Magnolia's sports teams are now known as the "Blue Eagles". However, prior to 1933, the teams were known as the Blue Blizzard. The school changed the mascot to the Blue Eagles, the symbol of Franklin Roosevelt's National Recovery Act.
Facility
The current building is the fifth incarnation of the school, having been built in 1987–1988 and opened for use in the 1988–89 school year. The building is built on the site of the fourth building, which was built in 1923 to house a rapidly growing student population. That building was razed after the completion of the new school; currently, the auditorium and music departments sit on that site. A portion of that building still stands, as it was part of a 1960 addition to the school. The former shop and vocational rooms have been renovated and house home economics, art, driver education, and health/wellness classrooms.
Academics
Magnolia offers a wide array of advanced placement courses and a particularly large number of advanced and AP courses for a school of its size. The school has produced a significant number of National Merit Scholarship finalists, attendees to the West Virginia Governors' Honors Academy, and academic prize recipients. In 1999, even though the graduating class numbered 134, Magnolia had the most National Merit Finalists of any school in the Ohio Valley, regardless of school size. In 1998, Magnolia won the West Virginia Class AA Quiz Bowl championship. The school was runner-up in 1999.
Athletics
Teams
Magnolia's athletic teams currently play in the WVSSAC at the A level and the OVAC at the AAA level. Teams include:
Magnolia has been playing high school football since 1903 and has amassed more than 600 victories. In 1912, Magnolia beat Woodsfield, Ohio 157–0 which still stands as the state record for the most points scored in a game. The 2015 Magnolia football team beat East Hardy High School in the Class A Championship 62–0, which is the state record for the most points scored in a championship game. On three occasions, a Magnolia football player has won the Kennedy Award.
Fine Arts
Thespian Troupe #531
The school has one of the longest running musical theater programs in West Virginia, dating from 1963 and producing over 50 years of various types of musical theater programming. Since 2014, Magnolia Troupe 531 has produced most of their non-competition related musicals in collaboration with Paden City High School’s Troupe 4892.
The Magnolias HS Band of Blue is one of the oldest state programs, beginning in 1926. The band has won many awards over the years, and has competed in both the Tournament of Bands and Cavalcade of Bands.
Governors' School for the Arts
Magnolia regularly qualifies students to participate in the West Virginia Governors' School for the Arts, a summer program for the state's top rising juniors in theatre, music, dance and the visual arts.
Magnolia's chapter of TSA won Outstanding Chapter in West Virginia 16 consecutive years. Magnolia captured the AA West Virginia Quiz Bowl title in 1998 and was runner-up in 1999.
