Richard J. Reynolds High School, now the Richard J. Reynolds Magnet School for the Visual and Performing Arts (often simply R. J. Reynolds High School or Reynolds), is a public high school in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Named for R. J. Reynolds, the founder of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, the school opened in 1923. The school colors are Old Gold and Black, and the school's mascot is a demon.

Establishment Katharine Smith Reynolds-Johnston (1880–1924), the widow of R. J. Reynolds (1850–1918), donated funds and land for the creation of the school in memory of her first husband. The site was known as Silver Hill. Just weeks before Reynolds-Johnston's death, a souvenir program for the dedication of the Memorial Auditorium says: "In 1919, the City of Winston-Salem, in the course of its ex-tended school building program, planned a model high school, and wished to honor the memory of Richard J. Reynolds, by naming it 'The Richard J. Reynolds High School.'

It seemed to his wife, now Mrs. J. Edward Johnston, that a memorial of this kind was very fitting, as Mr. Reynolds had had such a large part and was so interested in the development of this city. Mrs. Johnston had wanted to erect some really worth while memorial personally, and when notified of the action of the city authorities, it seemed that this plant, which would be so closely identified with the life of the people, young and old, presented the opportunity for which she was looking. She therefore notified the city that she would be glad to give a suitable site upon which to erect the high school, the selection to be left to the City, and to present as a personal memorial, a beautiful auditorium in connection with the high school plant."

Campus The School and Auditorium sit on a piece of land known as "Society Hill". The complex consists of five buildings, three of which are contributing buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. They are the High School Building (1922–1923), the Power House (1923), and the Auditorium (1923–1924). They were designed in the late 1910s by architect Charles Barton Keen of Philadelphia and built as part of a single project.

Original plans for the School included two grand school buildings sitting on either side of an Auditorium. Construction on the School began in 1919, under the direction of Reynolda House architect Charles Barton Keen. The first classroom building was finished in 1923, but construction on the second building was delayed and eventually abandoned after the Stock Market Crash of 1929. In the early 1990s, the high school building was thoroughly renovated and restored to its original appearance with some modern updating (e.g., a computer lab to replace the former language lab, and central air-conditioning).

The R. J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium is on the campus and is often used for school functions. The auditorium was constructed in 1924, and a formal opening was held the same year, with Harry Houdini performing. An extensive renovation was completed in 2003. A customized acoustical shell was added to Reynolds Auditorium in 2009.

A fine arts/performing arts building, named the Judy Voss Jones Arts Center for a member of the class of 1968, is on the campus between the R. J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium and Hawthorne Road. Reynolds became a magnet school for the arts in fall of 2007.

The Richard J. Reynolds High School and Richard J. Reynolds Memorial Auditorium was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

To mark the school's 100th anniversary, artist Nick Bragg created an 32-inch by 8-foot mural Silver Hill to Diversity on the second floor whose 40 images illustrate events in the school's history as well as major events in world history. It is the 24th mural created by Bragg, whose work is featured in other areas of the campus.

Athletics State Championships R. J. Reynolds has won the following North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) team state championships:Record Books - NCHSAA. Retrieved February 26, 2024. Men's Basketball: 1949 (AA), 1975 (4A), 2000 (4A), 2001 (4A), 2002 (4A) Men's Cross Country: 1974 (All Classes), 1975 (All Classes), 1976 (All Classes), 1977 (All Classes), 1978 (All Classes) Football: 1952 (AAA), 1953 (AAA), 1958 (AAA), 1964 (4A) Men's Golf: 1945 (All Classes), 1946 (All Classes), 1968 (All Classes) Men's Swimming & Diving: 1984 (All Classes) Men's Tennis: 1976 (All Classes), 2010 (4A), 2011 (4A), 2012 (4A) Women's Tennis: 1997 (4A) Men's Indoor Track & Field: 2006 (All Classes) Men's Outdoor Track & Field: 1953 (All Classes), 1955 (All Classes), 1962 (All Classes), 2005 (4A) Women's Outdoor Track & Field: 2001 (4A)

