MHS has improved the quality of its education, facility, and administration since its decline in the late 1960s due to budgetary constraints. The school had a different principal each year in 1968, 1969, and 1970, and did not have any cafeteria facilities on the premises. Despite the shifting administration, sub-standard facilities, and underpaid teachers, MHS graduated three National Merit Scholars in 1971. In 2011 Martinsburg High School became the 623rd official chapter of the Science National Honor Society, a prestigious science-oriented organization. The organization focuses on academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, and community service and education. Martinsburg High School was the sixth high school in West Virginia to be recognized by the Science National Honor Society.
Sports
All the school's athletic teams compete at the "AAA" level, which includes all of the largest schools in the state. Martinsburg won AAA State Basketball Championships in 1994, 2009, and 2013. Martinsburg has won 8 AAA State Football Championships in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019. Martinsburg holds West Virginia's record of most consecutive high school AAA Football Championships of all time, winning four straight championships on two occasions, the first during the 2010-2013 seasons and then again from 2016-2019. Martinsburg also holds the record for the longest winnning streak in state history, which began on October 26, 2016 and currently stands at 56 games as of the conclusion of the 2019 regular season. Martinsburg currenlty holds the 2nd longest active win streak in the country. Martinsburg has also been the AAA State Baseball Champions on several occasions, including 1983, 1989,1996 and 2009. Martinsburg also competes in women's volleyball, wrestling, men's and women's swimming, men's and women's track, men's and women's cross-country, men's and women's tennis, co-ed golf and cheerleading.
Music
The Martinsburg High School Bulldog Band is composed of approximately 80 students. The jazz band has scored a "superior" rating, the highest rating possible, at every competition in which it has competed. During the 2010 and marching season, the Bulldog Marching Band ranked first in Division 4 at TOB Chapter Championships in Lewis County, WV. They also went home with an overall score of 88.0, and the award for best auxiliary and best drum major. The band also accomplished another victory in October 2011, by receiving first at Chapter Championships for the second consecutive year. MHS's choral department has won numerous Grand Champions and state championships. They are one of the only two MHS sports or extra curricular activities to compete on a national level, the other being theatre. Good Times Show Choir competed at the National Show Choir Competition in April 2014 and in April 2018, winning best backstage crew.
Air Force JROTC
Martinsburg High School hosts the Berkeley County School's Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps WV-071 curriculum. Each year this program instructs over 200 students from all BCS high schools. In 2019 the AFJROTC WV-071 unit earned the highest Headquarters AFJROTC evaluation grade of Exceeds Standards. The program is not a military recruiting institution but rather an educational process of teaching students, named cadets, how to become model citizens. The AFJROTC mission is, “Develop citizens of character dedicated to serving their nation and community.” But the school AFJROTC motto is "ROTC I take responsibility".
Notable alumni
Ray Barker, former Major League first baseman for the New York Yankees.
Scott Bullett, former Major League outfielder for the Chicago Cubs.
