The brand new Southern Gap High School Eagles

[EPJr1947]

Southern Gap High School is a new consolidated public high school in Buchanan County, Virginia, scheduled to open for its inaugural school year in August 2026. It will replace and consolidate students from four existing high schools: Grundy, Hurley, Twin Valley, and Council.


Key School Details

• Mascot: The Eagles ("The Eagles Take Flight").
• Location: The school is being built in the western part of the county on Ruffed Grouse Lane in Grundy, VA.
• Athletics: The school is expected to compete in Class 2 for athletics.
• Estimated Enrollment: Based on recent data from the consolidating schools, the combined enrollment for the 2026-27 school year is projected to be approximately 730 students.
• Facilities: The modern campus will include updated facilities for career and technical education, arts, and athletics.

Consolidating Schools
The following schools will close at the end of the 2025-2026 school year to form Southern Gap High School:
Grundy High School: Currently located at 1300 Golden Wave Dr, Grundy, VA.
Hurley High School: Located in Hurley, VA.
Twin Valley High School: Located in Pilgrim's Knob, VA.
Council High School: Voted for consolidation in February 2026.

https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/buchanan-county-boe-moves-forward-with-council-consolidation/

 

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Will not be anywhere close to 730 when it opens in August. Due to driving distances in Buchanan County, the student population will be closer to 610 to 630 kids instead of 730, but it will be one of the larger Class 2 schools in the state.

Southern Gap will rejoin the old Southwest District in 2027. Will play a partial SWD schedule for 2026. Grundy, before dropping to Class 1 many years ago, was a longtime and original member of the Southwest District from the 1970s. The SWD is the same district with Richlands, Graham, Tazewell, etc. Welcome Back Home Southern Gap. In the year of 1999, Grundy High was a Class 4 school. It plummeted in population to a Class 1 school in only a 12 year period (by 2011).

 

[EPJr1947]