Loudoun Valley High School in Purcellville is known by county residents simply as “Valley.” It is the school farthest west on the map, serving Purcellville, Round Hill, Bluemont, Philomont and some smaller communities.

Valley opened its doors in 1962 and has gone through two renovations in the last 30 years. The school is above capacity with nearly 1,600 students expected to enroll in the fall.

That number does not include a freshman class that attends a nearby middle school. Valley is the only high school in Loudoun with grades 10 to 12. The building space is augmented with 10 trailers used as classrooms.

“We are anxiously awaiting when our ninth graders can have their full four-year high school experience,” Principal Sue Ross said.

The campus is just blocks from downtown Purcellville and has incredible support from the local community and school alumni, Ross said. With a shortage of on-site field space, the baseball team plays at nearby Fireman’s Field, a renowned stadium that also hosts the Babe Ruth World Series for youth players.

Valley is known as a powerhouse in local athletics, including lacrosse, softball and football. With a recent move from AA to AAA in the Virginia High School League, the teams have to travel longer distances for competitions and are dropping games against cross-county rivals like Stone Bridge (which also is in a AAA division) and Loudoun County High School.

The interior of the school boasts unique courtyards. One is the Shakespeare Garden, complete with benches, statues and pathways. It is a place where students go for readings and reflection. Another courtyard was converted to a wildlife habitat with fully grown trees, a man-made stream and rock bed.

Even though it is surrounded by four walls, there is abundant wildlife, including birds, frogs, turtles and the requisite bug life. A senior courtyard has wood tables, a mill and lush landscaping. On clear days, there are views of the western mountains from parts of the school.

Valley’s library was named after Gerald A. Shipp, a former principal who served at the school for 19 years. There is a solid sense of history throughout the school and students are actively involved in projects with the History and Veterans clubs, which reinforce the connections that students have to the community’s past.

Ross, who has been on staff for two years, is Valley’s first female principal. Students and faculty talk about the change and energy she has brought to the school. The 2007 senior class paid her the utmost respect with their senior prank by painting her portrait on the football field and thanking her for a job well done.