Episcopal High School (Alexandria, Virginia)

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Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox school Episcopal High School (also known as the High School, Episcopal and EHS), founded in 1839, is a boarding school located in Alexandria, Virginia. The Holy Hill Template:Convert campus houses 440 students from 25 countries, 26 states, and the District of Columbia. The school is 100-percent boarding and is the only all-boarding school of its caliber located in a major metropolitan area.

History

Origins

Episcopal High School was founded in 1839 as the first high school in Virginia by the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia.<ref name="church_dictionary"/><ref name="Venture_1946"/> The neighboring Virginia Theological Seminary purchased Template:Convert of land in the Seminary Hill neighborhood of Alexandria for $5000 and the boarding facility opened on October 15 of that year. The Rev. William N. Pendleton was appointed the first principal, who along with three assistant heads taught 35 boys in the first year.<ref name="What's in a Name?"/><ref name="OLD_SCHOOL_boys"/> In 1840, Episcopal's student body tripled in size to accommodate more than 100 boys.<ref name="history"/>

Hoxton House in 1918.

The school was interchangeably known as the Howard School, from its location at the site of an earlier school.Template:Sfn<ref name="Howard1"/> Episcopal became affectionately known throughout the South as "The High School" as it was the only high school around for another 30 years.<ref name="history"/><ref name="Sons_of_Success"/> The central administration building, Hoxton House, dates to around 1805, built by Martha Washington's eldest granddaughter, Elizabeth Parke Custis Law.<ref name=hmdb_marker/><ref name="Hoxton_Secret"/>

Episcopal continued to grow until the Civil War, when it closed immediately after Union Army forces occupied Alexandria in 1861. Some 500 students served as soldiers in the war, many like Rev. Pendleton (who became a brigadier general) for the Confederacy. The Pendleton Hall at Episcopal has a memorial to the 68 student/alumni who died fighting for the Confederacy.<ref name="OLD_SCHOOL_boys"/><ref name="southern_accent"/> For the next five years, school buildings served as part of a large hospital for Union troops. Poet Walt Whitman served as a nurse in the hospital.<ref name=hmdb_marker/> The school reopened in 1866.

20th century

Under the direction of Launcelot Minor Blackford (principal, 1870–1913), the school initiated a modern academic curriculum as well as pioneered interscholastic team sports in the South, including football, baseball, and track. Recognizing the need to improve its facilities, the school also undertook an aggressive building program that formed the foundation for the present-day campus.

In 1888, Episcopal adopted black and blue as school colors, but after losing few games and the visitor claiming that "EHS had been beaten black and blue", the school changed colors to maroon and black.<ref name="colors"/>Template:Sfn

Episcopal competes against Woodberry Forest School in the longest-running consecutive high-school football rivalry in the South and one of the oldest in the United States.<ref name="Game_Bragging_Rights"/> Beginning in 1900, every fall the Maroon and the Woodberry Forest Tigers have competed on the football field. The location of the game alternates each year; it is either in Orange or Alexandria.<ref name="Game_111"/>

The school yearbook, Whispers, has been published since 1903.Template:Sfn

The Honor Code has served as a foundation of the EHS community since its inception. Episcopal instituted its Honor Code, one of the oldest among secondary schools.<ref name="History_Brief"/><ref name="honor_code"/> A committee of students and faculty members promotes understanding of the code and handles violations.

E. Digby Baltzell's book The Protestant Establishment identified Episcopal as one of the "select sixteen" boarding schools in the United States.<ref name="Baltzell"/>

Integration and co-education

In 1968 the school's first two African-American students enrolled thanks to the generosity of the Stouffer Foundation which assumed an active role in the recruitment and placement of African-American students in prep schools across the South.<ref name="Integrate_WH"/> The enrollment of Regi Burns '72 and Sam Paschall '72 fulfilled the board's 1965 resolution "Any and all applicants for admission shall be considered on an equal basis after giving due regard to their scholastic preparedness and their ability and desire to meet the standards of the school." Since then, Episcopal has continually become more diverse and is consistently ahead of the national boarding school average for student diversity.<ref name="History_Brief"/>

In 1991, Episcopal began a transition to coeducation by enrolling its first 48 girls, a group commonly referred to as "The First 48".<ref name="coed 1990"/> The first coeducational class graduated in 1993.

