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Coeducation
Coeducation has been a cornerstone of the VES student experience since 1986 when we became the first traditionally single-sex boarding school in Virginia to coeducate.
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From healthy debate in our classrooms, to eating meals in our dining hall, to social interactions at our many student-centered events, VES students learn how to navigate, grow, and thrive in an environment that mimics the world. In embracing coeducation, we do not abandon our rich tradition and nearly seventy-year history as a single-sex boarding school; we lean into it and the principles and values that persist in an ever-changing world.
At VES, we believe a coeducational environment provides students with advantages and opportunities that are not inherent to single-sex settings.
Preparation for Real-World Environments
Coed environments mirror the real world more closely than single-gender settings, helping students to adapt to diverse work and social environments they will encounter and college and beyond.
Improved Teamwork and Cooperation
Working and competing with both male and female peers inside and outside the classroom enhances teamwork skills and fosters a more collaborative spirit.
Enhanced Communication Skills
Navigating relationships with both male and female peers improves communication skills, making students more effective communicators and collaborators.
Varied Social Experiences
Students build friendships and social networks with peers of both genders, leading to a richer and more varied social experience that extends beyond high school.
Academic and Personal Growth
Exposure to diverse viewpoints and experiences from both genders can foster more well-rounded thinking and empathy as students learn to understand ad appreciate different perspectives.