Virginia Episcopal School

Lynchburg

Virginia

United States

Overview

VES’ mission remains true to when the school was founded more than a century ago—to know each student well and guide every child in their growth Toward Full Stature. Our school is a safe place in which students and faculty learn to live together with purpose and accountability, delivering an exceptional experience offering the best teachers, innovative academic and co-curricular programs, and a vibrant, personalized learning environment. In our four-year, progressive Student and Residential Life Program, VES faculty and outside experts address the challenges teenagers face today, leveraging the latest science about the adolescent brain. Through this program and others—academics, character and spiritual development, advisory, athletics, the arts, and service learning—students engage in real conversations, acquire practical tools and learn how to live happy, healthy, productive lives. And when they graduate, students have the competencies and confidence to go out and take on the world. Our success is reflected in both the great kids growing Toward Full Stature in our community and our 97% retention rate—one of the highest retention rates of boarding schools in the nation; the national average for attrition at boarding schools is 10.5%. VES has held steady at only 3% attrition over the past three years. The VES College Counseling program is cited by families as among the best. With a focus on helping students find their very best fit for college, our counselors support, educate and provide the necessary tools to help students and parents successfully navigate the complex college admissions process. VES graduates attend many of the world’s finest colleges and universities, including Stanford, UCLA, Cornell, Yale, Princeton, Columbia University, MIT, Wellesley, NYU, the U.S. Naval Academy, UVA, UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke, the College of William & Mary, Wake Forest, Harvey Mudd and Georgia Tech. Nestled on 160 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, we take advantage of our spectacular location—minutes from a thriving downtown with music, arts, maker spaces, an extensive trail system, mountains, rivers and lakes, the nation’s only year-round ski slopes and much more!

Academics

Summary: Through our academic program, students will pursue STEM disciplines, explore diverse perspectives in the humanities, enjoy artistic endeavors, and build their fluency in other languages and cultures. VES courses are designed to develop curious, innovative thinkers and producers, who: • create, transform and apply knowledge and come to see the disciplines as powerful lenses to understand the world. • ask compelling questions and think critically. • bring people together to collaborate in solving multifaceted problems. • express their ideas with confidence and clarity. Thoughtful and deliberate planning of coursework ensures that students are well-prepared for their future. Students work closely with their advisor and, when appropriate, our college counselors to develop a clear path and specific course selections that excite and challenge them as they strive Toward Full Stature.

Department Director Mimi Csatlos

Student/Teacher Ratio: 5:1

Average Class Size: 11

Summer Programs: Not Offered

Full Time Teachers: 40

Number of AP Courses Offered: 16

Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 68%

Number of IB Courses Offered: 0

English

Classics
Creative Writing
Honors
Literature
Poetry

History

Classical History
European History
Honors
United States History
World History

Foreign Languages

Chinese-Mandarin
French
Spanish

Religion / Philosophy

Faith
Religious Studies
The Bible
World Religions

Humanities / Social Sciences

Economics
Psychology

Sciences

Anatomy
Biology
Chemistry
Environmental Science
Physics
Sports Medicine

Math

Algebra
Calculus
Functions
Geometry
Honors Math
Probability
Statistics
Trigonometry

Computer Studies

Computer Applications
Multimedia
Computer Programming
Computer Science
Web Design

Music

Band
Choral Music
Individual Instructions
Music Appreciation
Music Theory
Recording
Voice

Performing / Visual Arts

Acting
Animation
Art History
Ceramics
Debate
Design
Drama
Drawing
Fiber Arts
Lighting Design
Painting
Photography
Portfolio
Pottery
Publications
Public Speaking
Screenwriting
Sculpture
Stagecraft
Studio Art
Television Production
Theater Arts
Theater Design

Special Programs

Study Abroad
Community Service
Exchange Programs
Independent Study
Leadership
Outdoor Education

Distinctive or New Programs

9th Grade Initiative

Campus Life

Dorm Life

Number of Dorms: 6

Average Students Per Dorm: 28

Number of Girls Dorms: 3

Number of Boys Dorms: 3

Dorm Amenities

Game Room
Laundry Facilities
Lounge
Wireless Internet

Other Dorm Amenities

Student bookstore; Dining hall with a nutritious focus and farm-to-table offerings; Outdoor pool; Outdoor basketball court; Community garden; 5 miles of groomed trails on campus for walking, running, and bike riding

