John I. Burton High School
Encyclopedia
John Ira Burton High School is a small high school located in the City of Norton, Virginia
Norton, Virginia
Norton is an independent city within the confines of Wise County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the city population was 3,958, making it the smallest city in the state by population...

 which has an enrollment of approximately 330 students.

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 22nd for the Raiders' first home Football game of the season against Rye Cove High School.

On September 18th 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
Riverheads High School
Riverheads High School is a public school located in Augusta County, Virginia. Riverheads is the home of the Gladiators. 2000, 2006 and 2010 State A Football Champions, as well as the 2009 Mens Track and Field State Champions.- External links :*...

 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
A Lonesome Pine District
The A Lonesome Pine District is a high school conference of the Virginia High School League which draws its members from the western part of Southwest Virginia. The district's name comes from The Trail of the Lonesome Pine. The schools in the Lonesome Pine District compete in A Region D with the...

 champions,and were Region D
A Region D
Region D is one of the four A regions of the Virginia High School League. It is made up of three districts: the A Black Diamond District, the A Cumberland District, and the A Lonesome Pine District...

, 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 has 61 members. The band usually competes in 2 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 their first state-championship.

External links

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