Notable alumni

Bonnie Angelo journalist and authorLevy, Bonnie Angelo. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2022. Robert J. Bach former President of Entertainment & Devices Division at MicrosoftAlumni spotlight: Robbie Bach (’80) key in the invention of Xbox. pinewhispers.net. Retrieved December 4, 2020. Richard Burr United States Senator Howell Binkley professional light designer in New York City(Oct 9, 2016). Felder, Lynn. Howell Binkley, Winston-Salem native, designing his way into the spotlight. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved June 11, 2020. Debra Conrad member of the North Carolina House of Representatives from the 74th district Carter Covington television writer and producer Kenny Duckett former NFL wide receiver Rick Duckett college basketball coachReflecting on a time of division and adversity. pinewhispers.net. Retrieved December 4, 2020. Mitch Easter musician, songwriter, and record producer Jim Ferree professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and Senior PGA TourLocal Icon: Tourney honors Purvis Ferree. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 7 March 2019. Ben Folds musician Lois Patricia (Peaches) Hauser Golding Lord-Lieutenant of Bristol, England, 2017–present Tommy Gregg former MLB player and current coachTommy Gregg Stats. Baseball-Reference. Retrieved June 7, 2020. Kimani Griffin American speed skater who competed at the 2018 Winter OlympicsO'Neill Conor. (Oct 12, 2017). Kimani Griffin, Winston-Salem native, focused heading into speedskating nationals. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved Nov 30, 2019. Julianna Guill actress George Hamilton IV American country musician(Sep 14, 2017). Newell, Sarah. Reynolds High to induct 13 members into Arts Hall of Fame on Saturday. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved June 7, 2020. Mark Harris pastor and politicianHidel, Denise. (Apr 11, 2014). Mark Harris: Local Man Runs for US State Senate. forsythwoman.com. Retrieved Nov 30, 2019. Whit Holcomb-Faye professional basketball playerWhit Holcomb-Faye, 2002 Point guard - Rivals.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020. Peter Holsapple musician who formed The dB's, a jangle-pop bandFrom The Desk Of Peter Holsapple: "A Short History Of A Small Place" By T.R. Pearson. Magnet. Retrieved Nov 30, 2019. Frank L. Horton founder of the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts Greg Humphreys singer, guitarist, and songwriter(Jun 9, 2016). Huffman, Eddie. Greg Humphreys returning home for Ribfest. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved June 7, 2020. Othello Hunter former NBA player, professional basketball player for Maccabi Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League and EuroLeague Burgess Jenkins actor Lindsay Jones composer and sound designer for theatre and filmUNCSA grad gives students a tour of sound design. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved December 21, 2014. Earline Heath King sculptor who specialized in portraits and statuesSmith, Rauhauser Kate. (October 30, 2016). History-Maker: Earline Heath King. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2022. Jack Keenan NFL offensive guard(February 9, 1977). p. 19. "Jack Harvey Keenan (obituary)," Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved November 2, 2025. Anthony Levine NFL safety Ed Lyons former MLB second basemanEd Lyons. The Baseball Cube. Retrieved Nov 30, 2019. Melissa McBride actress best known for her role as Carol Peletier on the AMC series The Walking Dead(March 1, 2020). Colter, N. Joseph. Melissa McBride Biography, Age, Height, Husband, Net Worth and Other Facts. networthsalary.com. Retrieved June 7, 2020. Norman M. Miller highly decorated USN Aviator during World War II Phil Morrison film director Ryan Odom men's college basketball head coach(March 17, 2018). Silvers, Janson. Head Coach Of History-Making UMBC Basketball Team Played High School Ball In The Triad. wfmynews2.com. Retrieved June 7, 2020. T. R. Pearson writer Riley Redgate author of young adult fiction(Jul 14, 2016). Watts, Norcross Kathy. 'Seven Ways We Lie explores 'grimy' adolescence. Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved June 11, 2020. Shavon Revel football player Brian Robinson basketball coachProgram History & Alumni. thewinstonsalemstealers.com. Retrieved June 11, 2020. Stuart Scott former ESPN anchor, sportscaster and media personality Chris Stamey musician, singer, songwriter, and record producerQ&A With Peter Holsapple & Chris Stamey. Magnet. Retrieved Nov 30, 2019. Anna Harris Stein First Lady of North Carolina Reyshawn Terry professional basketball player and 2005 NCAA Champion with North Carolina(Aug 2, 2002). Daniels, Rob. MULTITALENTED TERRY COMMITS TO UNC\ BASKETBALL RECRUITING ANALYST BOB GIBBONS WILL PLACE REYSHAWN TERRY 55TH NATIONALLY IN HIS POST-SUMMER RANKINGS. Greensboro News & Record. Retrieved June 7, 2020. Michael Wilson stage and screen director(Sep 21, 2017). Jones Howard, Ashlea. Reynolds inducts 13 into Arts Hall of Fame. https://wschronicle.com. Retrieved June 7, 2020. Earl P. Yates former rear admiral in the United States NavyYates, Earl Preston. Naval History and Heritage Command. Retrieved September 16, 2020.

References

External links Richard J. Reynolds High School