:Episcopal High School (Alexandria, Virginia)

Episcopal High School was founded in 1839 as the first high school in Virginia.{{cite web |url=http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/about/history.html |title=EHS: History |access-date=February 18, 2008 |work=Episcopal High School website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206095012/http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/about/history.html |archive-date=February 6, 2008 |url-status=dead }} The Rev. William N. Pendleton and three assistant heads initially taught 35 boys at the boarding facility which occupied {{convert|80|acre|ha|abbr=off}} of land. It was originally known as the Howard School, from its location at the site of an earlier school.{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/storysouthernsch00kins/page/18/mode/2up |title=The Story of a Southern School |last=Kinsolving |first=Arthur Barksdale |year=1922 |publisher=The Norman, Remington Co. |pages=[https://archive.org/details/storyasoutherns00kinsgoog/page/n22 18]–21 |quote=Episcopal High School, Alexandria 1839 howard. |location=Baltimore, Maryland |via=Archive.org |access-date=2023-10-20}}{{Open access}} It became known affectionately as "The High School". The central administration building, Hoxton House, dates to around 1805, built by Martha Washington's eldest granddaughter, Elizabeth Parke Custis Law.{{cite web|author=Virginia Department of Historic Resources|url=http://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?MarkerID=7559&Print=1|title='Episcopal High School' marker|publisher=Historical Marker Database|year=1997|access-date=March 23, 2011}}

In 1840, Episcopal's student body tripled in size to accommodate more than 100 boys. It 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. 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.

The school reopened in 1866. 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. EHS 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.

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.{{cite news |first=Mike |last=Morones |title='The Game': High Noon For 111 years, two rival high-school football teams have squared off with one overriding goal: Sweet victory |url=http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2007/122007/12012007/337118 |work=The Free Lance-Star |date=December 1, 2007 |access-date=February 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130208071641/http://www.fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2007/122007/12012007/337118 |archive-date=February 8, 2013 |df=mdy-all }} Recognizing the need to improve its facilities, the school also undertook an aggressive building program that formed the foundation for the present-day campus.

During this era, Episcopal also instituted its Honor Code, one of the oldest among secondary schools. A committee of students and faculty members promotes understanding of the code and handles violations. The Honor Code has served as a foundation of the EHS community since its inception.{{Citation needed|date=August 2011}}

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. 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.episcopalhighschool.org/about-us/since-1839-a-brief-history-of-ehs|title=Episcopal High School | Since 1839: A Brief History of EHS|website=www.episcopalhighschool.org}}

In 1991, Episcopal began a transition to coeducation by enrolling its first 48 girls, a group commonly referred to as "The First 48". The first coeducational class graduated in 1993. As of 2017, the school had an enrollment of 440 students, half of whom were girls.{{cite web |url=https://www.episcopalhighschool.org/page/about-us/at-a-glance |title=EHS: At A Glance|access-date=August 4, 2017 |work=Episcopal High School website }}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/arts/academic.html |title=EHS: Academic Offerings in the Arts |access-date=March 29, 2008 |work=Episcopal High School website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206095136/http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/arts/academic.html |archive-date=February 6, 2008 |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/academics/overview.html |title=EHS: Academics |access-date=March 29, 2008 |work=Episcopal High School website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302174444/http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/academics/overview.html |archive-date=March 2, 2008 |url-status=dead }}

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, 100-seat black box theater, and a 24-channel digital recording studio.{{cite web |url=https://www.episcopalhighschool.org/page/about-us/at-a-glance |title=EHS: Episcopal At A Glance|access-date=March 29, 2008 |work=Episcopal High School website }}

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/arts/overview.html |title=EHS: The Arts at Episcopal High School |access-date=March 29, 2008 |work=Episcopal High School website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080206095140/http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/arts/overview.html |archive-date=February 6, 2008 |url-status=dead }}

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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,{{Cite web|title=EHS News: "Dream About a Better World"|url=http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/news/detail.aspx?pageaction=ViewSinglePublic&LinkID=447&ModuleID=11&NEWSPID=1|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222100802/http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/news/detail.aspx?pageaction=ViewSinglePublic&LinkID=447&ModuleID=11&NEWSPID=1|archive-date=December 22, 2008|access-date=December 12, 2008}} the Most Rev. Michael Curry,{{Cite web|date=2019-01-30|title=Portrait In Faith: "Love is the Only Thing That Has Ever Worked"|url=https://www.episcopalhighschool.org/news-detail?pk=1067061|access-date=2020-11-03|website=Episcopal High School - VA|language=en}} Katherine Hayhoe,{{Cite web|date=2018-03-29|title=Portrait in Faith Honoree and Climate Scientist Reconciles Faith and Science|url=https://www.episcopalhighschool.org/news-detail?pk=998380|access-date=2020-11-03|website=Episcopal High School - VA|language=en}} and [https://mbird.com/author/david-zahl/ David Zahl].{{Cite web|date=2020-01-17|title=Theologian-in-Residence Explores Faith in the Age of Anxiety|url=https://www.episcopalhighschool.org/news-detail?pk=1156038|access-date=2020-11-03|website=Episcopal High School - VA|language=en}}

