郯(tan)(tan)城第(di)三中學(xue)前身(shen)是一(yi)九五(wu)〇年(nian)四月在(zai)郯(tan)(tan)城縣(xian)城關完小(xiao)附設的一(yi)個(ge)初中班。十月，郯(tan)(tan)城縣(xian)文教科報請專署批準，以城關完小(xiao)的初中班為基(ji)礎，校址(zhi)設在(zai)北門口糧(liang)庫倉房(fang)，成立郯(tan)(tan)城縣(xian)初中補習學(xue)校。
在高(gao)(gao)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)教(jiao)(jiao)學(xue)(xue)實(shi)(shi)踐中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)以“立(li)足農村，為(wei)家庭貧困的(de)(de)學(xue)(xue)生(sheng)提供(gong)上(shang)(shang)高(gao)(gao)大學(xue)(xue)的(de)(de)機(ji)會”為(wei)辦學(xue)(xue)宗(zong)旨(zhi)，走出藝術特(te)(te)色辦學(xue)(xue)之路，堅(jian)持把(ba)夯實(shi)(shi)基(ji)(ji)礎(chu)和發(fa)展特(te)(te)色結(jie)合(he)(he)起來(lai)，辦學(xue)(xue)目標定位(wei)在努(nu)力向高(gao)(gao)一級(ji)藝體高(gao)(gao)校(xiao)(xiao)“培養(yang)人格(ge)健全(quan)合(he)(he)格(ge)的(de)(de)高(gao)(gao)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)生(sheng)”，把(ba)培養(yang)“人格(ge)健全(quan)，知識(shi)加(jia)特(te)(te)長的(de)(de)合(he)(he)格(ge)高(gao)(gao)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)生(sheng)”作(zuo)為(wei)辦學(xue)(xue)目標。經上(shang)(shang)級(ji)行政部(bu)門批(pi)準，學(xue)(xue)校(xiao)(xiao)逐(zhu)(zhu)步確立(li)了(le)(le)以初(chu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)教(jiao)(jiao)育(yu)為(wei)重點，以“初(chu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)教(jiao)(jiao)育(yu)促進和帶動高(gao)(gao)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)教(jiao)(jiao)育(yu)的(de)(de)發(fa)展”為(wei)辦學(xue)(xue)方(fang)向，逐(zhu)(zhu)步實(shi)(shi)現了(le)(le)高(gao)(gao)初(chu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)教(jiao)(jiao)育(yu)和諧發(fa)展，最(zui)終為(wei)12年(nian)(nian)義務(wu)教(jiao)(jiao)育(yu)打下堅(jian)實(shi)(shi)的(de)(de)基(ji)(ji)礎(chu)，辦成初(chu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)高(gao)(gao)質(zhi)量(liang)、高(gao)(gao)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)有特(te)(te)色的(de)(de)完全(quan)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)學(xue)(xue)。在全(quan)體師(shi)生(sheng)的(de)(de)辛(xin)勤(qin)努(nu)力下，初(chu)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)辦學(xue)(xue)在2008年(nian)(nian)初(chu)縣教(jiao)(jiao)育(yu)局組織的(de)(de)各項評估中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)綜合(he)(he)成績名列前(qian)茅(mao)。學(xue)(xue)校(xiao)(xiao)硬件(jian)設施逐(zhu)(zhu)漸完備，投資裝備物(wu)(wu)理(li)、化(hua)學(xue)(xue)、生(sheng)物(wu)(wu)實(shi)(shi)驗室(shi)(shi)，配備微(wei)機(ji)教(jiao)(jiao)室(shi)(shi)和語音(yin)室(shi)(shi)，基(ji)(ji)本(ben)滿(man)足正常的(de)(de)教(jiao)(jiao)學(xue)(xue)需求。學(xue)(xue)校(xiao)(xiao)管理(li)進一步完善，建(jian)立(li)了(le)(le)科學(xue)(xue)的(de)(de)教(jiao)(jiao)師(shi)教(jiao)(jiao)學(xue)(xue)評價(jia)體系(xi)，完善了(le)(le)多元評價(jia)學(xue)(xue)生(sheng)的(de)(de)方(fang)式辦法。
