Episcopal High School (Alexandria, VA)

We’re looking for drivers, not passengers.

Emily Atkinson, Director of Admissions

Just 10 minutes from Washington, DC sits the oldest high school in Virginia: Episcopal High School. Though 100% of the 430 students at this 9-12 school reside on campus, it feels much more like a distinguished private day school because of its location. Although the school was all-boys until 1991, great strides have been made to achieve a balanced gender breakdown and the population now has a 55%/45% boy-girl ratio.

Admission to the school is very competitive with just 40% of applicants receiving acceptance each year. Though many of the students at EHS come from neighboring states, the population has representation from 30 states and 20 different countries. The campus is closed on weekends (meaning students are unable to head home), with a few exceptions, so even local students are around to participate in weekend activities including athletic contests and excursions to the plethora of attractions available in the DC area.

While touring the campus I felt an air of formality and a serious nature amongst the students. While eating lunch in the very formal dining room, it was obvious that the students are taught to be respectful of their peers and the staff at the school. My tour guide, Reid, mentioned that the students take the school Honor Code very seriously. The simple code consists of four parts:

I will not lie.

I will not cheat.

I will not steal.

I will report the student who does.

One area of the school that I found very impressive was in the Arts. We had an opportunity to stop and chat with one of the faculty members from the Art Department and his excitement about the program was infectious. It was obvious that he had a true passion for not just the arts, but for sharing that enthusiasm with EHS students. Any budding artist would enjoy the offerings available as well as the beautiful Angie Newman Johnson Gallery. Those with musical talents will be impressed by the digital recording studio and live performance spaces.

The athletic strengths of EHS are well-known in the independent school world…particularly by those who have been following the 110-year football rivalry against Woodberry Forest! Students at EHS will have a beautiful new addition to their athletic facilities this fall as the school completes additions and renovations of their current buildings.

While few grads head along the military path of prominent EHS alum, John McCain, nearly all continue on to institutions of higher education. Those schools most popular in recent years include: UNC-Chapel Hill, UVA, Sewanee, Washington and Lee, and the University of Georgia.