The Supreme Court of Virginia on Friday agreed to hear Palmer v. Virginia High School League, a case brought by Founding Freedoms Law Center (FFLC) on behalf of a Roanoke County tenth-grader who is homeschooled for religious reasons and seeks to run with his local public high school’s track and cross-country teams.
The full Court will hear oral argument in early March 2027 on FFLC’s appeal of the Roanoke circuit court’s denial of a preliminary injunction. The injunction would have allowed Samuel Palmer to begin running with his local high school team while the lawsuit proceeds.
Under current Virginia High School League policy, homeschooled students are categorically barred from competing on public school athletic teams in the districts where their families live and pay taxes. The Palmers’ lawsuit argues that the policy violates the religious-freedom protections of the Constitution of Virginia and the Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
“We are encouraged that the Supreme Court of Virginia has recognized the magnitude of this issue and agreed to hear our case. We are hopeful the Court will apply our state Constitution’s robust protections for religious freedom to homeschooling families who are motivated by their faith. No child who wants to play sports should be denied that opportunity because of his family’s religious convictions.” — Josh Hetzler, Executive Director, Founding Freedoms Law Center
“This case is not about guaranteeing anyone a spot on a team. It is about whether Virginia will treat families who educate their children at home out of religious conviction as full members of their own communities. We are grateful the Court will take up that question.” — Victoria Cobb, President, Founding Freedoms Law Center
“We just want Samuel to be treated equally to his peers in our public school district, where we pay taxes and participate in our community. Samuel simply wants to run competitively, like any other teenage boy, and we are prayerful that the Supreme Court will recognize the unfairness of the current policy of exclusion.” — Daniel Palmer, Samuel’s father
Case Background
FFLC filed suit in March 2026 against the Virginia High School League and the Roanoke County School Board. The filed complaints and prior case updates are available here:
• FFLC Files Lawsuit to Allow Homeschoolers to Play High School Sports
• FFLC Asks for Preliminary Injunction in Homeschool Sports Case
• FFLC Transfers Homeschool Sports Case to State Court
• FFLC Appeals Preliminary Injunction Denial to the Supreme Court of Virginia