學(xue)(xue)(xue)校(xiao)的課程設置和(he)(he)教(jiao)學(xue)(xue)(xue)以國家(jia)的教(jiao)育方針為指導，以《課程方案》及各(ge)科課程標(biao)準(zhun)為依據。我(wo)校(xiao)乘省市(shi)大力(li)推行新課改東風，以提高學(xue)(xue)(xue)生(sheng)的全(quan)面發展為宗旨，以培養(yang)學(xue)(xue)(xue)生(sheng)的創(chuang)新精神和(he)(he)實踐能力(li)為重點，促(cu)進教(jiao)學(xue)(xue)(xue)方式(shi)和(he)(he)學(xue)(xue)(xue)習方式(shi)的變革，努力(li)滿(man)足每(mei)個(ge)學(xue)(xue)(xue)生(sheng)終身發展的需要。根據山東省教(jiao)育廳頒發的《中小學(xue)(xue)(xue)規范辦學(xue)(xue)(xue)四十條》，規范課程教(jiao)學(xue)(xue)(xue)行為，不斷推進教(jiao)育教(jiao)學(xue)(xue)(xue)創(chuang)新。
充(chong)滿活力的(de)青(qing)年教師(shi)成了學(xue)(xue)校教學(xue)(xue)的(de)主力軍。為此(ci)，學(xue)(xue)校制定了青(qing)年教師(shi)發展計劃，采用切實有效措施，確立了三年培養一(yi)批名師(shi)和(he)發展幾個強勢學(xue)(xue)科的(de)目標，逐步(bu)建立一(yi)支(zhi)勞動(dong)紀(ji)律嚴明(ming)、業務素質(zhi)過硬、敬業精(jing)神優(you)良的(de)教師(shi)隊伍，促進學(xue)(xue)生(sheng)全面健康發展，使三中的(de)每一(yi)位學(xue)(xue)生(sheng)都能夠成人、成才。
在縣教(jiao)育局(ju)的領導(dao)下，學校連續五年獲(huo)得“高中教(jiao)育教(jiao)學先(xian)進單位”稱號，先(xian)后有一大批教(jiao)師(shi)因教(jiao)學成績優(you)秀，班級管(guan)理突出受到(dao)縣政府和縣教(jiao)育局(ju)的表彰。
2005年被(bei)評(ping)為“臨(lin)沂市(shi)市(shi)級規(gui)范化學校(xiao)”。
2007年獲得(de)“市(shi)級教學(xue)示范學(xue)校”榮譽稱號。
一(yi)(yi)(yi)九(jiu)(jiu)五(wu)一(yi)(yi)(yi)年(nian)二月，改(gai)名(ming)(ming)為(wei)(wei)(wei)郯(tan)(tan)(tan)(tan)城縣郯(tan)(tan)(tan)(tan)馬中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)學(xue)。一(yi)(yi)(yi)九(jiu)(jiu)五(wu)一(yi)(yi)(yi)年(nian)七(qi)月，報請山(shan)東(dong)(dong)省(sheng)(sheng)教育廳批準，正式命(ming)名(ming)(ming)為(wei)(wei)(wei)山(shan)東(dong)(dong)郯(tan)(tan)(tan)(tan)城中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)學(xue)，李冠三(san)任校長。一(yi)(yi)(yi)九(jiu)(jiu)五(wu)六(liu)(liu)年(nian)七(qi)月十(shi)二日，山(shan)東(dong)(dong)省(sheng)(sheng)教育廳下(xia)達文(wen)件，改(gai)名(ming)(ming)為(wei)(wei)(wei)山(shan)東(dong)(dong)省(sheng)(sheng)郯(tan)(tan)(tan)(tan)城第(di)一(yi)(yi)(yi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)學(xue)。一(yi)(yi)(yi)九(jiu)(jiu)六(liu)(liu)五(wu)年(nian)七(qi)月，高中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)班(ban)(ban)及學(xue)校部分(fen)領導、教師調入郯(tan)(tan)(tan)(tan)城三(san)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)（設在(zai)城里(li)，現(xian)郯(tan)(tan)(tan)(tan)城一(yi)(yi)(yi)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)），本校只設初中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)班(ban)(ban)，從一(yi)(yi)(yi)九(jiu)(jiu)六(liu)(liu)八(ba)年(nian)起才又設高中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)班(ban)(ban)。一(yi)(yi)(yi)九(jiu)(jiu)六(liu)(liu)〇年(nian)被山(shan)東(dong)(dong)省(sheng)(sheng)定為(wei)(wei)(wei)省(sheng)(sheng)屬(shu)重點中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)學(xue)。一(yi)(yi)(yi)九(jiu)(jiu)七(qi)〇年(nian)，正處“十(shi)年(nian)動亂”之中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)，廢數字排列(lie)，冠以所在(zai)地名(ming)(ming)，故又改(gai)名(ming)(ming)為(wei)(wei)(wei)山(shan)東(dong)(dong)省(sheng)(sheng)郯(tan)(tan)(tan)(tan)城縣馬頭中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)學(xue)。一(yi)(yi)(yi)九(jiu)(jiu)八(ba)六(liu)(liu)年(nian)再次改(gai)名(ming)(ming)為(wei)(wei)(wei)郯(tan)(tan)(tan)(tan)城第(di)三(san)中(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)學(xue)至(zhi)今。
給生活一把琴 