Student Life

Campus life encompasses more than classrooms and playing fields. When class is over, faculty and students spend time together participating in a sport, the arts, a special interest club, a community service project, or a myriad of other offerings that allow students to pursue a particular interest or passion. On the weekends, trips are regularly planned to hike, ski, rock climb, shop, see a movie or enjoy a meal out. On campus, we have dances and talent shows, play paintball, screen movies, shoot hoops, bake cookies and more. Our school’s small size makes impromptu activities possible too. An advisor might make a late-night run to the local diner for famous Cheezy Westerns. A teacher takes students to Vector Space for a maker space activity. Our art teacher takes a group of students to First Fridays or one of the many performances in town. Equally exciting is our informal campus life which does not fit so easily on a brochure: those student-initiated gatherings are perhaps the greatest emblems of our students’ happiness. It is these moments that transform the school from something other than just a place of learning. The baseball field becomes an arena for Frisbee, a dorm room becomes a pizzeria on Friday night, or a snowfall offers spontaneous creativity. Some lazy Saturday in December, on a lark and with a pair of scissors, a student takes greenery from the hedges outside his dorm and literally decks its halls with boughs of holly. Our school is always in a state of metamorphosis: life-changing.

Facilities

Baseball Field
Basketball Court
Fitness Center
Football Field
Indoor Basketball Court
Pool
Technology Center
Volleyball Court

Other Facilities

State-of-the-art gym that includes a cardio and strength training facility, 160 beautiful acres with walking, running, and biking trails; Hiking/ biking/ skiing in the Blue Ridge Mountains; Kayaking/canoeing/tubing/fishing on several rivers; Indoor climbing facility / more than 23 miles of trails / the only year-round ski slope in the U.S. are all in Lynchburg just minutes from campus

Clubs & Organizations

Chess Club
Community Service
Debate Club
Dorm Proctors
Drama Club
Environmental Club
Food Council
Gardening Club
Honor Council
Horseback Riding
International Club
Investment Club
Math Club
Model UN
National Honor Society
Newspaper
Peer Counseling
Peer Tutoring
Photography Club
Quiz Bowl
Science Bowl
Student Activities
Student Government
Student Publications
Theater Club
Weightlifting Club
Yearbook
Yoga Club
Radio Station
TV Station

Arts & Athletics

Summary: ARTS Opportunities abound for every student to participate in the fine arts at VES. Enjoy music? Join the Glee Club, Vocal Ensemble or Instrumental / Jazz Ensemble, or take classes in music history and theory. Interested in drama? Participate in plays or the musical, and learn about the technical and performance aspects of theater. Artists of all mediums can find an outlet in our art classes, and display their work in the King Center gallery or in the community. Students also may take their talents overseas to Spoleto, Italy, participating in the Spoleto Study Abroad Program, a month-long intensive fine arts workshop. At VES, discovering, nurturing and showcasing student talent is paramount. Studio and performing artists on campus are featured at all major campus events. Studio artists enter local and regional art competitions, and performing artists perform on campus as well as regionally, and even internationally, when possible. ATHLETICS We train hard. We play hard. We value teamwork, sportsmanship, our unique team traditions and the fierce challenge of a long-standing rivalry. We offer three semesters of sports, and with 26 teams across 15 sports, students have the opportunity to participate regardless of skill level. We are as proud of our junior varsity players who work up to varsity as we are of our varsity players who go on to play in college. We celebrate the shot putter who sets a new state record as well as swimmers in their first race. Whether it is a state championship or a personal best, we compete with skill, integrity and the VES spirit. Our coaches, most of whom are classroom teachers, are highly trained, know our students well and share a passion for coaching and a dedication to developing leadership skills and nurturing every player’s talent. VES athletes have the privilege of competing in highly competitive conferences that allow for high-caliber play, as well as the opportunity to progress into state-level tournaments.

Arts Department Director: Debbie Burton

Athletics Department Director: Bob Leake

Arts

Acting
Animation
Art History
Ceramics
Debate
Design
Drama
Drawing
Fiber Arts
Lighting Design
Painting
Photography
Portfolio
Pottery
Publications
Public Speaking
Screenwriting
Sculpture
Stagecraft
Studio Art
Television Production
Theater Arts
Theater Design

Interscholastic Sports

Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country Running
Equestrian
Field Hockey
Football
Golf
Horseback Riding
Lacrosse
Mountain Biking
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Table Tennis
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
Wrestling

