By Emmie Amason
Rockbridge County High School is looking to redo and expand school facilities during the 2026-27 school year.
The school hopes to receive funding for an additional gymnasium for the main building, according to Lexington’s drafted capital investment plan. Additionally, the high school would build restrooms and concessions by the tennis courts and baseball/softball fields, which are on Greenhouse Road across from the high school.
The planned renovations also include an expansion of the tennis courts and a project that would pave the “junior” parking lot by the sports facilities. The fieldhouse locker room and weight room would be remodeled as well.
Addressing Overcrowding
Currently, the high school has only one gymnasium for almost 900 students. This limits the number of P.E. classes and causes overcrowding when sports teams have to practice inside, according to Lexington’s drafted capital investment plan.
“We have had to stack practices on top of each other to have gym time…girls basketball might go at 3:30 (until) 5:30 and then boys have to come at 6 and go to 8,” said Mike Craft, Rockbridge County High School principal.
Not only would the new gym benefit P.E. classes, but more winter sports teams would be able to hold practices at the high school. Currently, many teams have to travel to Maury River Middle School or even other Rockbridge County schools for practices, said Craft.
Tennis court expansion
The plans also include building more tennis courts on campus that would allow both men’s and women’s tennis to host home matches. Since there are not enough courts at the high school, these teams must compete at the Lexington Golf and Country Club.
number typically found at other high schools—posing challenges for practices and matches.
Photo by Emmie Amason.
“We have to play nine matches every home game. We play six singles and three doubles, and that would just be impossible with three courts,” Youngdahl said.
The limited high school court space prevents athletes from playing single matches or splitting into smaller groups to focus on specific skills during practices, said Scott Youngdahl, the men’s tennis coach at Rockbridge County High School. Currently, there are only three courts for the team of 12.
The new courts would allow them to avoid travel to Lexington Golf and Country Club for “home” matches.
Next year, the country club cannot host the team because they plan to remodel all of their facilities. The Rockbridge County High School administration has begun to reach out to Virginia Military Insitute and Washington and Lee University to see if they can use their facilities for home matches, he said.
However, VMI would charge more money than the country club, which might be out of the high school’s budget, he said. Meanwhile, W&L is adamant about having courts that are only for its own use.
With a winning record last season and more guys wanting to join the team, Youngdahl is optimistic that if three more courts were built, the team would expand as well.
Restroom and concession stand construction
The construction plan would also include building restrooms across the street from the high school. This would help spring athletes who currently have to use the porta potty by the baseball field or cross Greenhouse Road to use a different restroom.
A bathroom addition would also allow the school to spend less money on renting porta potties and create a more welcoming environment for athletes and fans.
When adding bathrooms, the school plans to build a concession stand. The money generated from the stand will fund several scholarships to student concession workers, the athletic department, general supplies for concessions, and the school Craft said.
Lisa Miller, Rockbridge County Public Schools bookkeeper, has always been in charge of concessions and will continue her job, he said.
the loose gravel with top coat getting tossed around due to from auto traffic. Photo by Emmie Amason.
The plan also includes paving the parking lot by the sports facilities, which would save the school repair costs, according to Lexington’s drafted capital investment plan.
“Probably six or seven years ago, we put a top coat on the gravel. But that is not enough to keep gravel from being caught up in the [snow] plows…” Craft said.
These upgrades would give a permanent pave, which would provide an easier surface to drive on for new drivers.