and University Avenue. In 1930, construction on an official school building for University Demonstration High began. During the interim period, the school occupied the old library on the West Virginia University Campus until 1933 when the official school building was finished at an estimated cost of $283,837. This building was and still is, located at the top of North Price Street.

In 1972, West Virginia University eliminated the demonstration school and turned University High School over to the Monongalia County Public School System, when then divided the Morgantown High School district in half and established University High School as a second regular public high school, allowing major renovations to take place, including the addition of a gymnasium, an annex, and various refurbishments.

In 2006, construction began on a new campus for University High School and in December 2008 classes began in the new school. This new facility, part of a bond issue passed by the citizens of Monongalia County in 2003, is located north of Morgantown along Bakers Ridge Road. The $35 million project includes a two story classroom building, a greenhouse, a gymnasium. In addition to the building, the campus also includes property for an outdoor athletics complex including the new $3.5 million 4000 seat Mylan Pharmaceuticals Stadium for field sports that was completely funded by private donations through individuals, corporations and foundations. This was the first time since University High came into existance that it had its own place to house its outdoor sports and the project continues as funds are being pursued to expand the complex for all outdoor sports.

Need

The community needs and deserves a finished University High School Athletics Complex. It will provide the feeder schools another resource when developing student athletes from middle school to high school. The multi-purpose field has already been beneficial for some middle school athletics programs. With a full facility it also allows for less travel and greater accessibility for student-athletes at the high school. Prior to the new school, all outdoor athletic programs had to find a facility or space to practice. Most of the time these places required transportation to attend. This posed a problem with the poverty and working class level of the families of the student-athletes. This fact made is some cases limited opportunity to participate. Another issue was the available times of the other practice loactions. Late at night or to close to the end of the school day could cause a miriad of issues.

After 80 plus years of going without outdoor facilities, Univeristy High can bridge the gap between themselves and other programs across the state of West Virginia and provide a better experience to the student-athletes the rely on the athletics teams as a means for motivation through high school.