Patrick Henry High School’s history dates back to 1961 as construction was completed to serve approximately 1,200 students. Patrick Henry was an open campus-style school consisting of three main buildings named after prominent members of RCPS and the Roanoke community. Penn Hall, named in honor of Dr. Harry Penn, was completed in 1975, increasing the school’s capacity to 1,600. In 1989, the school division implemented the middle school concept that extended Patrick Henry’s enrollment to 9th graders. In 2006, the school's campus style layout with multiple buildings was replaced with a newly constructed, conventional school building. The entire project was completed in 2008, A new Senior patio, a small square behind the main building that is intended for use as an outside dining area during lunch periods was completed in 2010.
Patrick Henry High School is a member of the Virginia High School League and competes in the Class 5A North Region in the River Ridge District. Patrick Henry High School has won 13 state VHSL championships in Football, Basketball, Tennis, Forensics, Girls Swim, and Boys Lacrosse.
PH Football Team
Patrick Henry High School Football Team won the 1973 AAA State Championship, capping an undefeated season. Merrill Gainer was the head coach of the Patrick Henry Patriots and the current football stadium at PH is named after him.
PH Boys Basketball Team
Patrick Henry High School won Group AAA state titles in boys basketball in 1988 and 1992. University of North Carolina and eventual NBA basketball player George Lynch led the Patriots to a AAA State Championship in 1988, his junior year. Patrick Henry won in the semifinals against Alonzo Mourning's Indian River High School team. Curtis Staples led the team again in 1992. Staples went on to play at the University of Virginia and played pro basketball for eight years. The team was coached by Woody Deans. The basketball court in the new gymnasium on campus has been named Woody Deans Court in his honor.
PH Boys Tennis
In 2004, PH won the VHSL AAA State Tennis Championship.
PH Forensics
In 2014 the Forensics Team won the VHSL 6A State Championship. The PH Forensics Team repeated as the 2015 5A State Champions and did a "3-Peat" 5A State Championship in 2016. The PH Forensics team won the 2018 5A State Championship.
PH Girls Swim Team
The PH Girls Swim Team won the 2016 5A State Championship, 2017 5A State Championship, 2018 5A State Championship. and the 2019 5A State Championship.
PH Boys Lacrosse
The PH Boys Lacrosse won the 2017 5A State Championship in June 2017.
PH Chess Team and Theater
On December 10-December 12, 2006, the chess team went to the National Grade Level Championships in Lake Buena Vista, Florida and won second place for the 10th grade level. In 2007 the 10th grade chess team repeated their national second place in Houston, Texas, and the 11th grade team won the national championship. In 1988 the theatre department won state VHSL championship for the second time. The first was the year before.
