郯(tan)城(cheng)(cheng)第三(san)中學前身是(shi)一(yi)九五〇年四月(yue)(yue)在(zai)郯(tan)城(cheng)(cheng)縣(xian)城(cheng)(cheng)關(guan)完小附設的一(yi)個初(chu)中班。十月(yue)(yue)，郯(tan)城(cheng)(cheng)縣(xian)文教科報請專署批(pi)準，以城(cheng)(cheng)關(guan)完小的初(chu)中班為基礎，校(xiao)址設在(zai)北門口糧庫倉房，成(cheng)立郯(tan)城(cheng)(cheng)縣(xian)初(chu)中補習學校(xiao)。
在(zai)(zai)高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)學(xue)(xue)實(shi)踐中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)以“立足農村，為(wei)(wei)家庭(ting)貧困的(de)(de)學(xue)(xue)生(sheng)提(ti)供(gong)上(shang)高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)大學(xue)(xue)的(de)(de)機會”為(wei)(wei)辦(ban)(ban)(ban)學(xue)(xue)宗旨，走出藝術特色辦(ban)(ban)(ban)學(xue)(xue)之路，堅持把夯實(shi)基(ji)礎和(he)發(fa)(fa)展(zhan)特色結合(he)(he)起來(lai)，辦(ban)(ban)(ban)學(xue)(xue)目(mu)標定(ding)位在(zai)(zai)努力向高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)一(yi)級藝體高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)校“培(pei)養(yang)人格(ge)健全合(he)(he)格(ge)的(de)(de)高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)生(sheng)”，把培(pei)養(yang)“人格(ge)健全，知識加特長的(de)(de)合(he)(he)格(ge)高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)生(sheng)”作(zuo)為(wei)(wei)辦(ban)(ban)(ban)學(xue)(xue)目(mu)標。經(jing)上(shang)級行政部門(men)批準，學(xue)(xue)校逐步確立了(le)(le)以初中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)育為(wei)(wei)重點，以“初中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)育促進(jin)和(he)帶動高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)育的(de)(de)發(fa)(fa)展(zhan)”為(wei)(wei)辦(ban)(ban)(ban)學(xue)(xue)方向，逐步實(shi)現了(le)(le)高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)初中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)育和(he)諧發(fa)(fa)展(zhan)，最終為(wei)(wei)12年義務(wu)教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)育打下堅實(shi)的(de)(de)基(ji)礎，辦(ban)(ban)(ban)成初中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)質量(liang)、高(gao)(gao)(gao)(gao)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)有特色的(de)(de)完(wan)全中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)學(xue)(xue)。在(zai)(zai)全體師生(sheng)的(de)(de)辛勤努力下，初中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)辦(ban)(ban)(ban)學(xue)(xue)在(zai)(zai)2008年初縣教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)育局(ju)組織(zhi)的(de)(de)各項評(ping)估中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)綜合(he)(he)成績名列前(qian)茅(mao)。學(xue)(xue)校硬(ying)件設施逐漸(jian)完(wan)備，投(tou)資裝備物理(li)、化(hua)學(xue)(xue)、生(sheng)物實(shi)驗室，配備微(wei)機教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)室和(he)語(yu)音室，基(ji)本(ben)滿足正常的(de)(de)教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)學(xue)(xue)需求(qiu)。學(xue)(xue)校管(guan)理(li)進(jin)一(yi)步完(wan)善，建立了(le)(le)科(ke)學(xue)(xue)的(de)(de)教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)師教(jiao)(jiao)(jiao)學(xue)(xue)評(ping)價體系，完(wan)善了(le)(le)多元評(ping)價學(xue)(xue)生(sheng)的(de)(de)方式辦(ban)(ban)(ban)法(fa)。
學(xue)(xue)(xue)校的(de)課(ke)(ke)(ke)程(cheng)(cheng)設置和教學(xue)(xue)(xue)以(yi)國(guo)家的(de)教育方(fang)針為(wei)指導，以(yi)《課(ke)(ke)(ke)程(cheng)(cheng)方(fang)案(an)》及(ji)各科課(ke)(ke)(ke)程(cheng)(cheng)標(biao)準為(wei)依(yi)據(ju)。我校乘省市大(da)力(li)推(tui)行新課(ke)(ke)(ke)改東(dong)風，以(yi)提高(gao)學(xue)(xue)(xue)生(sheng)的(de)全面(mian)發(fa)展(zhan)為(wei)宗旨，以(yi)培養學(xue)(xue)(xue)生(sheng)的(de)創新精神(shen)和實踐能力(li)為(wei)重點(dian)，促進(jin)教學(xue)(xue)(xue)方(fang)式和學(xue)(xue)(xue)習方(fang)式的(de)變革，努力(li)滿足每個學(xue)(xue)(xue)生(sheng)終身發(fa)展(zhan)的(de)需要(yao)。根據(ju)山東(dong)省教育廳頒發(fa)的(de)《中小(xiao)學(xue)(xue)(xue)規(gui)范辦(ban)學(xue)(xue)(xue)四(si)十條》，規(gui)范課(ke)(ke)(ke)程(cheng)(cheng)教學(xue)(xue)(xue)行為(wei)，不(bu)斷推(tui)進(jin)教育教學(xue)(xue)(xue)創新。
