Photos: Amherst high school expansion project, start to present
A view of the Amherst County High School addition and renovation project, which broke ground in the fall of 2023 and continues through today.
The 1,400-seat auditorium was completed in the summer of 2025 and a new back entrance to the school with a revamped dining area is among the new features. A hallway called "Main Street" connects the auditorium, dining area and two gyms.
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A view of the area where a new auditorium will go is seen from Amherst County High School’s roof. A new fieldhouse will go next to the baseball field.
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Amherst County Public Schools Superintendent William Wells explains work done so far on a new 1,200-seat auditorium.
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A recent view of the back of Amherst County High School where work is being done on a new auditorium.
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The structure of a new 1,200-seat auditorium at Amherst County High School, pictured on March 25, is starting to take shape.
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Construction at Amherst County High School, as shown July 16.
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Construction at Amherst County High School’s new 1,400-seat auditorium and adjoining classrooms as seen July 16. ACPS Superintendent William Wells said a grand opening for the auditorium could include bringing in local Bluegrass musicians to perform and holding a cookout.
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Construction at Amherst County High School as seen on July 16..
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Construction at Amherst County High School on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
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Construction at Amherst County High School on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
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Construction at Amherst County High School on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024.
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Construction of bathrooms next to a new auditorium at Amherst County High School are seen here in December.
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Construction of the new cafeteria at Amherst County High School is shown Dec. 17.
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A view of an area referred to as “Main Street” at Amherst County High School that will connect a new auditorium, to the right, and two gyms and locker rooms to the left, during a Dec. 17 tour of the construction work.
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The Amherst County Board of Supervisors and county school leaders tour the addition under construction at Amherst County High School on Dec. 17. They are seen here standing in the new cafeteria.
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Amherst County Public Schools Chief Operations Officer Tim Hoden (right) speaks to Amherst County Board of Supervisors member David Pugh during a tour of the new auditorium under construction at the county’s high school on Dec. 17.
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A new classroom adjacent to Amherst County High School’s new auditorium under construction in December 2024.
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A view of the newly poured concrete of the spot where the new fieldhouse will go at Amherst County High School. This photo was shown to the Amherst County School Board during a report on the high school construction project at its Dec. 12, 2024 meeting.
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A view from the outside of the new fieldhouse directly beside Amherst County High School's baseball field. The structure recently underwent framing and went up over the course of three to four days.
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The new auditorium at Amherst County High School.
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One of the new classrooms adjacent to the new auditorium.
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A view of the new dining room at Amherst County High School. The window directly faces Lancer Lane. A grand opening of the new addition is planned for this summer.
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A view of the Amherst County High School new auditorium/classrooms addition.
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Amherst County High School was recognized by the school board for receiving a “distinguished” rating in the Virginia Department of Education’s school performance and support framework.
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People look down the hall at renovations during an open house at Amherst County High School on Aug. 2.
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A look at the new auditorium at Amherst County High School.
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People visit the newly renovated Amherst County High School on Aug. 2, 2025. ACHS celebrated a major milestone in December as seven seniors successfully completed Level 1 of the DRIVEN* program, an initiative focused on pre-employment transition services to help students achieve their career goals.
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People visit the new band room during open house at Amherst County High School on Saturday, August 2.
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People walk through the new cafeteria at Amherst County High School on Aug. 2.
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New bathrooms at Amherst County High School on Saturday, Aug. 2.
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A scene from Main Street in the new addition of Amherst County High School during Back-to-School Family Engagement Nigh on Aug. 11, 2025.
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Del. Tim Griffin, R-Bedford, second from left, gets a tour of the new addition to Amherst County High School on Sept. 23, 2025. Pictured to Griffin's left is Amherst County Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Tim Hoden, second from right is Amherst County School Board member Eric Orasi and at bottom right is Principal Joey Crawford.
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Newly elected Amherst Town Council member Sonny Sundramurthy gets a view of the auditorium's back seating area on Nov. 17.
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A collage of photos from Amherst County High School's theater program in its new classroom adjacent to the auditorium.
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A view of the back seating area of Amherst County High School's new auditorium. Jimmy Fortune will be performing in the auditorium on Dec. 12.
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A group of state and local government leaders prepare to enter Amherst County High School's brand new auditorium on Nov. 17.
