Virginia Episcopal School is an engaging community that guides students to strive Towards Full Stature in their academic, ethical, spiritual, and personal growth. VES is an intentionally small, globally diverse educational community dedicated to excellence in student engagement, innovative learning, and faculty support and growth. We aim to be the best small boarding school in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions.
VES is an intentionally small college preparatory school serving young men and women in grades 9–12. With a vibrant mix of 260 days (30%) and boarding (70%) students from 18 countries and nine states plus Washington, DC, our campus is a meeting place for diverse perspectives and global cultures where students learn from and respect each other. The student body is 54% male, 46% female, 20% international students, and 28% of students of color.
VES is an inclusive, welcoming community of students who are curious, smart, funny, kind, and innovative—the next generation of creators and producers with the power to change the world. We have 40 full-time teaching faculty—68% with advanced degrees and 13% of whom hold PhDs. The faculty-to-student ratio is 5:1, with an average class size of 11. Faculty serve not only as teachers but also as advisors, coaches, mentors, and activity directors. Making this community incredibly tight-knit, 84% of faculty live on campus. Students enjoy the accessibility to faculty, the family environment, watching faculty kids grow up, and playing with the many pets that are also part of our community.
With a robust foundation, VES students are equipped to excel. The 1923–24 session produced the first Harvard-bound alumnus. Since then, VES graduates have attended many of the world’s finest colleges and universities, and most importantly, they find the programs that best match their personal and professional goals.
Students attend a range of institutions, including Stanford, Yale, Wellesley, MIT, Georgia Tech, Duke University, Occidental College, the University of California, New York University, UVA, The College of William & Mary, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Wake Forest University, Sewanee: The University of the South, James Madison University, Hampden-Sydney and the University of Georgia.
The VES academic curriculum delivers all of the courses you expect in English, History, Science, Math, and World Languages, including 16 AP classes and post-AP options in several academic departments, such as our Science and Math Advanced Consortium, Multivariable Calculus, and Spanish VI.
We also offer an innovative four-year Computer Science program and Arts courses such as Video Production, Public Speaking, Technical Theater, Jazz Ensemble, Glee Club, and other subjects that will stretch your creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills.
You will build connections across subject areas through our interdisciplinary humanities work in the ninth and tenth grades and unique English and History electives. And in your senior year, you can apply to the Advanced Studies program, where you will complete a project in an academic discipline of your choice (or work in multiple disciplines—we love that!). A faculty mentor will support you as you engage in independent research while producing work to share with and beyond the VES community.
Our faculty builds project-based learning into each of their classes to help you develop the skills needed to solve real-world problems, find innovative solutions, and work collaboratively with peers. You will see that VES teachers use a wide variety of activities and approaches to keep class time dynamic and engaging, making sure to reach and understand each student. And our teachers are committed to being accessible for extra help and support.
Globally minded VES students rise early for the opportunity to connect with peer students who live in Gaza, Palestine. With all eyes affixed to the video screen, students on both ends of the world ask questions and listen intently to learn about cultural differences and similarities. They discuss the environment, favorite foods, where they travel, what the schools and classes are like, what they do for fun, religious aspects of their daily lives, politics, and more. Our VES partnership with the Global Nomads Youth Talk Program is just one of many global initiatives at VES that enable students to build cross-cultural understanding, empathy, and respect while becoming genuinely engaged global citizens.
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