About
VES is an inclusive, welcoming community of boarding and day students in grades 9 - 12, who are curious, smart, funny, kind and innovative—the next generation of creators and producers with the power to change the world.
Founded in 1916, Virginia Episcopal School is among the top co-ed, small boarding and day schools in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Intentionally small, we serve 250 students from across the country and around the world.
Every step of the way, students are supported by dedicated faculty, coaches, advisors, and peers who know them well. VES delivers programs with purpose—engaging, hands-on academic experiences; a wide range of arts, athletics, and clubs; endless opportunities to try new things; and student life programs both instructive and inspiring.
Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, our 160-acre campus (known as The Old 160) is just minutes away from the vibrant city of Lynchburg, Virginia.
We invite you to get to know us.
Our Toward Full Stature Mission
Virginia Episcopal School is an engaging community that guides students to strive Toward Full Stature in their academic, ethical, spiritual, and personal growth.
Our Vision
VES is an intentionally small, globally diverse educational community dedicated to excellence in student engagement, innovative learning, and faculty support and growth. Our aim is to be the best small boarding school in the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions.
Our Core Values
We believe in living by these four tenets:
- Show Humility
- Act with Honor and Integrity
- Fully Engage in Building Community and Self
- Strive for Excellence in All We Do
Statement of Community
VES is an inclusive community that supports each student’s growth toward full stature. Our community brings together individuals with a range of perspectives, experiences, identities, and backgrounds, and we deeply value how this diversity enriches academic discussions and student life experiences.
Our Commitment
VES students develop the knowledge, skills, character, and learning mindsets necessary to succeed in college and life beyond. As you can see in our Portrait of a VES Graduate, by the time they are ready to matriculate, VES graduates are:
- Self-aware
- Curious, innovative thinkers and producers
- Mindful leaders who serve with courage and compassion
- Focused on community
- Ready to navigate and continue their personal growth in a dynamic world.
Our Student Body
With a vibrant mix of day (30%) and boarding (70%) students from 14 countries and 18 states, our students live, work and play together, while learning from and respecting each other. The student body is 55% male, 45% female, with 20% international students and 28% students of color.
Our Faculty
We have 38 full-time teaching faculty—80% with advanced degrees and 10% of whom hold PhDs. The student-to-faculty ratio is 6:1, with an average class size of 12. Faculty serve not only as teachers, but also as advisors, coaches, dorm parents, mentors, and activity directors.
Making this community especially tight-knit, 82% 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.
Our Graduates
With a powerful 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 with their personal and professional goals.
Students attend a range of institutions, including University of Virginia, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, The College of William & Mary, Cornell, Johns Hopkins, Stanford, Wellesley, Tufts, Georgia Tech, Duke University, the University of California, New York University, Sewanee: The University of the South, James Madison University, Hampden-Sydney, and the University of Georgia.
Annual Flag Ceremony
Class of 2015 Alumni Enjoying Reunion
