Last year, 77.4 percent of high school seniors across Virginia graduated on time and with a standard or an advanced diploma. At Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, just 47.7 percent of its seniors did so. The rates released this week by the state Department of Education are not surprising.

By HOLLY PRESTIDGE Patrick Henry High School's aging building is such a part of daily life for students that this year's valedictorian, Anna Pecht, joked about leaky roofs in her graduation speech. But the community around the western Hanover County school isn't laughing.

By David Harrison david.harrison@roanoke.com 777-3523 After years of planning, arguments, late-night public meetings and wrangling over funding, the Roanoke school system turned over the first symbolic shovelful of dirt Tuesday on the new William Fleming High School.

By David Harrison, The Roanoke Times, Va. Oct. 7--About a year or so ago, Tony Stavolla started asking his neighbors in Roanoke's Raleigh Court neighborhood about their thoughts on the community. People liked the neighborhood, he recalled, but they had reservations about the schools.

By David Harrison david.harrison@roanoke.com 777-3523 Roanoke's Patrick Henry High School is looking for its fourth principal in six years. Jeff Crook, the school's current principal, told his staff Wednesday that he is leaving the 1,880-student school at the end of the year.