John I. Burton High School

School Building

The School was built in 1953 and named in honor of John Ira Burton, who served as principal of the local schools for 38 years. The building is in a constant state of improvement with painting, remodeling, and cosmetic changes occurring. Teachers and the administration at Burton consistently strive to make the school and rooms attractive and conducive learning environments. It has a classroom capacity of 615 students. In 2008, major structural enhancements were made on the Lawson-Fitchko Stadium. They were completed on August 22 for the Raiders' first home Football game of the season against Rye Cove High School.

On September 18 the Rickie M. Harris Athletic Complex was dedicated at the John I. Burton High School. The facility was named in honor of athletic standout and honor student Rickie Harris who died five years ago as a result of an auto accident.

Athletics

The Raider Football team has made the state finals 3 years in a row from 2003-2006 but has come home empty-handed each time. Having won the state title in 1972, the team came close to a repeat in 2006 against the Riverheads Gladiators with the score 21-20. The game would be marred with some controversy, specifically with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against Ethan Stewart with less than a minute left on the clock in the 4th quarter after rushing in for a touchdown cutting the lead to one and backing the Raiders up on the ensuing failed two point attempt conversion. But despite all losses there are many wins for the team as well. The Raiders are 2007 Lonesome Pine District champions,and were Region D, Division 1 champions for the 2003-2006 seasons. Head Football Coach Jim Adams has won the LPD coach of the year title 7 out of the last 8 years.

The John I. Burton Raider Marching Band, though not considered a sporting team, has 61 members. The band usually competes in two local festivals a year. At the 2011 Lonesome Pine Band Festival they left with a Superior Rating and several class places in Class AA. At the McChesney Band Festival they took first place in the parade, and first in class AAA defeating Wise Co. Central. They also received all the class awards, first place drum major, guard, and a Division 1, Superior rating. In 2011, the John I. Burton Band defeated all other competition and received the overall top-score and took home the McChesney Cup, the school's first since 2004. The band is considered to be of the best in Southwest VA, competing with the likes of Lee, Graham, Abingdon and Patrick Henry.

The 2010-2011 School-year marked a mile-stone for the school, as the Lady Raider Basketball team won its first state-championship.

John I. Burton wrestler Colby Dean was also a 4x VHSL A State Champion (2010-2013), becoming only the third wrestler in the history of Virginia Single A division to win four state championships.

Academics

The 2010-2011 school was a year of great success for John I. Burton High School. This high school was in one of only four school divisions in the state of Virginia that made AYP (average yearly progress) as set by guidelines in the national "No child left behind" act. Also one of the sophomore students won a national art competition sponsored by Rep. Morgan Griffith in which her artwork was hung in the U.S. Capital building for a period of one year.

John I. Burton high school also has had an individual or a duo team win a state championship in the VHSL-sanctioned activity of Forensics in 2011 and 2012.

Most notably, however, the school offers a very limited AP course selection to its students.

Notable Alumni

No information is available.