充滿活力的青年教(jiao)師成(cheng)了(le)(le)(le)學(xue)(xue)校教(jiao)學(xue)(xue)的主力軍。為此(ci)，學(xue)(xue)校制定了(le)(le)(le)青年教(jiao)師發(fa)展計劃(hua)，采(cai)用切實(shi)有效措施，確立了(le)(le)(le)三(san)年培養一(yi)(yi)批名師和發(fa)展幾個強勢學(xue)(xue)科的目標，逐步建立一(yi)(yi)支勞(lao)動紀律(lv)嚴明、業務素(su)質(zhi)過硬、敬業精神(shen)優良的教(jiao)師隊伍，促(cu)進(jin)學(xue)(xue)生全面健康(kang)發(fa)展，使三(san)中的每一(yi)(yi)位(wei)學(xue)(xue)生都(dou)能夠成(cheng)人、成(cheng)才。
在縣教(jiao)育(yu)局的(de)領導下，學(xue)(xue)校連(lian)續五年(nian)獲得“高中(zhong)教(jiao)育(yu)教(jiao)學(xue)(xue)先進單位”稱號，先后(hou)有一(yi)大批教(jiao)師(shi)因(yin)教(jiao)學(xue)(xue)成(cheng)績(ji)優(you)秀，班級(ji)管理突(tu)出受到縣政府和縣教(jiao)育(yu)局的(de)表彰。
2005年被評為“臨沂市市級規范化學校”。
2007年獲(huo)得“市級(ji)教學(xue)示(shi)范學(xue)校”榮譽稱號。
一(yi)(yi)九(jiu)五一(yi)(yi)年(nian)二月，改(gai)(gai)名(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)為郯(tan)(tan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)縣郯(tan)(tan)馬中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)學。一(yi)(yi)九(jiu)五一(yi)(yi)年(nian)七月，報(bao)請山(shan)(shan)東(dong)(dong)(dong)省(sheng)教(jiao)(jiao)育廳(ting)批準，正式命名(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)為山(shan)(shan)東(dong)(dong)(dong)郯(tan)(tan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)學，李(li)冠(guan)三任校長(chang)。一(yi)(yi)九(jiu)五六(liu)(liu)年(nian)七月十二日，山(shan)(shan)東(dong)(dong)(dong)省(sheng)教(jiao)(jiao)育廳(ting)下達文件，改(gai)(gai)名(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)為山(shan)(shan)東(dong)(dong)(dong)省(sheng)郯(tan)(tan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)第(di)一(yi)(yi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)學。一(yi)(yi)九(jiu)六(liu)(liu)五年(nian)七月，高中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)班及學校部(bu)分領導、教(jiao)(jiao)師(shi)調入郯(tan)(tan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)三中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)（設(she)在(zai)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)里(li)，現(xian)郯(tan)(tan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)一(yi)(yi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)），本校只(zhi)設(she)初中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)班，從一(yi)(yi)九(jiu)六(liu)(liu)八年(nian)起才又設(she)高中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)班。一(yi)(yi)九(jiu)六(liu)(liu)〇年(nian)被(bei)山(shan)(shan)東(dong)(dong)(dong)省(sheng)定為省(sheng)屬(shu)重點(dian)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)學。一(yi)(yi)九(jiu)七〇年(nian)，正處“十年(nian)動亂”之中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，廢數(shu)字(zi)排列，冠(guan)以所(suo)在(zai)地名(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)，故又改(gai)(gai)名(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)為山(shan)(shan)東(dong)(dong)(dong)省(sheng)郯(tan)(tan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)縣馬頭中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)學。一(yi)(yi)九(jiu)八六(liu)(liu)年(nian)再次改(gai)(gai)名(ming)(ming)(ming)(ming)為郯(tan)(tan)城(cheng)(cheng)(cheng)第(di)三中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)學至今。
給生活一把琴 
