Pocahontas is home to the former Pocahontas Middle School and Pocahontas High School, which was combined into one school on the outskirts of the town. The school hosted grades 6-12. Pocahontas High School and was the smallest high school in the state of Virginia that had a varsity football program, the mascot being the Indians. Both schools had been the target of school consolidation efforts which was met with much resistance from local residents. However the Tazewell County Public School Board System voted to close Pocahontas High School. The last graduating class from the school graduated on June 6, 2008 after 99 years of classes at the school.[4] Students from PHS were sent to Tazewell or Graham High School starting with the 2008-2009 school year.
Beginning in 2006, Southwest Virginia Community College began holding classes in downtown Pocahontas in the historic Pocahontas Fuel Company office.
Festivals
On Labor Dayeach year, Pocahontas is home to the Coal Miners Reunion, which brings together retired and railroad workers from across the United States to be honored by the town with a parade and luncheon. The festival also includes special recognition of the oldest and longest-serving miners or railroad workers present and stump speeches from local political candidates.
On the last Saturday in April, the town celebrates the official seasonal opening of the Pocahontas Exhibition Mine and Museum with a special ceremony and luncheon and half-price admission to the exhibition mine. Earlier in the day, the town hosts the annual Pocahontas Indian Run, a 5-mile run through the historic town and scenic community that brings runners from across the United States. The event also features a 3-mile Indian Walk and a Papoose Run for children 6-12. In the evening, there is a memorial ceremony at the Pocahontas Cemetery for the miners killed in the 1884 mine explosion which killed 114 coal miners.