On Tuesday, April 8, 2025, the Lynchburg City School Board approved measures to improve efficiency and optimize resources within the school division, starting in the 2025-26 school year. As part of this plan, T. C. Miller Elementary School will be repurposed for Pre-Kindergarten and elementary alternative education, and select neighborhoods will be rezoned for Dearington and Bass elementary schools.
Changes for Fall 2025
Closure of T. C. Miller as a K-5 School
- T. C. Miller Elementary School for Innovation will no longer serve grades K-5 and will be repurposed at the end of this school year.
- Students currently zoned for T. C. Miller will be assigned to either Perrymont Elementary or R. S. Payne Elementary. Oakley Avenue will serve as the boundary between the two attendance zones.
- Students who currently attend T. C. Miller by invitation will attend their zoned school.
Current attendance zone map for the T. C. Miller area
Proposed attendance zone map for the T. C. Miller area
Repurposing of T. C. Miller for Pre-K & Elementary Alternative Education
- Pre-K classes currently housed at Paul Munro, Perrymont, and R. S. Payne elementary schools will relocate to T. C. Miller.
- The Transition Alternative Program at W. M. Bass Elementary School will relocate to T. C. Miller.
- T. C. Miller will continue to house the Elementary Restorative Academy.
Select Elementary Rezoning
- The Birchwood neighborhood is currently zoned for Perrymont, but the neighborhood is entirely within the boundary for Dearington Elementary School for Innovation. Beginning in the fall, those students will be assigned to Dearington.
- Part of the Florida Ave./Winston Ridge neighborhood is currently zoned for Heritage Elementary School, but the neighborhood is entirely within the boundary for Bass Elementary. Beginning in the fall, those students will be assigned to Bass.
Current attendance zone map for the Florida Ave./Winston Ridge neighborhood
New attendance zone map for the Florida Ave./Winston Ridge neighborhood
Current attendance zone map for the Birchwood neighborhood
New attendance zone map for the Birchwood neighborhood
FAQ
Why is this being considered?
Since we have fewer elementary-aged children now compared to prior years, repurposing a school and shifting select programs makes sense so that we best utilize our resources. Implementing the changes for the 2025-26 school year could save LCS approximately one million dollars and allow us to provide the best educational and instructional opportunities with the resources we have.
Will this plan lead to overcrowding in classrooms?
LCS remains committed to small class sizes, especially in early grades. The class size guidance varies from school to school, as determined by VDOE guidelines.
Will this impact Pre-K at the Hutcherson Early Learning Center?
No, Hutcherson will still serve Pre-K students. Repurposing T. C. Miller will, however, provide the opportunity to balance Early Childhood Special Education classrooms between Hutcherson and T. C. Miller.
Where will T. C. Miller staff go next year?
Generally, staff will either be reassigned in the division or will serve the Pre-K or Elementary Alternative Education programs at T. C. Miller. There is typically enough turnover in the division each year due to retirements and other reasons, so there will likely be room to make reassignments, as needed.