When students across Buchanan County head back to class Friday morning, they won’t simply be beginning another school year.
They will be stepping into a new chapter in the history of Buchanan County Public Schools.
The 2026-27 school year officially begins Friday, Aug. 21, bringing some of the biggest changes the county’s school system has experienced in generations. A new consolidated high school will open its doors, four longtime high schools have closed, and one elementary and middle school will begin the year with a new name honoring a longtime Buchanan County educator and superintendent.
The biggest change comes atop Southern Gap, where Southern Gap High School will welcome students for its first day of classes.
The new school, home of the Eagles, will serve students in grades 8-12 from across Buchanan County following the consolidation of Council, Grundy, Hurley and Twin Valley high schools.
For generations, those four schools represented their individual communities on the athletic fields and courts, in classrooms and at graduations. Beginning Friday, students who once would have attended those schools will come together under one roof at Southern Gap.
The opening will bring new surroundings, new classmates and new traditions as students from different areas of Buchanan County begin building the identity of the county’s newest school.
Changes are also coming to another familiar Buchanan County school.
Hurley Elementary/Middle School has been renamed Tommy P. Justus Elementary/Middle School in honor of the late Tommy P. Justus, who served Buchanan County Public Schools for many years, including a long tenure as superintendent.
While the school’s name is changing, the building will continue serving elementary and middle school students from the Hurley community.
As families make final preparations, school officials are also reminding parents to complete required health paperwork before students arrive for the first day.
Under Virginia law, incoming kindergarten students must have a current school physical and required immunizations before entering school.
Students entering seventh grade must receive the Tdap and meningococcal vaccines before returning to school. The HPV vaccine is optional.
Students entering 12th grade must also receive the meningococcal vaccine before the school year begins.
Along with paperwork, families are making those traditional final back-to-school shopping trips for pencils, notebooks, binders, crayons and other classroom necessities.
Clear backpacks are not required during the regular school day. They are only required when attending school sporting events.
Below are the school supply lists for each Buchanan County Public School, organized by grade level:
Council Elementary/Middle School
Pre-K
Change of clothes
Backpack
Kindergarten
Change of clothes
Large pencils
Regular pencils
Children’s scissors
2 boxes of 24-count colored pencils
Washable markers
2 packs of large pink erasers
1st Grade
Zippered pencil case
2 packs of pencils
1 pack of colored pencils
Children’s scissors
1 box of 24-count crayons
10 glue sticks
1 pack of Expo markers
2 packs of large pink erasers
1 pack of index cards
1 single-subject notebook
1 corded headphone
2nd Grade
Zippered pencil case
2 packs of colored pencils
1 pair of children’s scissors
8 glue sticks
2 boxes of 24-count colored pencils
2 packs of large pink erasers
1 corded headphone
3rd Grade
Zippered pencil case
2 three-ring binders
2 packs of colored pencils
2 packs of highlighters
5 glue sticks
4 large pink erasers
2 binders
2 wide-ruled composition books
3 folders with pockets and prongs
2 boxes of 24-count colored pencils
1 corded over-the-ear headphone
4th Grade
1 box of 24-count colored pencils
Zipper pouch
6 glue sticks
1 pack of black dry-erase markers
2 packs of large pink erasers
2 wide-ruled composition books
1 one-inch three-ring binder
1 pack of highlighters
5th Grade
2 boxes of 24-count colored pencils
2 boxes of crayons
4 wide-ruled composition books
1 pair of corded over-the-ear headphones
Scissors
4 glue sticks
2 notebooks
2 packs of loose-leaf paper
1 pack of black dry-erase markers
Small pencil sharpener
Zippered pencil case
2 packs of No. 2 or mechanical pencils
1 pack of ink pens (not black)
6th Grade
2 packs of loose-leaf paper
1 pack of black dry-erase markers
4 wide-ruled composition books
2 packs of colored pencils
4 glue sticks
Scissors
Small pencil sharpener
One three-ring pencil bag
2 packs of No. 2 or mechanical pencils
1 corded over-the-ear headphone
1 pack of college-ruled paper
1 science notebook with pocket folders
Zippered pencil case
7th Grade
1 civics notebook with pocket folders
Scissors
2 packs of loose-leaf paper
2 packs of colored pencils
Small pencil sharpener
4 glue sticks
Zippered pencil case
2 packs of No. 2 or mechanical pencils
1 corded over-the-ear headphone
1 pack of ink pens (not black)
One three-ring pencil bag
One two-inch three-ring binder
Riverview Elementary/Middle School
Please label all supplies with your child’s name unless otherwise noted. Teachers may request additional items after school begins if needed.
