# Lebanon High School (Virginia)

Lebanon High School is a public high school located in the town of Lebanon, Virginia which is also the county seat of Russell County, Virginia. They are a part of the Russell County Public Schools system and have been accredited by the Virginia Department of Education for the 2023–2024 school year. Mr. Ryan Potts is the current principal and Mrs. Whitney Sizemore is the vice principal. Prior to the opening of present-day Lebanon High School on September 3, 1985, the school was located at what is now Lebanon Middle School. The newly built school provided modern facilities and enhanced resources and capacity for students and faculty.

## Academics

Lebanon High offers students the opportunity to enroll in dual enrollment courses from Southwest Virginia Community College. These courses are not online and are taught by the teacher in the student's classroom. If students prefer online learning, they have the ability to enroll in online courses through Virtual Virginia and A. Linwood Holton Governor's School. In addition to those options, honors and career/technical courses are also available to students wanting to learn in person.
During the 2022-2023 school year, 23.1% of students were classified as having chronic absenteeism, meaning they had missed 10% or more of the school year. In the same school year, 74.8% of students met one criterion of being College, Career, and Civically Ready (CCRI). Additionally, the Virginia Department of Education awarded the school Level One, the highest level, of academic achievement for all three measurable subjects: English, Math, and Science. Over the course of their education, 7.87% of the students in the Class of 2023 dropped out of school before graduating.

### Classes offered

| Subject | Class | Dual Enrollment | Honors |
| Agriculture | Applied Agriculture Concepts | --- | --- |
| | Equine Science | --- | --- |
| | Introduction to Animal Systems | --- | --- |
| | Introduction to Power, Structural, and Technical Systems | --- | --- |
| | Livestock Production Management | --- | --- |
| Art | Art I-IV | --- | --- |
| CTE | Advanced Computer Information Systems (ACIS) | Yes | --- |
| | Computer Applications | --- | --- |
| | Computer Information Systems (CIS) | --- | --- |
| | Cybersecurity I-III | --- | --- |
| | Digital Applications | --- | --- |
| | Economics and Personal Finance | --- | --- |
| Engineering | Digital Electronics (DE) | --- | --- |
| | Engineering Design and Development (EDD) | --- | --- |
| | Introduction to Engineering Design (IED) | --- | --- |
| | Principles of Engineering (POE) | --- | --- |
| English | English 8 | --- | --- |
| | English 9-11 | --- | Yes |
| | English 12 | Yes | --- |
| | Photojournalism | --- | --- |
| Foreign Language | Spanish I-IV | --- | --- |
| Mathematics | Algebra I-II | --- | --- |
| | Algebra Functions & Data Analysis (AFDA) | --- | --- |
| | Computer Math | --- | --- |
| | Calculus | Yes | --- |
| | Geometry | --- | Yes |
| | Trigonometry | Yes | --- |
| Physical Education | Regular & Advanced Physical Education | --- | --- |
| | Driver and Traffic Safety Education | --- | --- |
| | Health | --- | --- |
| Science | Biology I | --- | --- |
| | Biology II | Yes | --- |
| | Anatomy | Yes | --- |
| | Chemistry I | --- | --- |
| | Earth Science I-II | --- | --- |
| | Science 8 | --- | --- |
| Social Studies | U.S. History | Yes | --- |
| | U.S. Government | --- | Yes |
| | World Geography | --- | --- |
| | World History II | --- | --- |
| Vocational | Automotive Technology 1 & 2 | --- | --- |
| | Automotive Body Repair 1 & 2 | --- | --- |
| | Building Trades 1 & 2 | --- | --- |
| | Cosmetology 1 & 2 | --- | --- |
| | Criminal Justice 1 & 2 | --- | --- |
| | Culinary Arts 1 & 2 | --- | --- |
| | Masonry 1 & 2, | --- | --- |
| | Welding 1 & 2 | --- | --- |
| | Introduction to Health and Medical Sciences | --- | --- |
| | Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) | --- | --- |
| | Veterinary Assistant 1 & 2 | --- | --- |
| | Horticultural Sciences | --- | --- |
| Other | Chorus (Choir) | --- | --- |
| | Band | --- | --- |
| | Speech and Drama | --- | --- |

