New Southern Gap High School Eagles Set to Take Flight

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Southern Gap High School, a new consolidated public high school in Buchanan County, Virginia, is scheduled to open for its inaugural school year in August 2026. The school will replace and consolidate students from four existing high schools in the area - Grundy High School, Hurley High School, Pilgrim's Knob High School, and Key School. The modern campus will include updated facilities for career and technical education, arts, and athletics.

Why it matters

The consolidation of these four high schools into a single new facility is aimed at providing Buchanan County students with access to more robust educational and extracurricular opportunities, while also addressing declining enrollment trends across the region.

The details

Southern Gap High School will be located on Ruffed Grouse Lane in Grundy, Virginia and is expected to compete in Class 2 for athletics. Based on recent data from the consolidating schools, the combined enrollment for the 2026-27 school year is projected to be approximately 730 students. The school's mascot will be the Eagles, with the theme "The Eagles Take Flight".

• The consolidation of the four high schools was voted on and approved in February 2026.
• Southern Gap High School is scheduled to open for its inaugural school year in August 2026.

What’s next

The new Southern Gap High School campus is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in time for the start of the 2026-27 school year.