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Del. Tim Griffin, left, and Sen. Creigh Deeds, right, get a peek of Amherst County High School's new dining kitchen while Tim Hoden, center, the division's assistant superintendent, explains the new features.
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State Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, gazes at a collage of photos in the Amherst County High School drama program's new classroom on Nov. 17.
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A group of county and school officials in a Nov. 17 tour viewed the new nursing program space where the stage of the former auditorium at Amherst County High School was located.
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ABOVE and TOP RIGHT: Jayden Davis signs to play baseball at the University of Virginia during Signing Day at Amherst County High School on Wednesday, Nov. 12. The event marked the first signing day in the school's new auditorium.
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People gather in auditorium for Signing Day at Amherst County High School on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
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Jayden Davis signs to play baseball at the University of Virginia during Signing Day at Amherst County High School on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
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Jayden Davis signs to play baseball at the University of Virginia during a signing day event at Amherst County High School on Nov. 12.
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Open house at Amherst County High School on Saturday, August 2.
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The new band room at Amherst County High School on Aug. 2.
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Del. Tim Griffin, bottom left, speaks with Amherst County Public Schools leaders while in the new cafeteria at Amherst County High School during a Sept. 23 tour of the ongoing renovation work.
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Del. Tim Griffin, center, gets a tour of the Amherst County High School renovation on Sept. 23. To his left is Tim Hoden, the division's assistant superintendent, and at bottom right is Superintendent William Wells.
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People walk through vendors during the Apple Harvest Festival at Amherst County High School on Saturday.
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People look through vendors during the Apple Harvest Festival at Amherst County High School on Saturday.
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People gather outside vendors during the Apple Harvest Festival at Amherst County High School on Saturday.
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Jimmy Fortune and his band perform at before a packed Amherst County High School auditorium on Dec. 12.
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Jimmy Fortune and his band perform at before a packed Amherst County High School auditorium on Dec. 12.
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Jimmy Fortune and his band perform at before a packed Amherst County High School auditorium on Dec. 12.
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Jimmy Fortune and his band perform at before a packed Amherst County High School auditorium on Dec. 12.
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Amherst County High School's production of "Shrek the Musical," pictured Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Matthew Perschall/The News & Advance)
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Princess Fiona, played by Kynslee Wilson, sings during "Shrek the Musical" at Amherst County High School, Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Matthew Perschall/The News & Advance)
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Amherst County High School's production of "Shrek the Musical," pictured Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Matthew Perschall/The News & Advance)
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Princess Fiona, played by Kynslee Wilson, sings as Shrek, played by Drake Dendtler, listens during "Shrek the Musical" at Amherst County High School on April 23.
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Donkey, played by Lucas McPhatter, and Shrek, played by Drake Dendtler, talk with Lord Farquaad, played by Luke Samuels, during "Shrek the Musical" at Amherst County High School, Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Matthew Perschall/The News & Advance)
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Amherst County High School's production of "Shrek the Musical," pictured Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Matthew Perschall/The News & Advance)
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Amherst County High School's production of "Shrek the Musical," pictured Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Matthew Perschall/The News & Advance)
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Student-athletes from Amherst County High School made their college commitments official during a signing day ceremony on Wednesday.
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Kami Wright, who will attend Randolph College and play softball, signs her letter of intent during a signing day ceremony at Amherst County High School, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (Matthew Perschall/The News & Advance)
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Student-athletes who signed their letters of intent for college sports take a group photo during a signing day ceremony at Amherst County High School, Wednesday, May 6, 2026. (Matthew Perschall/The News & Advance)
Take me out to the fieldhouse
The new batting cage area at Amherst County High School, pictured Wednesday, March 11. A new building by the baseball and softball fields contains locker rooms, bathrooms, batting cages and a concession stand.
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A jersey hangs in a locker room at Amherst County High School's new fieldhouse on March 11.
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A locker room at Amherst County High School's new fieldhouse on March 11.
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Men's and women's bathrooms are part of a new fieldhouse at Amherst County High School.
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A jersey hangs in a locker room at Amherst County High School's new fieldhouse on March 11.
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A view of the fieldhouse at Amherst County High School, which showcases the school's maroon color on the exterior and throughout the structure.
Justin Faulconer
Reporter/Editor of Amherst New-Era Progress and Nelson County Times