## Athletics

Lebanon High School is currently a member of the Virginia High School League and participates in the Southwest District as well as the Region 2D conference. They offer students the opportunity to participate in 17 different VHSL sports in the fall, winter, and spring. The school mascot is the Pioneer with red, white, and black being the school's team colors. The "Pioneers" have won several team and individual state championships, with the boys' varsity cross country team being the most recent champions in 2022 and 2023.
LHS Team State Champions :
| Athletic/Academic Activity | School Year | Team | VHSL Class | Coach |
| Basketball | 1963-1964 | Boys Varsity | Group II | Jamie Farley |
| Basketball | 1990-1991 | Boys Varsity | Group A | Rick Thompson |
| Outdoor Track | 2007-2008 | Boys Varsity | Group A | Bob Weatherly |
| Softball | 2015-2016 | Girls Varsity | Group 2A | Shelia Adams |
| Baseball | 2020-2021 | Boys Varsity | Class 2 | Doc Adams |
| Cross Country | 2022-2023 | Boys Varsity | Class 1 | Travis Hooker |
| Baseball | 2022-2023 | Boys Varsity | Class 1 | Cody Compton |
| Cross Country | 2023-2024 | Boys Varsity | Class 2 | Travis Hooker |
LHS Individual State Champions :
| Student | Athletic/Academic Activity | Event/Competition | School Year | VHSL Class | Coach | Ref. |
| Cheryl Duty & John Ratliff | Debate | Affirmative (Team) | 1988-1989 | Group AA | Helen Gilmer | |
| John Ratliff | Debate | Affirmative | 1988-1989 | Group AA | Helen Gilmer | |
| Jim Fiechtl | Tennis | Singles | 1990-1991 | Group A | Kevin Farmer | |
| John Fuller & Bryan Hubbard | Debate | Negative (Team) | 1992-1993 | Group A | Helen Gilmer | |
| Amy Gilmer | Debate | Affirmative | 1994-1995 | Group A | Helen Gilmer | |
| Bryan Hubbard | Debate | Negative | 1994-1995 | Group A | Helen Gilmer | |
| Jakob Maidens | Outdoor Track | 800m Run | 2007-2008 | Group A | Bob Weatherly | |
| Jon Ulrich | Cross Country | 5000m Run | 2010-2011 | Group A | Travis Hooker | |
| Bradley Rasnake | Outdoor Track | 1600m Run | 2010-2011 | Group A | | |
| Cole Stoots | Wrestling | 160lb Class: 2015-2016 170lb Class: 2016-2019 | 2015-2016, 2016-2017, 2017–2018, 2018-2019 | Class 2 | | |
| Jessey Ball | Cross Country | 5000m Run | 2016-2017 | Group 2A | Travis Hooker | |
| Logan Smith | Wrestling | 182lb Class | 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019–2020 | Class 2 | | |
| Cole Jessee | Wrestling | 152lb Class | 2020-2021 2021-2022 | Class 2 Class 1 | | |
| Trent Ray | Wrestling | 220lb Class | 2020-2021 | Class 2 | | |
| Derek Mitchell | Cross Country | 5000m Run | 2022-2023 2023-2024 | Class 1 Class 2 | Travis Hooker | [13] [15] |
| Sport | Season | Home Location | Home Address |
| Baseball* | Spring | "Doc Adams Baseball Field" | 105 Charles C Long Dr, Lebanon, VA 24266 |
| Basketball* | Winter | "Charles C. Long Gymnasium" | 105 Charles C Long Dr, Lebanon, VA 24266 |
| Cross-Country* | Fall | "Through the Pines" Cross Country Course | 919 Main St, Lebanon, VA 24266 |
| Football* | Fall | "Tommy Bryant Stadium" | 53 George Ben Whited Dr, Lebanon, VA 24266 |
| Forensics | Winter | "Little Theatre" | 105 Charles C Long Dr, Lebanon, VA 24266 |
| Golf | Fall | N/A | N/A |
| Indoor Track | Winter | N/A | N/A |
| Marching Band | Fall | "Tommy Bryant Stadium" | 53 George Ben Whited Dr, Lebanon, VA 24266 |
| Outdoor Track and Field* | Spring | Lebanon High School (Not in use) | 105 Charles C Long Dr, Lebanon, VA 24266 |
| Scholastic Bowl | Winter | Lebanon High School | 105 Charles C Long Dr, Lebanon, VA 24266 |
| Sideline Cheer* | Fall | "Tommy Bryant Stadium" | 53 George Ben Whited Dr, Lebanon, VA 24266 |
| Soccer** | Spring | "Tommy Bryant Stadium" | 53 George Ben Whited Dr, Lebanon, VA 24266 |
| Softball* | Spring | "Shelia Adams Softball Field" | 105 Charles C Long Dr, Lebanon, VA 24266 |
| Tennis | Spring | J.S. Easterly Park | 458 Haber Dr, Lebanon, VA 24266 |
| Theatre | Fall | "Little Theatre" | 105 Charles C Long Dr, Lebanon, VA 24266 |
| Volleyball* | Fall | "Charles C. Long Gymnasium" | 105 Charles C Long Dr, Lebanon, VA 24266 |
| Wrestling | Winter | "Charles C. Long Gymnasium" | 105 Charles C Long Dr, Lebanon, VA 24266 |
*Separate 8th Grade, Junior Varsity, and Varsity Team, **Separate Junior Varsity and Varsity Team

## Barack Obama visit

On September 9, 2008, then presidential candidate Barack Obama gave a speech from the Lebanon High School gymnasium in an attempt to connect with voters of rural Southwest Virginia. He elaborated and explained his plan to address economic issues, energy solutions, job losses, as well as universal healthcare if he was to become president. During his speech, he made it clear that he was not against gun rights and believed in the Second Amendment. In addition, he reiterated that he was "a friend of coal," a stable of Southwest Virginia's economy. During his event, he took several questions from both the youth and adults of the crowd. Before he took the stage, he was introduced by Virginia's former 9th district congressman, Rick Boucher (D-VA).