The comprehensive tuition fee for the 2020-2021 school year is $63,200 and includes tuition, room and board, and other expenses. Episcopal offers several financial options. In 2020-21, approximately 34 percent of the student body will receive financial assistance. Approximately $7.5 million in aid is awarded annually, with the average grant equaling about $49,000.{{Cite web|title=Episcopal High School: Costs & Financial Aid|url=https://www.episcopalhighschool.org/admissions--aid/costs--financial-aid|access-date=2020-11-03|website=www.episcopalhighschool.org}}

Episcopal fields 43 boys' and girls' interscholastic teams in 16 sports: football, field hockey, soccer, tennis, cross county, volleyball, swimming, basketball, climbing, squash, track and field, wrestling, baseball, crew, golf, lacrosse, and softball. Non-interscholastic sports, such as dance, cross training, and strength training, are also available.{{cite web |url=http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/athletics/offerings.html |title=EHS: Sports Offerings |access-date=March 15, 2008 |work=Episcopal High School website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302174519/http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/athletics/offerings.html |archive-date=March 2, 2008 |url-status=dead }}

The boys' teams compete in the Interstate Athletic Conference (IAC). The school has won 32 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 21 ISL Championships since 1993.{{cite web |url=http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/athletics/overview.html |title=EHS: Athletics Brochure |access-date=March 15, 2008 |work=Episcopal High School website |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080302172253/http://episcopalhighschool.org/athletics/overview.html |archive-date=March 2, 2008 |url-status=dead }}

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.

In the fall of 2008 the boys' varsity soccer team completed a perfect IAC season with a 23-0-0 record.{{cite web |url=http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/news/detail.aspx?pageaction=ViewSinglePublic&LinkID=1272&ModuleID=11&NEWSPID=1 |title=News » News Detail |publisher=Episcopal High School |date=December 1, 2009 |access-date=August 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328071913/http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/news/detail.aspx?pageaction=ViewSinglePublic&LinkID=1272&ModuleID=11&NEWSPID=1 |archive-date=March 28, 2012 |url-status=dead }} 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.{{Citation needed|date=December 2009}} The team finished the season ranked as the #13 team in the country. 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.{{cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/highschool/rise/fab50?sportId=10020040&seasonType=1&season=2009&week=13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105070312/http://sports.espn.go.com/highschool/rise/fab50?sportId=10020040&seasonType=1&season=2009&week=13 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 5, 2010 |title=High School Sports - ESPNHS |publisher=ESPN |access-date=August 13, 2012}}

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.

