Turner Ashby High School

Mission:

It is the goal of the Turner Ashby High School Improvement Committee to serve Turner Ashby High School by:

• Creating and maintaining an environment that allows opportunities for all students to work to their potential.
• Preparing all students fully to enter the work force or college.
• Recognizing that everyone learns in different ways and preparing our faculty.
• To implement lessons and activities that reflect various learning styles.

History:

When Turner Ashby High School opened in the fall of 1956, it became the third consolidated high school in Rockingham County. Schools consolidated were Bridgewater, Dayton, and Mt. Clinton. The original Turner Ashby building was located on a twenty-acre plot on the north side of Dayton, and now serves grades six through eight as Wilbur S. Pence Middle School.

The name Turner Ashby High School was selected by the Rockingham County School Board because of the school’s location in the Ashby District of the county. The Ashby District was named for General Turner Ashby who fought and died in a battle near Harrisonburg during the Civil War.

The original building was designed and constructed for 715 students in grades eight through twelve. The approximate cost of the school was $1,000,000.00. Classroom additions were added in 1960 and 1962. Mobile units were added for classroom use in 1973, 1975, and 1980. Also, beginning in 1966, the eighth grade was moved to the John Wayland Intermediate School, now John Wayland Elementary School.

Turner Ashby High School moved into its new and present facility on Route 42 north of Bridgewater in the fall of 1989. The new facility, including site development, furnishings, building, etc. was built for approximately $15,300,000.00.

This modern facility has more cafeteria, music, athletic, storage, and classroom areas designed to serve up to 1200 students. Three mobile units were added for classroom use in 1998, and five more were added in 2000.

During the 2001-2002 school year and the following summer, a new wing was added to the 1989 building. This addition added 20+ new classrooms including 4 new science rooms and another general purpose computer lab. Along with the addition of the new wing, the library was expanded and a girls’ team room was added. We believe that the present facility is the standard for secondary education facilities in the Valley of Virginia.