Founded in 1916, Virginia Episcopal School is an independent, co-ed boarding and day school for students in grades 9-12.
Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains just minutes away from the vibrant city of Lynchburg, Virginia, we invite you to get to know our engaging community.
Here, we guide students to strive to be their very best-what we call Toward Full Stature-through academic, ethical, spiritual and personal growth.
Every step of the way, you will be supported by dedicated faculty, coaches, your advisor and peers who know you well.
VES delivers programs with purpose-hands-on, innovative academic experiences; a wide range of arts, athletics and clubs; endless opportunities to try new things; and student life programs both instructive and inspiring.
Upon graduation, you will be self-aware; a curious, innovative thinker and producer; a mindful leader; committed to serving your community; and ready to navigate and continue to grow in our dynamic world. Learn more: www.ves.org.
Quick Stats (2024-25)
- Top Ranked VA School
- Grades: 9-12
- Enrollment: 234 students
- Yearly Tuition: $63,200
- Acceptance rate: 85%
- Average class size: 12 students
- Application Deadline: Jan. 10 / Feb. 10 / rolling
- Source: Verified school update
Top Rankings
Virginia Episcopal School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Virginia for:
Category
Attribute
Advanced Degrees
Student Body
Sports offered
Extracurriculars
School History
School Overview
Religious Affiliation
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Learning Difference Programs
Yes
Learning Programs Supported
Yes
Year Founded
1916
School Calendar
Student Body
Total Students
234 students
Student Body Type
Co-ed
% Students of Color
8%
State avg.: 30%
Students by Grade
Academics and Faculty
Total Classroom Teachers
45 teachers
Student : Teacher Ratio
5:1
National avg.: 13:1
% Faculty w/Advanced Degree
83%
Average Class Size
12 students
Number of AP Courses
17 courses
List of Courses Offered
Advanced Courses
Advanced Studies Program, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP English Composition, AP English Literature, AP Environmental Science, AP French Language, AP Government, AP Music Theory, AP Physics, AP Spanish Language, AP Statistics, AP Studio Art, AP United States History, AP World History, Science & Math Advanced Consortium
Average SAT score
1250
(Out of 1600)
Average ACT score
26
(Out of 36)
Matriculation DataMatric. Data
Classroom Dress Code
Formal
Blazers, tie, skirts, dresses, dress slacks; spirit dress days
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
Jan. 10 / Feb. 10 / rolling
Yearly Tuition Cost
$63,200
Tuition Notes
7-Day Boarding: $63,200
International Boarding: $74,100
Day Student: $30,600
% on Financial Aid
27%
Average Financial Aid Grant
$32,200
Acceptance Rate
85%
National avg.: 85%
Admissions Director
Tripp Price
Admissions Associate
Margaret Lyle Jones
Endowment Size
$44 million
Sports
Total Sports Offered
17 sports
Extracurriculars
Total ExtracurricularsTotal Extra-curric.
33 extracurriculars
ExtracurricularsExtra-curric.
Club or Organization:
Alpha Order - Student Admissions Team, Anime Club, Basia Librum Book Club, Black Student Union, Board Games Club, Captain's Club - Athletics Leadership, Chess Club, Chinese Culture Club, Counselor Body, Cybersecurity Club, Debate Club, Garden Club, Green Team - Sustainability Club, GSA, Honor Committee, Junior Resident Assistants, Model United Nations, Pratfall Club, Quiz Bowl, Robotics, Stock Market Club, Student Council, TEAMS Engineering, Vestry, Video Productions, Yearbook Club
Arts and Music Programs:
Chamber Ensemble, Drama, Glee Club, Jazz Ensemble, Sketchbook Club, Vocal Ensemble
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Outdoor Club
Alpha Order - Student Admissions Team, Anime Club, Basia Librum Book Club, Black Student Union, Board Games Club, Captain's Club - Athletics Leadership, Chess Club, Chinese Culture Club, Counselor Body, Cybersecurity Club, Debate Club, Garden Club, Green Team - Sustainability Club, GSA, Honor Committee, Junior Resident Assistants, Model United Nations, Pratfall Club, Quiz Bowl, Robotics, Stock Market Club, Student Council, TEAMS Engineering, Vestry, Video Productions, Yearbook Club
Arts and Music Programs:
Chamber Ensemble, Drama, Glee Club, Jazz Ensemble, Sketchbook Club, Vocal Ensemble
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Outdoor Club
School Notes
- With 260 students and an average class size of 12, VES is intentionally small and selective, allowing us to simultaneously foster independent learning and guided study.
- Beyond gaining essential 21st century skills-like project-based learning, collaborating with peers and solving relevant problems-the majority of VES students stay active on one of our 35 teams across 17 sports, in our many visual and performing arts programs, in leadership roles, service learning and more than 30 special interest clubs.
