Episcopal High School (Alexandria, Virginia)

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Episcopal High School
　
Fortiter, fideliter, feliciter
"Strongly, faithfully, joyfully"
Established 1839
School type Private Preparatory Boarding School
Religious affiliation Episcopalian
Headmaster F. Robertson Hershey
Campus City, 135 acres (.55 km²)
26 buildings
Enrollment 420
Faculty 80
Average class size 11
Student:teacher
ratio		 7:1
Average SAT
scores (2005)		 629 verbal
647 math
Athletics 17 Interscholastic Sports
Color(s) Maroon and Black
Mascot Maroon
Conference IAC

Episcopal High School is a private boarding school located in Alexandria, Virginia. Founded in 1839, it has just over 400 students from around the world on its 526,000 m² (130 acre) campus. The current headmaster is F. Robertson Hershey, appointed in 1998.

Out of the approximately 420 students attending, 77% are White, 9% are African American, 3% are Hispanic and 8% are Asian or Pacific Islanders, and 3% are multi-racial. Male students comprise 55% of the population, female students 45%. The school has a student to teacher ratio of 6:1 compared to the state average of 12.654:1.

Episcopal does not take day students. It is the only "all-boarding" school in the United States located in a metropolitan area.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

According to its web site: "As the first high school in Virginia, Episcopal became known throughout the South as "The High School", a name by which it is still known today."

The high school was used as a union army hospital during the American Civil War; this was the only time in the school's history that it was ever closed down. Poet Walt Whitman supposedly served as a nurse on the high school's campus at this time[citation needed].

The school became co-educational in 1991.

Although known throughout the region as the first high school in Virginia, Episcopal's student body has become more diverse in recent years. The most represented states are Virginia, North Carolina and Texas, but students come from all 50 states and 18 countries.

Episcopal's sports teams are known as the Maroon. The school is part of the longest running rivalry in high school football with Woodberry Forest School, competing with Woodberry every year since 1901. To the students at the two schools, the annual football game is known as The Game.

[edit] Honor code

Aerial photograph of the Episcopal High School campus.
Aerial photograph of the Episcopal High School campus.

Episcopal's Honor Code is one of the oldest among secondary schools in the United States, and it forms the cornerstone of school life. The Honor Code consists of four parts:

  • I will not lie.
  • I will not cheat.
  • I will not steal.
  • I will report the student who does.

At the end of any graded assignment Episcopal High School students are required to write the following:

  • I hereby certify upon my honor that I have neither given nor received any unauthorized assistance on this examination, nor am I aware of any breach of the honor code.

The Honor Committee — comprised of seven student-elected students and four appointed faculty members — promotes understanding of the code and manages individual violations. Violations of the first three points are serious disciplinary matters that usually result in expulsion; the fourth is enforced less strictly, though it is technically of equal importance to the others.

[edit] Religion

Callaway Chapel in a snow storm.
Callaway Chapel in a snow storm.

Students are required to go to a 15–20 minute chapel service three times a week. There is a voluntary church service each Sunday. The Friday chapel service is always student-led. Students of all religions are accepted to the school and allowed to lead Friday Services should they wish to do so.

[edit] Notable alumni

[edit] References

  1. ^ Price, Douglas C.. EHS: Admissions. Episcopal High School website. Retrieved on 2006-12-10.
  2. ^ [1]

[edit] External links

Interstate Athletic Conference
Members

The Bullis School • Episcopal High School (Alexandria, Virginia) • Georgetown Preparatory School • Landon School • St. Albans School (Washington, D.C.) • St. Stephen's and St. Agnes School
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