With less than two months remaining before students walk through the doors for the first day of classes, construction at Southern Gap High School remains on schedule and county officials say excitement continues to build as the massive new campus nears completion.
The new eighth-through-12th-grade school, located in the Southern Gap area of Buchanan County, is scheduled to open in August and will serve as the county’s lone high school following the closure of Council, Grundy, Hurley and Twin Valley high schools at the conclusion of the 2025-26 academic year.
The more than 200,000-square-foot facility will also house the Buchanan County Career, Technology and Higher Learning Center, creating a centralized campus designed to provide students with expanded academic, career and technical education opportunities.
During a recent tour of the construction site, crews were busy completing interior work, installing final classroom finishes and putting the finishing touches on several key areas of the campus. Much of the building now resembles a completed school rather than an active construction project.
Principal Mark Cooper said construction continues to move forward smoothly and remains on schedule.
“Construction at Southern Gap High School is progressing smoothly and remains on schedule,” Cooper said. “This state-of-the-art facility will provide an outstanding learning environment for our students and serve as a tremendous investment in their future. We are excited to see this wonderful school take shape and look forward to the opportunities it will offer for generations to come.”
Cooper said the campus was designed to meet the needs of today’s students while preparing them for future success.
“The new campus was built as a state-of-the-art facility with dedicated spaces for career and technical education, performing arts, athletics and collaborative learning,” Cooper said. “Students will be learning in a modern environment designed specifically for current educational needs rather than older buildings that may have limited resources.”
Construction Superintendent Tim Burge said the project continues to advance as expected and remains on track for its scheduled opening.
Burge said he is pleased with the progress being made and the overall quality of the finished product as crews move into the final stages of construction.
Inside the school, spacious classrooms are nearing completion, dispelling rumors that instructional spaces would be small. Wide hallways and large open common areas create an atmosphere more closely resembling a college campus than a traditional high school.
The cafeteria equipment has been delivered, while installation of the gymnasium bleachers is underway. The gym floor has already been completed inside the massive athletic complex, which features three full-size basketball courts.
Outside, the new football stadium is rapidly taking shape. Turf installation has been completed, and work continues on finishing the stadium and surrounding athletic facilities. Construction of the baseball and softball fields is also nearing completion.
Other notable features include a large wrestling room, expansive storage areas for athletic equipment and a performing arts auditorium featuring a sizable stage that will host assemblies, concerts and other school events.
Career and technical education programs will occupy dedicated spaces throughout the facility. Areas designed for culinary arts, dental hygiene and other workforce development programs are nearing completion. A greenhouse pad is also being constructed behind the school, creating new opportunities for horticulture students.
Parking lots for both students and staff have been completed, and crews continue work on final site improvements across the campus.
As construction enters its final stretch, anticipation continues to grow throughout Buchanan County. Southern Gap High School represents one of the largest educational investments in county history and will soon welcome its first class of Eagles when doors officially open in August.
With classrooms nearly finished, athletic facilities taking shape and specialized learning spaces coming together, county residents are beginning to see the vision of Southern Gap High School become a reality.
