In 1905, Andrew and Addie Ritchie founded Rabun Gap Industrial School to uplift their community through education. Nearby, the Nacoochee Institute began in 1903 with Presbyterian Synod support. Both schools shared a mission of service, faith, and transformative learning in rural northeast Georgia.

Despite scarce resources, Rabun Gap Industrial School pursued its mission to bring education to Appalachia. Addie Ritchie ran daily operations while Andrew Ritchie secured vital funding, gaining support from Georgia families and national philanthropists like Rockefeller and the Carnegie Foundation to sustain the school’s future.

In 1926, fires destroyed both Rabun Gap Industrial School and the Nacoochee Institute. Led by visionary leaders and supported by generous philanthropists, the schools merged in 1927 to form Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School—preserving their missions and laying the foundation for a stronger, united future.

Following the merger, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School built a landmark facility with support from John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and Southern philanthropists. Designed by architect William J. J. Chase, Hodgson Hall became a symbol of enduring strength and a lasting beacon of education in the North Georgia mountains.

The Farm Family Program invited local families to live and work on campus, providing food and labor while their children received an education. Supported by Rockefeller and Carnegie foundations, this initiative integrated academics with agriculture and fostered a strong connection between the school and its surrounding community.

In 1934, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School opened a Junior College, expanding access to higher education in the region. Operating until 1945, it trained future Georgia teachers and strengthened the school’s academic reach. The college cultivated a loyal alumni base dedicated to the school’s mission.

In 1937, Andrew Jackson Ritchie and the trustees launched a successful endowment campaign, raising $400,000 with support from leaders like Lettie Pate Evans and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. This pivotal fund continues to sustain and strengthen the school’s mission and growth for future generations.

In 1940, George Woodruff began a 30-year tenure as Board Chair, leading a period of historic growth alongside President Karl Anderson. Their vision, rooted in Work Study Worship, guided major campus expansion and secured lasting support from the Woodruff family, Coca-Cola partners, and Presbyterian Synod and Women’s Guilds.

Founded in 1966 at Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, Foxfire became a national model for experiential learning and cultural preservation. Through student-led interviews and publications, it documented Appalachian traditions. Today, the Foxfire Museum continues to celebrate and educate visitors about the region’s rich heritage.

In the late 1970s, Rabun Gap transitioned from a dual public-private model to a fully independent school. This shift ended public funding, but under Karl Anderson’s leadership, the school adapted—strengthening its boarding program and evolving into a nationally and globally diverse college-preparatory institution.

In 2003, Rabun Gap celebrated 100 years and emerged as a leading college-preparatory school. The following decades brought expanded enrollment, national and global reach, and transformative campus growth, to visionary supporters like Jane Woodruff, elevating academics, the arts, and student life for future generations.

Rabun Gap expanded its reach with the addition of a middle school in 1988 and later the Niles Bolton Middle School Complex in 2013. The Evelyne Sheats Lower School opened in 2017, offering a full preschool–12th grade journey and reaffirming the school’s mission to serve local families.

In 2024, Rabun Gap restored historic Hodgson Hall, blending tradition with modern learning spaces. The project, including the new Miller Family Terrace, honors the past while supporting the future thanks to the generosity of donors across the school community.