Oh I agree that Tazewell and Richlands couldn't "choose" where they want to go. The VHSL would initially place them somewhere then if either wanted to go to another district they can appeal the placement. I think a lot of it would hinge upon if the district they would want to change to would be willing to take them. The VHSL usually gives the regions a fair amount of leeway to align themselves.

Part of the reason I think both would end up in Region D is because by the time they are ready to drop, Region D could have already lost five schools between the Dickenson and Wise consolidations. At that point Region C would be significantly bigger than D. The VHSL would probably put Richlands and Tazewell in the CMD or maybe even the BDD in order to keep the regions relatively balanced numbers-wise. I make this assumption because they wouldn't let Va High and John Battle go to the Hogoheegee a few years ago when VHS dropped mainly because of Region C's size.