- Among our 40 teaching faculty, 75% hold advanced degrees and 7% hold a doctoral degree, elevating our students` academic experience and expanding the depth and breadth of courses offered.
- Students are given the opportunities to challengethemselves to achieve their highest academic potential. VES offers three class levels-Regular, Honors and AP courses. Those who want to go beyond may pursue our Advanced Studies Program.
- VES is a safe place in which students and faculty learn to live together with purpose and accountability. Through 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, joyful and productive lives. And when they graduate, students have the competencies and confidence to go out and take on the world.
- Each weekend we offer 10+ activities for students to get involved-on campus,in Lynchburg and the surrounding region.
- VES is a blend of young men and women, boarding (70%) and day (30%) students from all over the U.S. and the world (14 countries). Our campus is a meeting place for diverse perspectives and global cultures where students learn from and respecteach other.
- Our students go to great colleges and universities around the country, includingUVA, UNC, Duke, Stanford, UCLA, Wellesley, MIT, William & Mary, the University of Chicago, Princeton and NYU. All students who graduate from VES are prepared to excel, not only in college, but also in life!
- The VES College Counseling program is cited by families as among the best available. 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.
- With 80% of faculty living on campus and a 6:1 student-to-teacher ratio, students and faculty form trusting relationships in an engaging community. And our alumni provide an extensive network of support to students and graduates as they look for advice about college, internships, jobs or moving to a new city.
- Nestled on 160 acres in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, we take advantage of our spectacular location just 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!We are easily accessible by plane, train and automobile. We`re an hour`s drive to Charlottesville, Roanoke and Lexington; two hours to Richmond and three hours to DC!
- Our success is reflected in both the great kids growing Toward Full Stature in our community and our high 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 a 3 - 5% attrition over the past three years.
- Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- William B. Harrison, Jr. '62 - Former CEO of Chase Manhattan and Chairman/CEO of JPMorgan Chase.
- Lee M. Thomas '62 - Former Chairman and CEO of Rayonier Corp., former President and COO of Georgia-Pacific and administrator of The Environmental Protection Agency under President Ronald Reagan.
- Erksine Bowles '63 - 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.
- Meredith Moran German '95 - Creative Director and partner responsible for the relaunch of the New York-based luxury accessories brand Bienen Davis, originally founded in 1931. A native of Lewisburg, WV, Meredith’s signature styles have been celebrated at the biggest night in fashion
- Vivian Howard '96 - Award-winning chef, restaurateur, TV personality; star of PBS series “A Chef’s Life,” for which she has earned a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Culinary Program. An early proponent of the “farm to table” movement championing local food sourcing.
- Paul Taylor '49 - World's foremost modern dance choreographer of the 20th century, received National Merit of Arts from President Clinton, MacArthur Foundation Fellowship “genius award”.
- Paul Fulton, Jr. '53 - Chairman, Bassett Furniture Industries, Former President of Sara Lee Corporation and former Dean of The University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School; founder and co-chair of Higher Education Works
- D. Holmes Morton '69 - 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” for his work in geneti
- Jerrauld Jones '72 - Judge on Norfolk Circuit Court, former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, law clerk to the Supreme Court of Virginia, among the first African-American VES students.
- Meghann King '01 - Strategic and National Security Advisor to The Wilson Center's CEO & President; Coordinator of The Science and Technology Innovation Program
Source: Verified school update
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Virginia Episcopal School cost?
Virginia Episcopal School's tuition is approximately $63,200 for private students.
What is the acceptance rate of Virginia Episcopal School?
The acceptance rate of Virginia Episcopal School is 85%, which is higher than the national average of 84%.
Who are famous alumni from Virginia Episcopal School?
Virginia Episcopal School famous alumni include: William B. Harrison, Jr. '62, Lee M. Thomas '62, Erksine Bowles '63, Meredith Moran German '95, Vivian Howard '96, Paul Taylor '49, Paul Fulton, Jr. '53, D. Holmes Morton '69, Jerrauld Jones '72 and Meghann King '01.
What sports does Virginia Episcopal School offer?
Virginia Episcopal School offers 17 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Dance, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Paddle Tennis, Soccer, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Winter Track and Wrestling. Virginia Episcopal School is ranked as one of the top 20% of private schools in Virginia for most sports offered.
What is Virginia Episcopal School's ranking?
Virginia Episcopal School ranks among the top 20% of private schools in Virginia for: Highest percentage of faculty with advanced degrees, Largest student body, Most sports offered, Most extracurriculars offered and Oldest founding date.
When is the application deadline for Virginia Episcopal School?
The application deadline for Virginia Episcopal School is Jan. 10 / Feb. 10 / rolling (applications are due on Jan. 10 / Feb. 10 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).
In what neighborhood is Virginia Episcopal School located?
Virginia Episcopal School is located in the Peakland neighborhood of Lynchburg, VA.
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