East Mecklenburg High School is a 9–12 comprehensive high school proudly celebrating the 75th anniversary of its
first graduating class. Founded in 1950, East originally served grades 10–12, expanding to include 9th grade in
1997–98. For nearly four decades, it served all of eastern Mecklenburg County until Providence High School
opened in 1989.Since 1950, East has been led by only eight principals: D.K. Pittman, Leroy “Pop” Miller, Frank
Rozzelle, Gene Hawley, Ron Thompson, Mark Nixon, Rick Parker, and Steve Drye, now in his second year as
principal. Notable alumni include former mayors Jennifer Roberts and Richard Vinroot, WCNC anchor Sonya
Gantt, and MLB player Luke Little. East Meck has been a partial International Baccalaureate (IB) Magnet School
since 1998 when the IB Diploma Programme was established. The Middle Years Programme was added in 2008
followed by the Career Programme in 2017. Currently, East Meck is the largest IB Magnet in CMS.