HICO, WV (LOOTPRESS) – The new Midland Trail Elementary School will open in Hico this fall with the same mascot and school colors as the rest of the Midland Trail campus after the Fayette County Board of Education unanimously approved the selections at its June 23 meeting.
The new elementary school, located on the Midland Trail 6-12 campus, will serve students from Ansted Elementary in Ansted and Divide Elementary in Lookout, both of which closed following the end of the 2025-26 school year.
The board approved the Patriot as the school’s mascot and red, white and blue as its official colors.
The selections were made through a process that involved students, school staff and Local School Improvement Councils (LSICs). A committee was formed that included new Midland Trail Elementary Principal Marchelle Bowling, Assistant Principal Eleanor Gandee, professional and service staff representatives, and members from both LSICs.
Students from each grade level submitted mascot and color nominations. The committee reviewed the submissions and narrowed them to three final options before a vote was held.
Gandee presented the committee’s recommendation during the board’s regular June 9 meeting.
“We feel that these selections honor the traditions of our community while establishing a united front for all Midland Trail students,” Gandee told the board.
With the approval, Midland Trail Elementary will share the Patriots mascot and the red, white and blue color scheme already used by Midland Trail Middle School and Midland Trail High School, creating a unified identity across the campus.
