In 1877, by the decree of Emperor Alexander II, the Azov Men's Progymnasium was founded, which later became a gymnasium accepting children aged 8 to 10 years. The gymnasium taught subjects such as Religious Law, literature and the Russian language, Greek, Latin, French, and German languages, mathematics, physics, history, and other disciplines.

The gymnasium uniform included a blue cap, a tunic with silver buttons, and black trousers. The cap and belt buckle had the letters "AG," denoting the Azov Gymnasium.

The gymnasium was located in a magnificent building that has survived to this day and is considered a jewel of Azov architecture.

After the Bolsheviks came to power, the men's gymnasium was closed, and in the 1920s, a Unified Labor School of I and II degrees was established in its place, formed from the primary school and senior classes respectively. Students paid great attention to labor and practical activities, and instead of diaries, they used workbooks.

Before the start of World War II, it was the only school in the city providing nine-year education. During the war, military hospitals were located in the school building, where students assisted medics and organized concerts for the wounded. After the war, School No. 1 became the only ten-year school in the city.

Today, the first school is one of the prestigious educational institutions in the city, and its building continues to amaze with its beauty.