More recent history

During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Episcopal opted not to receive loans under the Paycheck Protection Program, stating that it "should not seek this kind of support when others need it more."<ref name="covid_elite1"/><ref name="covid_elite2"/>

Organization

From the beginning, Episcopal and the neighboring Virginia Theological Seminary were governed by the same board of trustees, appointed by the Diocese. In 1923, the school broke from the diocese and has been run by an independent board of trustees since then.<ref name="church_dictionary"/><ref name="coed 1990"/>

Episcopal is a member of Mid-Atlantic Boarding School Group (MABS).<ref name="MABS"/>

Endowment

Template:As of, Episcopal has an endowment of $382 million.<ref name="ehsannualreport"/><ref name="ehs-funding-25"/> The School is a listed beneficiary in the will of Lettie Pate Whitehead Evans and receives annual grant from the independent Lettie Pate Evans Foundation.<ref name="LPEF"/>

In 2025, Episcopal completed the Courage campaign. Launched in 2018, the seven-year campaign raised $157 Million.<ref name="ehsannualreport"/><ref name="Courage Campaign"/> Over the years the Episcopal has completed many fundraising campaigns, including the “EHS Building Fund” (1912), “Protecting the Way”(1924), “The Episcopal High School Fund” (1944), “Forward With Faith” (1964), “P.D.Q. Fund” (1970), “Sesquicentennial Fund” (1989), “Pillars of Strength” (2000), and “Courage: The Campaign for Episcopal” (2025).<ref name="endowment_campaigns"/><ref name="report_1963"/>

Academics

With 96 full time faculty members, a 4.6:1 student-faculty ratio, and an average class size of 11, Episcopal is able to offer 150+ courses, of which 75 are honors/advanced level. Episcopal no longer offers AP courses, but students may take AP exams if they take advanced classes.<ref name="Viewbook_25"/><ref name="MABS"/>

The school has eight academic departments and offers eight foreign languages. As part of the D.C. program, the school has built into daily schedule a 2.5 hour flex block (in afternoons & evenings) dedicated to class visits to the surrounding Washington area.<ref name="Viewbook_25"/>

McCain-Ravenel Center

McCain-Ravenel Center at EHS.

The McCain-Ravenel Center for Intellectual and Moral Courage, established in 2018, serves as the hub for experiential learning, externships, global programs, leadership, and service-learning. It is named for senator John McCain and his mentor at EHS, William Bee Ravenel III. The center helps connect students with the real-world experiences/opportunities in Washington D.C. and coordinates visiting speakers.

Library

The David H. March library serves as the primary library of the school. It opened in 1990 in the Hummel Learning Center. The Joseph Bryan library, built in 1927 and renovated in 2007, was the first school library. It now functions as a small meeting/study space and maintains school archives.<ref name="What's in a Name?"/>

Enrollment and student body

Template:As of, the school has an enrollment of 440 students, half of whom are girls.<ref name="Viewbook_25"/> In the 2025–26 school year, Episcopal reported that 40% of its students identified as people of color. The student body represented 25 countries, 26 states, the District of Columbia.<ref name="Viewbook_25"/>

Tuition and financial aid

The comprehensive tuition fee for the 2025–2026 school year is $74,900 and includes tuition, room and board, and other expenses. In 2024–25, over 36 percent of the student body received financial assistance through over 100 endowed scholarship funds. Approximately $8 million in aid was awarded annually, with the average grant equaling about $54,619.<ref name="financial-aid"/><ref name="admissions"/>

Campus

Callaway Chapel and the Baker Science Center, Episcopal High School Virginia

Episcopal's 130 acre hilltop campus has 26 buildings that include seven academic buildings, ten dormitories (five for boys and five for girls), performing arts buildings, faculty housing and athletic facilities. Of the 130-acres total land, 41-acres is forested area known as Laird Acres.<ref name="track_Laird_Acres"/>

In 1893, Baltimore-based architect James Crawford Neilson was commissioned to build the Liggett Hall and other building improvements.Template:Sfn<ref name="Moon_fort"/> In 1910s, Episcopal commissioned architect Frederick H. Brooke to update the main hall, and expanded physically with addition of multiple buildings.<ref name="epiphanydc"/>Template:Sfn

The Stewart Gymnasium was erected in 1913 at a cost of $30,000, replacing Episcopal's first gymnasium built in 1877.<ref name="What's in a Name?"/>Template:Sfn It was renovated in 2014.<ref name="Stewart_legacy"/> The Centennial Gym was constructed in 1937 in anticipation of the schools centennial and was renovated in 2010.<ref name="What's in a Name?"/><ref name="Centennial_AB"/>

The 580-seat Callaway Chapel, built in 1990, is one of the few Episcopal churches in the United States named for a lay person. The chapel is named for Patrick Henry Callaway, who served as the member of the Episcopal faculty for 70 years.<ref name="Two_Teachers"/><ref name="CALLAWAY_obit"/> The postmodernist building was designed by the Walton Madden Cooper (WMCRP) architects of Maryland.<ref name="WMCRP"/> The north-facing Palladian facade leads to a curved entryway, semicircular wooden trusses, and to a giant, stained glass oculus window high behind the altar.<ref name="Redemptive"/>

The Hummel Learning Center (1970), the Hummel Bowl football stadium (1970), and the Hummel dorm (1995) are all named in memomry of Fred Hummel Jr., a former Episcopal student who was killed in the crash of his fighter jet at Nellis AFB in Nevada.<ref name="Hummel"/> The Hummel and Maguire dorm-complex, built in 1995, was designed by the Bowie Gridley Architects.<ref name="Redemptive"/>

The Baker Science Center, built in 2005, is a LEED-certified, green building.<ref name="baker_green"/>

Athletic facilities

Episcopal's soccer fields are often used by professional teams, either on a temporary basis or as a practice field.