Pre-K
Headphones
Extra clothes in a gallon-size Ziploc bag labeled with the child’s name
Kindergarten
6 boxes of Crayola crayons
Pencils
1 spiral notebook
Glue
Headphones
Extra clothes in a gallon-size Ziploc bag
1st Grade
3 boxes of 24-count Crayola crayons
2 pink erasers
Scissors
Headphones
Plastic pencil box
2nd & 3rd Grades
1 pack of pencils
1 pair of scissors
1 pack of glue sticks
1 pack of black dry-erase markers
Large pink erasers
1 box of 24-count Crayola crayons
1 pack of highlighters
Pencil pouch
4th Grade
2-inch three-ring binder
Pencil pouch
Scissors
10-pack of pencils
Package of Elmer’s glue sticks
2 boxes of 24-count Crayola crayons
Package of highlighters
Package of erasers
Package of dry-erase markers
1 wide-ruled composition notebook for writing
2 packs of wide-ruled notebook paper
1 pack of binder dividers
1 gallon-size Ziploc bag for extra supplies
5th Grade
1.5-inch or 2-inch binder with dividers
Wide-ruled notebook paper
Pencils
Erasers
Colored pencils or crayons
1 spiral notebook
1 single-subject composition notebook, not spiral
6th Grade
Wide-ruled notebook paper
Pencils
3-inch three-ring binder
Binder dividers
Colored pencils
Glue sticks
Pencil pouch for binder
Corded headphones
Spiral notebook
7th Grade
College-ruled notebook paper
Pencils
Binder
Highlighters
Colored pencils
Binder dividers
Pencil pouch for binder
Tommy P. Justus Elementary/Middle School
Pre-K
Change of clothes
Kindergarten
2 packs of wide-ruled paper
1 pencil box
2 packs of glue sticks
2 packs of 16-count Crayola crayons
1 pack of No. 2 pencils
Big pink erasers
1 single-subject notebook
1st Grade
1 box of 24-count Crayola crayons
1 pack of glue sticks
1 pack of pencils
Pencil box, not a pouch
1 wide-ruled single-subject notebook
1 pair of scissors
2 packs of black dry-erase markers
Bookbag, no wheels
2nd Grade
Highlighters
Pencils
Pencil box
Glue sticks
Scissors
Crayons
Index cards
Red colored pencils
Dry-erase markers
2 notebooks
3rd Grade
1 three-ring binder
1 pack of dividers
Crayons or colored pencils
Markers
Pencils
Glue sticks
1 plastic folder
Wide-ruled paper
3 one-subject notebooks
4th Grade
5 plastic pocket folders with prongs
2 notebooks
Paper
Pencil box or pencil pouch
Pencils
Erasers
Glue sticks
Scissors
Highlighters
Crayons or colored pencils
Small pencil sharpener for colored pencils
5th/6th Grades
3 packs of paper
3 boxes of pencils
1 one-inch three-ring binder
Dry-erase markers
Highlighters
Pencils
Colored pencils
7th Grade
2 one-subject notebooks
2 three-ring binders
Dry-erase markers
Highlighters
Pencils
Colored pencils
Twin Valley Elementary/Middle School
Pre-K
Extra clothes in a Ziploc bag
Kindergarten
Large pencils
Small pencils
Glue sticks
Extra clothes in a Ziploc bag
Pencil box
Crayons
Backpack
1st Grade
No. 2 pencils
Pencil case
Scissors
Glue sticks
Crayons
Highlighters
Dry-erase markers
Backpack
2nd Grade
Composition notebook
Pencils
Pencil case
Scissors
Glue sticks
Water bottle
Backpack
3rd Grade
Pencils
Glue sticks
Crayons
Scissors
Dry-erase markers
Highlighters
Wide-ruled paper
Notebook
Pocket folders
Backpack
4th Grade
Pencils
Glue sticks
Crayons
Scissors
Pencil case
Colored pencils
Wide-ruled paper
Notebooks
Highlighters
Red pen
Folders
5th Grade
Wide-ruled paper
Mechanical pencils
Pencil case
Highlighters
Colored pencils
Glue sticks
Scissors
Blue pens
3-inch three-ring binder
Pocket folder
6th Grade
Wide-ruled paper
Pencils
Notebooks
Dry-erase markers
Water bottle
Pocket folder
Pencil case
Colored pencils
7th Grade
Wide-ruled paper
Black dry-erase markers
Highlighters
Pencils
Three-ring binder
Water bottle
Notebooks
Colored pencils
Southern Gap High School
Students attending Southern Gap High School should bring the following basic classroom supplies:
Wooden or mechanical pencils
Packs of ruled notebook paper
One- to two-inch three-ring binders
Composition books
Teachers may request additional supplies based on individual classes once the school year begins.
