Episcopal High School - Review #9

Episcopal benefits from its unique location within such a metropolitan area. The city in which Episcopal is located, Alexandria, Virginia, offers plenty to do for students, including malls, movie theaters and Old Town Alexandria, a historic shopping district with many good restaurants. Not to mention that Washington, DC is only a five minute drive from campus and offers incredible opportunities both for academics and fun. During orientation week Episcopal organizes a huge scavenger hunt that takes groups of students all over DC and from that day it became home. I was able to take field trips to the National Museum of Art, The Kennedy Center, The Library of Congress, The State Department, political think tanks, The Folger Shakespeare Theater and more. Also, my friends and I would go to the Mall during nice weather or spend an afternoon in Georgetown on the weekends. Because public transportation is so cheap and easy to use it is no problem for students to go anywhere in northern Virginia or Washington, DC, although the school does often provide transportation on weekends. That said, for those who do not like the feeling of a busy city, fear not. Since Episcopal has such a succinct campus and all students and most teachers live on campus, it is a very tight community that feels like it could just as easily be in the country side as in the middle of a city, and that balance is one of the best and most unique aspects of Episcopal.

Episcopal forced me to grow up faster in many ways than I ever could have at home. Living with a roommate taught me how to be a better friend. Living without parents, spending my own money, doing my own laundry, etc. forced me to act more like an adult and prepared me for college. A heavy workload and busy schedule made me learn to be organized and efficient. The opportunity for leadership made me question my beliefs challenged me to act maturely. Episcopal's honor code and southern tradition instilled a very strong sense of right and wrong. In all, my increased maturity far exceeded the three brief years I spent at EHS.

The only thing I would have done differently would be to have attended for all four years. There is a sense of pride and accomplishment associated with being there from beginning to end. That said, it was not difficult arriving as a sophomore and for anyone who would prefer to wait a year or two before applying to boarding school that may be what's best for you.

No doubt the best part of a small school like Episcopal is the community. As I've mentioned over and over everyone students and faculty alike were very close. Also, the sense of pride that most everyone has for Episcopal was one of its best aspects. When people like where they are and take pride in what they do the quality of work, the amount of involvement, and the fulfillment of the experience increases dramatically.

When considering schools definitely visit in person. When you are there people are obviously going to try and "sell" their school to you. Remember this, though. All schools are different and none are perfect. Find the one that feels best for you, not for your parents or grandparents or brothers and sisters, but for you because ultimately it is your experience and you will get the most out of it if you enjoy the school you choose.

The academics at Episcopal were demanding, but never overwhelming. While on one hand we were always challenged in the classroom, on the other the teachers always wanted us to succeed and they were always available and willing to help if needed. Classes were small and relied on group discussion, which kept class interesting and forced students to think and learn on their own at all times. Also, now that I am in college, I appreciate the amount of writing EHS demanded of its students. I definitely wrote more than any other students I know, but because of it I have a definite advantage over many of my peers at Duke. I should mention our schedule. Three days a week include all seven periods and 45 minute classes. Students usually take 5 or 6 classes so that leaves one or two periods free. Two days a week break up the seven periods into 70 minute periods which allows classes to end at noon on the second day. That extra afternoon is devoted to field trips, or "tours" as we call them, into DC.

Episcopal students take pride in their school- and that most definitely includes athletics. Fans are almost always present at games, especially football and basketball games which most of the student body attends. Because of afternoon activity requirements almost all students participate in sports, which keeps students involved in and aware of most athletic programs as well as allows Episcopal to field many teams for a small school. Episcopal'steams are in very competitive leagues and even when they are not successful they are still another medium for enforcing the strong community at EHS, bringing teachers (who also coach) together with students outside of the classroom.

The arts department at Episcopal saw an incredible improvement in just the three years I attended. A brand new art center complete with a digital photography lab and professional recording studio was finished, as was a complete renovation of Pendleton Theater. Students are required to take two semester-long art courses during their time at EHS, but because the new facilities are so nice and the faculty so engaging, the requirement is no burden at all- in fact I found a new talent in photography. Episcopal boasts three a capella groups and a choir that travels each year to NYC to perform. Also, the theater department puts on three shows annually. Along with the new facility and wonderful faculty, EHS has shown a strong commitment to the arts now and in its future.

There were a plethora of extra-curricular activities available at Episcopal. From acting in one of the plays, to cleaning up local parks with the Environmental Club, to hosting speakers with the Young Republicans Club (one of the largest of its kind in the country), to writing for or editing one of many student publications, or even playing a game with the Ultimate Frisbee Club, there were more activities than one student could be involved in. Extra-curriculars usually met in the evenings, between sports practice and study hall, and involvement could be as intense as any student wished.

The dorm is the foundation of the Episcopal community and it is the place where best friends and unforgettable memories were made on a daily basis. Dorms usually housed between 45 and 75 students, so they were small enough that everyone knew everyone else very well. Also, a faculty apartment connected to each hall of every dorm and faculty were always on duty during the evenings to make sure study hall was quiet and that students went to bed at a decent hour. Being able to see your teachers' homes, enjoy dinner with them, or watch a good baseball game with them while arguing about school policy offered a very different mode of interaction from the classroom and allowed me to form great friendships with some of my teachers. It wasn't unusual to see teachers and students or student and students helping each other with work on dorm, or to see 45 boys enjoying hot dogs together at 10:30 at night thanks to a loving faculty member. In the end, the dorm was our home, and our dormmates our family and it was an experience that will never be replaced.

It is difficult to brag about the food at EHS. But that said, let me note that food does not define one's experience during high school. What our dining plan was good for was increased interaction and another way to build community. Four lunches and one dinner a week were considered "seated" meals, which means students sit with either their advisee group or with a randomly assigned group at round tables that seat about 10 while they are served food by student waiters. Advisee groups consist of about 8 students and one faculty member and are a mini-family at school. Advisors get students grades and discipline reports and take students out to dinners or other group activities. All other meals during the week are buffet style.

See above.

The community at EHS was incredibly close. All students board and almost all teachers live on campus. Students and teachers attend class together, eat meals together, go to sports practice together, and live on dorm together. The friendships I forged at Episcopal will last a life time, I'm sure. At school it meant that there were always familiar faces around, and any needed support was always available.