Recreational Sports

Dance
Hiking
Mountain Biking
Yoga
Fitness

Graduates

Summary: One hundred percent of VES students are admitted to accredited four-year colleges and universities, and 75% of our students enroll in one of their top-choice colleges. VES graduates are accepted into some of the country's most selective schools, but most importantly, we help them select their best-fit schools that are well-aligned with their personal and professional interests. The College Counseling team plays a crucial role in each student's journey Toward Full Stature. Our three college counselors support, nurture, educate and provide the necessary tools to help students and parents successfully navigate the increasingly complex college admissions process. THE VES DIFFERENCE: A FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE COUNSELING PROCESS. Even our youngest students are engaged in relevant topics in the realm of college admissions. The knowledge they gain helps them make academic and extracurricular decisions that keep doors open as they grow and discover their best options beyond our campus. Expert Help from Start to Finish. Our experienced, knowledgeable college counselors: - Help students recognize their individual talents, interests and challenges, and guide them to schools that best fit their needs. - Strive to be accessible to students—and parents—all throughout their VES experience, not just in their junior and senior years. - Invest significant time on students’ admissions essays and all aspects of their applications and celebrate the conclusion of the process when they hit the “submit” button on their applications. - Demystify the college admissions process and strive to minimize our students’ stress by providing them with both relevant information and excellent support. - Engage VES faculty, who write compelling letters of recommendation thanks to their strong connection with each student. - Help prepare students for success as they transition to college through VES' top-notch Student Life curriculum

College attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:

Georgia Tech: 3

Purdue University: 3

Princeton University: 3

Penn State University: 4

Cornell: 4

UC San Diego: 5

UCLA: 5

University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign: 5

Virginia Commonwealth University: 5

Wake Forest: 8

Lynchburg College (now University of Lynchburg): 8

Elon University: 10

University of Georgia: 9

Wofford College: 11

James Madison University: 10

University of Mary Washington: 10

College of Charleston: 12

North Carolina State University: 12

Sewanee: University of the South: 13

College of William & Mary: 16

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill: 17

Notable Alumni

Hardy Cross Dillard

Class of 1919

U.S. Judge of the International Court of Justice at The Hague former Dean of The University of Virginia School of Law.

Paul Taylor

Class of 1949

One of the world’s foremost modern dance choreographers received the National Merit of Arts Award from President Clinton and the MacArthur Foundation Fellowship “Genius Award.”

Paul Fulton Jr.

Class of 1953

Chairman or the Board Bassett Furniture Industries; former President of Sara Lee Corporation; and former Dean of The University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School. Founded Higher Education Works.

Stephen Cowper

Class of 1956

Attorney news correspondent college professor marine research diver and sixth governor of Alaska

William B. Harrison Jr.

Class of 1962

Former CEO of Chase Manhattan and Chairman/CEO of JPMorgan Chase

Lee M. Thomas

Class of 1962

Former Chairman and CEO of Rayonier Corp.

Erskine Bowles

Class of 1963

Former White House Chief of Staff to President Clinton co-chair of the bipartisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform under President Obama and 10th Chancellor of the University of North Carolina.

Dr. D. Holmes Morton

Class of 1969

Founder of the Clinic for Special Children in Strasburg PA 2006 MacArthur Foundation Fellowship “Genius Grant” recipient recipient of the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism and one of Time magazine’s “Heroes of Medicine."

William “Tuck” Tucker

Class of 1979

Supervising storyboard director of award-winning animated series “SpongeBob Squarepants” and writer, artist and director who worked with Filmation, Walt Disney and Nickelodeon Studios,

Quotes From Alumni

“VES scores strong across academics student-teacher relationships athletics student life etc. You will work hard be intrigued know your teachers well have fun and the community is hard to beat!”

-Zach Baugher, Class of 2016, Valedictorian Jefferson Scholar at UVA VES Advanced Studies Scholar Vocal Ensemble Jazz Ensemble

Merit

Merit Scholarships: Offered

Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 13%

Average Merit Scholarship: 14,000

Current Endowment Amount: $21,000,000

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Vital Information

Student Body Type: Coed

Total Boarding: 171

Total Day: 86

Total Enrollment: 257

Boys: 140

Girls: 117

Boarding Grades Offered: 9-12

Day Grades Offered: 9-12

School Type: High School

Dress Code: Formal

Applications Accepted: SAO

Application Deadline: February 1st

Tuition & Financial Aid

7-Day Boarding: $51,160

5-Day Boarding: $38,100

Day Tuition Fee: $23,650

Need-Based Aid: Offered

Payment Plans: Offered

Students Receiving Aid: 35%

Average Awarded: $28,000

School Finances