‘This decision was not made lightly’: Brunswick County Public Schools shuts down middle school

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- The school board for Brunswick County Public Schools (BCPS) voted to shut down James Solomon Russell Middle School at the end of the 2024-2025 school year at a meeting on Monday, Feb. 10. What does this mean for rising sixth through eighth graders? Starting next school year, seventh and eighth graders will now attend school at the Brunswick High School campus. However, they will be in separate areas from the ninth through 12th graders. The rising sixth graders will not be moved from their current elementary schools and will continue to receive instruction there for their sixth-grade year. "This decision was not made lightly, but it aligns with our long-term facility planning efforts to provide the best learning environments for our students," a release from BCPS reads. "We understand that change can be challenging, and we are committed to making this transition as smooth as possible. In the coming weeks, we will provide additional details, host informational meetings, and answer any questions you may have." The new elementary school in Brunswick County has an anticipated opening for fall 2026 and it is expected to house students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. J.S. Russell Middle School was named after a black priest, educator and formerly enslaved man. It was originally named J.S Russell Jr. High School and was a Black-only school when it opened over 70 years ago. Russell also founded St. Paul's Normal and Industrial School, a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), which would later be known as St. Paul's College.