Burns High School opened in 1967 to serve students in upper Cleveland County. Students who had previously attended Casar, Douglas, Fallston, Piedmont, Polkville, and Waco High Schools started attending the newly built school in Lawndale. Coming just three years after the Civil Rights Act was passed by Congress, this new school would also be an integrated school–a first for upper Cleveland County. The first year’s graduating class numbered 211.
The blueprint for the new school was the same one used for Crest High School.
The Bulldog was selected as the new school’s mascot to represent the tenacity, courage, and fighting spirit of its student body. Soon, live English bulldogs began attending school events and football games.
Early athletic programs included baseball, football, track, and girls and boys basketball. Just two years after Burns High opened, Roger Ross established a record in high hurdle–a record that remains unbroken as of 2026.
From January 9th through the 13th of 1968, a major winter storm hit Cleveland County. By the evening of January 13th, the ice and snow had accumulated so much on top of Burns’ newly built gymnasium roof that it collapsed from the weight. Thankfully no one was in the gym at the time.
The 1970s
The Burns High School yearbook was Blazes. There are several volumes digitized on Ancestry.com; a subscription is required however. Below is a sampling of images.
The ’70s marked a transformative era for the rights of women and girls. Congress passed six acts addressing equal rights for women. One of these impacted girls in schools and colleges. Known as Title IX of the Education Amendments, this landmark legislation prohibited discrimination based on sex in any education program or activity that receives federal funding.
The law was rolled out and implemented in phases. In 1975, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare issued comprehensive regulations that formally required educational institutions to comply and set guidelines for equal opportunity, particularly in athletics. Schools were generally given a three-year window to fully implement these athletic regulations.
By the end of the decade Burns High School offered girls tennis, volleyball, and softball, in addition to its previously established girls basketball team.
The Blazes staff created a list of 1970s highlights in the 1979-1980 addition. Events specific to Burns or Cleveland County Schools included:
- 1971–the school grading periods changed from six weeks to nine weeks.
- 1974–All American David Thompson of Shelby, Tommy Burleson, and Monte Towe, led the NC State basketball team to the NCAA championship.
- 1975–The varsity football team had the most successful season in Burns history. Finishing 6-3-1, they defeated both arch rivals, Crest and Shelby. The Burns band, under the direction of Mike Matheny, won first place in the Carousel Parade and also received its first superior rating.
- 1976–the Lady Bulldogs basketball team won the Southwestern Conference title. The baseball team finished second in their conference.
- 1978–the Lady Bulldogs basketball team finished second in the state with a 30-2 record.
Burns High Class of ’72 alum, Alicia Bridges co-wrote and performed her international hit “I Love the Nightlife (Disco ‘Round)” in 1978.
The 1980s
The 1987 Blazes is at Ancestry.com.
The 1990s
In 1991, North Carolina General Assembly passed statutes to make administrative unifications easier, prompting the consolidation of multiple city and county school systems. This marked the beginning of talks regarding the consolidation of Kings Mountain District Schools and Shelby City Schools with the Cleveland County School District.
In 1993 the number of units required for graduation increased from 16 to 20.
The defining highlight of the 1990s at Burns High School was undoubtedly the Bulldogs’ 1994 3A State Football Championship. Coached by Ron Green, the Bulldogs defeated Eastern Randolph High School 21-14.
Class of ’95 alum, Tony Scott went on to play college football at NC State and spent two seasons with the New York Jets.
Burns High Class of ’96 alum, Scottie Montgomery, went on to play for the Detroit Lions. He is currently the assistant head coach and wide receivers coach for the Detroit Lions.
The 2000s
The new millennium brought the most significant change to Cleveland County Schools in a century. A plan to merge Kings Mountain District and Shelby City Schools with the Cleveland County system was initially approved in 2000. It was delayed for several years due to legal challenges and litigation from the Kings Mountain School District. The merger process went forward and became official on January 13, 2004.
The 2010s
In 2012, Burns High School graduate Dawn Loggins made national news as an inspirational scholar who went from being homeless and working as a school custodian at Burns to graduating from Harvard University.
Dawn’s story was covered by Anderson Cooper as well as by many others. ABC coverage.
Burns High dedicated the football stadium and named it in honor of legendary head football coach Ron Greene on October 7, 2011, during the school’s homecoming game against Forestview.
Four years later, the field was named George Falls Field. Falls was honored for his extensive, decades-long volunteer contributions and support of Burns High School athletics.
The 2020s
The first year of the decade was met with the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic. On March 10, 2020, Gov. Roy Cooper issued executive order No. 116, declaring a state of emergency. Four days later, Cooper followed that with executive order No. 117, which prohibited mass gatherings and also closed public schools through the end of the month. Just over six weeks later, Cooper announced all schools would remain closed through the rest of the school year. Encouraged by the fact that young children seemed to resist the harmful effects of the virus, elementary schools were allowed to reopen in September. However, high schools did not reopen until February of 2021.
Burns High School Faculty
A virtual cemetery of former Burns High School faculty members has been compiled on Find a Grave.com. Many of these profiles include obituaries and/or biographies.
Burns High School Principals
| BHS Principal | term | photo |
| Robert Borders | 1967-1968 |  |
| Mac Lancaster | 1968-1983 |  |
| Dennis White | 1984-x |  |
| Ron Wilson | 1993-2005 |  |
| Dr. Collette Deviney | 2005-2008 |  |
| Dr. Aaron Allen | 2008-2013 |  |
| Chris Blanton | 2013-2017 |  |
| Mickey Morehead | 2017-2022 |  |
| Jennifer Aberly | 2022-2026 |  |
| Vernon Beaver | 2026-present |  |
The Burns High School Yearbook–Blazes
Several volumes of the Burns High School yearbook, Blazes, have been digitized and made accessible online. Those on The Internet Archive are freely accessible; those at Ancestry.com require a paid subscription.
Cleveland County History 