Alexandria Reds of the National Premier Soccer League split their time between the Hummel Bowl on the campus of Episcopal High School, and Limerick Field, in eastern Alexandria.<ref name="Alexandria Reds"/> The Washington Spirit of the National Women's Soccer League temporarily trained at Episcopal in 2021 due to disputes with D.C. United.<ref name="Washington Spirit"/>

In 2016, the United States women's national soccer team used the athletic facilities at Episcopal to train before departing for the 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil.<ref name="USWNT_2016"/>

In July 2025, Episcopal served as a base camp for the Al Ain FC during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup and will serve as a base camp during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.<ref name="Al_Ain1"/><ref name="Al_Ain2"/>

Student activities

Arts programs

Episcopal offers arts courses in instrumental music, vocal music, acting, dance, ceramics, photography, videography, drawing, painting, music theory, and music recording. Every year 61% of students take arts courses.<ref name="arts"/> All students entering as freshmen are required complete two courses in the arts during their four years, and older students must complete one course in order to graduate.<ref name="academics"/>

Arts courses take place in the 42,000 square-foot Ainslie Arts Center, named for former headmaster Lee S. Ainslie '56. The building opened in 2003 and includes a 540-seat William N. Pendleton auditorium (built 1950), 100-seat black box theater, and a 24-channel digital recording studio.<ref name="What's in a Name?"/>

The school regularly offers student and professional art shows, concerts and workshops. The National Chamber Players perform at the school several times each year, and student musicians often perform with the Youth Symphony Orchestra.<ref name="arts2"/>

Chapel and spiritual life

The Most Rev. Michael Curry speaking at Episcopal in 2019.

Students are required to attend a 15–20-minute chapel service three times a week and a monthly evening Vespers service. There is a voluntary church service each Sunday. Though the school is an Episcopal school, students of all religions are welcomed, and Episcopal strives to include traditions of all faith backgrounds in its services. The Chaplain's Office will also work with students to take them off-campus to attend various houses of worship in the area if they are interested, including other churches, synagogues, and mosques. Through its programs, Episcopal has brought to campus a number of notable leaders in spiritual life including Archbishop Desmond Tutu,<ref name="chapel_dtutu"/> the Most Rev. Michael Curry,<ref name="chapel_curry"/> Katharine Hayhoe,<ref name="chapel_hayhoe"/> and David Zahl.<ref name="chapel_zahl"/>

Athletics

Episcopal fields 52 boys' and girls' interscholastic teams in 19 sports: baseball, basketball, climbing, crew, cross county, field hockey, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, squash, swimming, tennis, track and field, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, and wrestling. Non-interscholastic programs, such as sports media, dance, cross training, and strength training, are also available.<ref name="athletics1"/> There are varsity, junior varsity, and, for some sports, junior-level teams. Students are expected to complete three seasons of sports as freshmen, at least two as sophomores and juniors, and at least one as seniors. However, these requirements may be met by participation in non-interscholastic sports or by serving as managers for the scholastic sports teams.

Episcopal has sent 272 athletes to colleges since 2013.<ref name="Viewbook_25"/>

Conference affiliation

The boys' teams compete in the Interstate Athletic Conference (IAC). The school has won 48 IAC Championships since 1979 and seven Virginia Independent School State Championships since 1996. Episcopal's girls' teams compete in the Independent School League (ISL). They have won 41 ISL Championships since 1993.<ref name="athletics1"/>

Episcopal won their first-ever Independent School League tournament championship in 2010 in field hockey. It was the first for Episcopal since joining the ISL 1993.<ref name="ISL_champ_2010"/>

Football

The football team won back-to-back IAC Championships in 2015 and 2016 led by head coach Panos Voulgaris. The 2016 team was consistently ranked in the Washington Post Top 10 for the first time in over 25 years. During Voulgaris' tenure the program produced numerous college football players including multiple nationally ranked recruits.

Soccer

In the fall of 2008 the boys' varsity soccer team completed a perfect IAC season with a 23-0-0 record.<ref name="soccer_2008"/> It went on to become the number one team in the state of Virginia by defeating NSCAA-nationally ranked #3 Norfolk Academy 4–0 in the VISAA Championship final.Template:Citation needed The team finished the season ranked as the #13 team in the country.<ref name="soccer_2008"/> In the 2009 fall season the boys' varsity soccer team finished the year with a double overtime win over Collegiate School (Richmond, VA) which brought two consecutive state championship trophies back to Alexandria. Episcopal was also the 2009 IAC champion and was ranked as the number 3 team in the country.<ref name="soccer_2008"/><ref name="soccer_espn_2009"/>

Notable alumni

Langhorne Bond at Episcopal, 1955
Harry Klinefelter at Episcopal, 1930
John McCain at Episcopal, 1953

Notes

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References

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Bibliography

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