File:Langhorne McCook Bond - Episcopal High - 1955.jpg

File:John Sidney McCain III Episcopal High School 1953.jpg

File:Ted Mollegen 1955.jpg

• Stephen Ailes, Secretary of the Army (1964–1965)
• Lee Ainslie, financier
• Bill Backer, advertising executive known for Coca-Cola campaigns
• Louis Bacon, hedge fund manager, member of the Forbes 400
• Dominique Badji, forward, Colorado Rapids
• Newton D. Baker, Secretary of War (1916–1921), Founder of Baker Hostetler
• Cass Ballenger, Republican congressman from North Carolina
• Erek Barron, US Attorney for the District of Maryland
• Alfred Berkeley '62, Former President and Vice-Chair of Nasdaq Stock Market{{cite web | url=https://www.episcopalhighschool.org/news-detail?pk=1373818&nc=17319&fromId=259970 | title=Alfred Berkeley '62 | date=July 2022 }}
• Langhorne Bond '55, administrator of the FAA (1977-1981){{cite web |url=https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1265/images/sid_8993_1955_0032|title=The Whispers 1955 "Langhorne McCook Bond" (Episcopal High School, Alexandria, Virginia)|author= |date=1955 |page=28|website=Ancestry.com |publisher=Generations Network|url-access=subscription|access-date=7 December 2022|quote=His school career has been marked by neither triumph nor disaster, and he has steered comfortably between the Scylla of "dumb athlete" and the Charybdis of "greasy grind." }}
• T. Berry Brazelton, pediatrician and creator of the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale
• Bo Callaway, Representative, United States House of Representatives and Secretary of the Army
• Gaston Caperton '59, former governor of West Virginia and president of the College Board{{cite web |url=https://www.classmates.com/siteui/yearbooks/29679?page=20 |title=The 1959 Whispers|page=16|author= |date=1959 |website=Classmates.com |publisher=Alexandria, Virginia: Episcopal High School |access-date=2 Jan 2021 }}
• Johnson N. Camden Jr., former senator from Kentucky
• Danny Coale, NFL wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys, Indianapolis Colts
• Virginius Dabney, editor of the Richmond Times-Dispatch (1936–1969) and winner of the 1948 Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing
• Paul DePodesta, former GM, Los Angeles Dodgers
• Phillips Lee Goldsborough I, 47th Governor of Maryland (1912-1916), United States Senate (1929-1935)
• Todd Gray, Chef and Owner of DC's Equinox Restaurant
• John Campbell Greenway, American businessman and senior officer of the U.S. Army Reserve who served with Colonel Theodore Roosevelt in the Spanish–American War and commanded infantry in World War I.
• Edward Trail Helfenstein, eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland
• Tim Hightower, NFL Runningback, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins
• James Addison Ingle, first bishop of the Missionary District of Hankow, China
• Alex S. Jones, Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Specialized Reporting
• Lester Kinsolving, political talk show host on WCBM and member of White House Press Corps
• Lucien Lee Kinsolving, first bishop of the missionary diocese that eventually became the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil
• Tom Long, president and CEO of the Miller Brewing Company and MillerCoors
• John McCain '54, Republican senator from Arizona and the 2008 Republican Party nominee for President of the United StatesMcCain repeatedly noted in speeches that his high school days, and in particular the influence of William Bee Ravenel III was an important formative influence on his life. See McCain, John S. (April 1, 2008). [http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/about/newsmccain2.html Episcopal Offered Me a Home] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726033938/http://www.episcopalhighschool.org/about/newsmccain2.html |date=July 26, 2011 }} Text of speech at Episcopal High School (Alexandria, Virginia). Retrieved on 2008-05-04. Also see Ringle, Ken (May 12, 2008). [https://web.archive.org/web/20080505135645/http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/054vlnmt.asp A Hero's Life]. The Weekly Standard Volume 013, Issue 33. Retrieved on 2008-05-04
• R. Walton Moore, United States House of Representatives (D-VA), (1919–1931)
• Arinze Onuaku, NBA forward, Orlando Magic
• Forrest Pritchard, New York Times bestselling author and sustainable farmer
• Patrice Rene, CFL Linebacker, BC Lions
• Robert Goodwyn Rhett, fiftieth mayor of Charleston, South Carolina, president of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States
• Julian Robertson, financier
• Quentin Roosevelt, youngest son of Theodore Roosevelt
• Shep Rose, Southern Charm cast member
• Kenneth Claiborne Royall, last Secretary of War and first Secretary of the Army{{cite web | url=https://www.ncpedia.org/biography/royall-kenneth-claiborne | title=Royall, Kenneth Claiborne | NCpedia }}
• Horace Smithy, cardiac surgeon who performed early heart valve surgeries
• Bryson Spinner, NFL QB, San Francisco 49ers
• Ernie Stires, musician and composer
• Ernest M. Stires, Episcopal Bishop of Long Island
• Robert E. L. Strider, president of Colby College (1942-1960)
• Lt. James Langhorne Tayloe, CSN, United States Naval Academy graduate as a Midshipman serving on the USS Susquehanna, CSS Fanny, and CSS Raleigh (1861)
• Pembroke Lea Thom (died 1901), Maryland state delegate{{rp|114–116}}
• Thomas J. H. Trapnell, WWII hero and Bataan Death March survivor
• Luiji Vilain, defensive end, Minnesota Vikings
• Mason Wiley, co-author of The Official Preppy Handbook{{Cite news|last=Clendinen|first=Dudley|date=1981-01-04|title=Behind the Best Sellers; 'Preppy Handbook'|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/01/04/books/behind-the-best-sellers-preppy-handbook.html|access-date=2021-08-28|issn=0362-4331}}
• Theodore Wong, Chinese translator{{cite web|url=https://www.shine.cn/news/nation/1907238931/|title=Who gave Sherlock Holmes a 'lucky' Chinese name?|newspaper=Shanghai Daily|place=Shanghai|date=2019-07-23|access-date=2024-04-01|translator=Ye Jun|last=Han|first=Jing}}

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category}}

• {{Official website|http://www.episcopalhighschool.org}}
• [http://www.boardingschools.com/school-profile/Episcopal-High-School The Association of Boarding Schools profile]
• [http://www.boardingschoolreview.com/school_ov/school_id/276 Profile from BoardingSchoolReview.com]
• [https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,760209,00.html "High School's 100th"]. Time. September 12, 1938. (about Episcopal High School)

{{Alexandria, Virginia}}

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Category:Boarding schools in Virginia

Category:Educational institutions established in 1839

Category:Private high schools in Virginia

Category:Independent School League

Category:Episcopal schools in Virginia

Category:Schools in Alexandria, Virginia

Category:Custis family residences