Joseph G. McCracken Middle School was occupied in 1978 in its former location on Webber Road, moving from Evans Junior High School. The name was chosen to honor the then District Superintendent of the same name, who served the District in that capacity from 1950-1982. 

Following construction of the new Spartanburg High School, the original high school was extensively renovated to reopen as the new McCracken Middle School in the fall of 2020 to serve more than 900 students.

• Red Carpet School

• Palmetto Silver Winner for Academic Achievement and Closing The Gap 2011-2012

• Palmetto Gold Winner 2012-2013

• Palmetto Gold Winner 2013-2014

• Palmetto Gold Winner 2014-2015

• Palmetto Silver Winner for Closing the Gap 2014-2015

• National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Education Schools to Watch 2015-2017

• National Forum to Accelerate Middle Grades Education Schools to Watch Redesignation One 2017-2020