new schools for 2005
Once again, we'll see four new high schools open in Va. this Fall.
Mountain View (AAA, NW, Commonwealth) becomes Stafford county's 5th high school. A Jan. 12th
article in the
Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star says the Wildcats come from North Stafford & Colonial
Forge. It's located on Rt. 627 between Falmouth & Stafford, beside Margaret Brent Elem.
According to the MVHS web
site, neighboring Stafford H.S. was known as the Wildcats until 1953, when they merged with
the former Falmouth H.S. and became the Indians.
Despite an absence of Seniors, the Wildcats will play a full varsity schedule - the
result of opening at the start of a 2-year VHSL cycle.
South County Secondary School (AAA, Northern, Patriot) becomes Fairfax county's 25th high
school (and fourth that houses grades 7 and up). Located on Rt. 600 north of Lorton (on
the old Lorton prison property), the Stallions will draw mainly from Hayfield and will
also play a full varsity schedule with no Seniors.
The other 2 new schools are in Loudoun Co. and will eventually join the Dulles District,
Region II, Group AA. The
Loudoun Times-Mirror says they'll only field JV football teams this season and will
probably play an independent schedule in 2006 (meaning whoever they can find in the middle
of a 2-year contract period).
The Briar Woods Falcons (on Belmont Ridge Road, down the Dulles Greeenway from Leesburg,
near Broadlands, Beaverdam and Waxpool, in the Brambleton subdivision of Ashburn) drew
mainly from Stone Bridge & a little from Loudoun Co.
The Freedom Eagles (almost due South of Briar Woods at South Riding, near Dulles Airport)
drew mainly from Broad Run, with a few from Loudoun Co.
Two schools that opened last year in Prince William Co. will debut their varsity football
teams this Fall after playing JV schedules in 2004.
Freedom H.S. (at Neabsco Mills in Woodbridge; AAA, NW, Cardinal) drew students from Potomac,
Gar-Field & Woodbridge. Those Eagles brought in C.D. Hylton asst. John Brown (whose
father Bill led C.D. Hylton to the AAA state title in '98 & '99) as their 1st coach.
Battlefield H.S. (Haymarket; AAA, NW, Cedar Run) drew from Brentsville Dist. & Stonewall
Jackson-Manassas. The Bobcats hired Mark Cox from W.T. Woodson (6 years) as their 1st coach.
Harrisonburg H.S. has moved from High Street into a new building (and a new stadium) on
Garbers Church Road.
In Ky., Whitesburg, Fleming-Neon & Letcher have
consolidated
into the Letcher Co. Central Cougars
at Ermine.
Belfry has moved into a new building with a new stadium.
Knox Central will move East out of Barbourville to Bimble in Dec.
In WV, the Fayette Co. School Board has closed Gauley Bridge, so the former Travellers now
have to travel to Smithers to be Valley Greyhounds.
Here's a story from just south of Hampton Roads. A Feb. 18th article from the
Norfolk Virginian-Pilot says a bunch of small schools in North Carolina have formed
their own "special" football conference.
This came about because of the NCHSAA realignment
plan, which has 12 split leagues (what we call districts), according to Greenville's
Daily Reflector.
After looking over both set-ups, I see that Class 3-A Manteo is STILL in a league with three
1-A schools.
Here's a look ahead at plannned and proposed construction which I know of :
2006 - a replacement building for Fredericksburg's James Monroe
(on the former baseball field)
2006 - Chesterfield Co.'s 11th h.s. - on Cosby Road
Cosby H.S. will relieve overcrowding at Clover Hill & Manchester
2007 - Williamsburg's 3rd HS at Historic Triangle on the Warhill Tract ($40 mil)
2007 - Chesapeake's 7th h.s. on Dominion Blvd. at Grassfield ($60 + mil.)
to relieve overcrowding at (mainly) Hickory, Great Bridge and Deep Creek
2007 - a replacement building for Roanoke's Patrick Henry
2007 - a replacement building for Alexandria's T.C. Williams
2007 - a replacement building for Culpeper Co.; maybe a new school in 2008
a $62 million, 1,500 student H.S. on St. Rte. 666
2007 - Warren Co. plays musical schools due to overcrowding. The Sr. High &
Jr. High will swap buildings, and half the h.s. students will move into
the new Skyline High, just a little south of the old Sr. High, near the
entrance to Skyline Drive.
2008 - Loudoun Co. is working on 2 new schools :
1 for Loudoun Valley - at Hamilton (Rt. 7 Business near Rt. 704)
OR Fields Farm north of Purcellville (about a mile from LV)
OR Round Hill near Bell Road OR beside Franklin Park
1 for Heritage & Loudoun Co. maybe North of Leesburg on Rt. 15 Business
near the airport & Kincaid Forest, across from the new Smart's Mill Middle School
see : http://www.leesburg2day.com/current.cfm?catid=5&newsid=9757
2008 - a replacement building for King George - $35 mil
2008 ? - a replacement building for Clarke Co. - $50 mil total
(was $25 mil est. for 2006, but they couldn't agree on it)
2008 ? - Fauquier Co.'s 3rd H.S. - 1200 capacity - $50 mil (Mount Sterling Farm site
on Rt. 605, NE of Warrenton at New Baltimore was NOT approved in June)
2009 ? - Stafford Co.'s 6th h.s. - in the southern part of the county?
2010 - a replacement building for Roanoke's William Fleming - $45 mil.
2010 - Chesterfield Co. replaces Clover Hill w/a new bldg. on Genito Road
2011 ? - Chesapeake's 8th h.s. in the Centerville Turnpike/Elbow Road area,
to relieve overcrowding at Hickory, Great Bridge, Indian River & Oscar Smith
Page Co. - waiting for boards to ok stuff
Dickenson Co., VA - possible consolidation of Haysi & Ervinton in lieu of
floodproofing.
McDowell Co., WV - Big Creek & Iaeger will consolidate in 2008 at the earliest.
Mingo Co., WV - Burch, Matewan and Williamson might form "Mingo South".
Floyd Co., KY - Betsy Layne, South Floyd & Allen Central might consolidate.
Harlan Co., KY - Cawood, Evarts & Cumberland plan to consolidate into the
Harlan Co. Knights in 2007 @ Rosspoint.