BDHS was founded on Sept 5th, 1929 as an elementary, middle, and high school. At the time, it ranged from first to eleventh grade. Over the years, many families have sent multiple generations through the school. Two of these families are the Simms/Atkinsons and the Hayeses, both of whom have a rich BDHS history. 

Linda Simms attended BDHS from 9th-12th grades in the years 1962-1966 and was BDHS’ first Homecoming Queen. Speaking to how the school has changed since her days there, she said, “All we had was a typewriter and a telephone that plugged into the wall,” referencing the many technological additions to BDHS since.At the time she graduated, there were only 47 people in her class. Simms’ husband, Mike Simms, attended the school from 1963-1967, grades 9-12. “We moved to the new building over Christmas break 1964,” he recalls. He was also on the first BDHS football team, and played on the baseball, basketball, and track teams. He held the basketball record for most points in a single game for more then 30 years with 47 points. He also held the shootout record for a time. 

Their daughter, Wendy Atkinson, also attended the school from 1986-1992 (6th-12th grades). Atkinson says the biggest difference between them and now is that “Brentsville was a rural school, we didn’t have very many kids that came from neighborhoods.” When Atkinson attended BDHS, there were about 88 people in her graduation class; the current BDHS graduating classes will be closer to 300. Her brother, Mike Simms, attended BDHS from 1990-1997.  He says, “All my friends and I knew each other our whole lives…. Everybody was included and could have a fun time…. Everything is… a lot bigger.”

Troy Hayes, a current BDHS art teacher, and his three brothers also attended the school. Hayes participated in the 1990 BDHS Technical Student Association as well as being on the basketball team, and his younger brother, Todd Hayes, was a member of the 1990 Jr. Hoopers Basketball team. “[The best part of BDHS was] the small, comfortable feel,” says the older Hayes. After Hayes left the school, it became a high school and the middle schoolers moved to the current Nokesville School (TNS) building. 

Later, Patriot High School was built and many Tiger staff and students moved to the newer school. BDHS was then intended to become a middle school, but a later decision was made to keep the school as it was, making it the oldest high school in the county.