School Profile

George Washington High School, Home of the Eagles

Phone: 434-799-6410

Address: 280 Christopher Lane Danville, Virginia 24541

Principal: Johnny Cressell

Background

George Washington High School as it stands today was built in 1956. Contracted to John W. Daniel Company, Inc. under the contract price of $2,090,314, the installation, built on the 60-acre campus, was designed for 1,920 students.  The auditorium could seat 1,125, and the cafeteria could 500. Additions were made to this building in 1963. The A-wing annex provided 16 supplementary classrooms, and the Industrial Arts Building was constructed.  

In 1971, the citizens of Danville voted in favor of a 1.4 million-dollar school bond referendum to finance the addition of a vocational wing to GWHS, which was completed in 1974. A four-classroom addition to the science wing was completed in 1993.  In 2010, GW saw the completion of the GW Baseball Field House, constructed next to the baseball practice field on the GW campus. The field house contains locker rooms, an indoor batting cage, and bathrooms.

In 2025, the building's first major renovation was completed, which included the addition of a 2,200 seat gymnasium and a redesign of the CTE building.

Since 1941, George Washington High School principals have been, in order: J.T. Christopher (1941-69), Everett L. Motley (1969-74), Robert W. Haskins (1974-89), Charles H. Lackey (1989-96), Joel R. DeBoe (1996-2003), Sherri Huffman (2003-2005), Kenny Lewis and Dr. Ron Sieber, (co-principals for 2006-2007), Christopher A. Carter (2007-2013), Withers T. Jackson (2013-2014), Randall K. Stokes (2015-2017), William J. Lancaster III (2017-2021), Reyhan Deskins (2022-2024), and Johnny Cressell (present).

Mission

At George Washington High School, we cultivate empathetic and reflective learners who think critically, embody persistence, and have high expectations. We are committed to SOAR.

• Strive- for excellence
• Overcome- challenges and obstacles 
• Achieve- ambitious goals
• Rise- beyond expectations

Vision

School Enrollment

Virginia School Quality Profiles