The world is closer here
Explore it all — politics, government, science, sustainability, technology, business, foreign affairs, culture. With your teachers, friends, and career mentors, you will live, learn, and create your future at a school that extends into one of the world’s most influential — and exciting — metropolitan areas. From our unique daily schedule to our faculty and alumni connections, we harness the resources of the global capital that is just seven miles from campus. Your world is waiting.
Here, Every Lesson Comes to Life
At Episcopal, learning goes beyond the classroom and into the heart of Washington, D.C. With unparalleled access to the nation’s capital, our students engage in hands-on experiences — from visiting world-class museums to meeting global leaders and tackling real-world challenges. Here, every lesson comes to life, inspiring curiosity and critical thinking.
A Front-row Seat to Washington and the World
WASHINGTON EXPEDITIONS ARE BUILT INTO YOUR DAILY CLASS SCHEDULE.
Mid-day Flex BlocksWith Episcopal’s one-of-a-kind academic schedule, faculty use an extended block in the middle of the day for immersive and interactive learning expeditions aligned directly with their teaching. These real-world connections bring you a closer understanding of each subject. |
Optional Evening Flex BlocksBecause all students live on campus, teachers are able to expand the use of Washington to evenings and weekends, providing you with unsurpassed opportunities for cultural performances, expert talks, unique learning experiences, and more. |
Through hands-on learning, connections with industry experts, and immersive field experiences, our Flex Blocks help students expand their knowledge and apply it in real-world settings. Explore the possibilities!
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FrenchEleanor Moore’s Advanced French Language class, Advanced Topics in Francophone Cultures class, and Carmen Carraway’s French 5 class attended “Piaf! Le Spectacle” at the French Embassy. These classes attended the 90-minute musical performance which featured Nathalie Lermitte singing many of Edith Piaf's most famous songs in two non-stop sets accompanied by musicians on piano, accordion, drums, xylophone, and double bass. This was the first time in several years that EHS visited the French Embassy, also known as La Maison Française. The sophomores, juniors, and seniors enjoyed immersing themselves with many other D.C.-area francophiles. This was also an opportunity to connect with Piaf's life and music as the students had encountered her name, story, and songs in the context of learning about the French Resistance (Advanced Topics) and with an eye toward considering her art and her career as they relate to the themes of beauty and world challenges (Advanced French Language). It was an impressive performance and an entertaining way to wrap up the first semester for upper-level French students. |
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EnglishAfter wrapping up their reading of Macbeth, the entire sophomore class ventured to see the Improvised Shakespeare Company in action at the Kennedy Center. The five members of the troupe, acting on a simple prompt from the audience, put on a "never before performed in the history of the world" original staging of an allusive and often hilarious work, incorporating Shakespeare's language and themes in both recognizable and surprisingly new ways. Who knew there was a "Scottish Star Wars" or a "Vampire in Venice" in the Bard's repertoire? Students returned to classes later in the week, just in time for exams, with a better feel for the off-the-cuff and more informal audience-participatory nature of early Shakespearean performances. |
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Environmental Science and EnglishConducting interdisciplinary hands-on projects on the Chesapeake Bay. |
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Forensic ScienceOn a balmy spring evening, officers from the Alexandria Police Department's Crime Scene Investigations (CSI) department led Episcopal's forensics science class in a simulated murder scene investigation in Hummel Bowl. Designed to provide students with a hands-on learning experience in forensic science, experienced forensics detectives guided students through a real-world scenario where they worked together to gather and analyze evidence and draw conclusions about what happened, developing their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills. |
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Spanish III and Spanish LiteratureDr. Luis Gamboa’s Spanish III and Spanish Literature classes learned the Bachata, a traditional Latin dance that celebrates the vibrant culture of Spanish-speaking countries. Through the lesson, taught by two area Latin dancers, students learned how body language and verbal communication seamlessly intertwine in Spanish. “The students have been deeply engaged in learning grammar and tackling important social issues through insightful Latin American short stories,” Gamboa said. “This experience enhanced their creativity and teamwork, while offering an enjoyable and enriching flex block that extended their Spanish learning beyond the traditional classroom setting.” |
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Introduction to Constitutional LawContinuing an annual tradition, School Counsel Stefanie Smith took her Introduction to Constitutional Law students to The Supreme Court of the United States to attend an oral argument. Undeterred that only 30 tickets were available to the public on that day for the Counterman v. Colorado case, which focused on the First Amendment, the class of 19 — accompanied by teachers — camped out overnight to secure entry. “This Flexperience is experiencing constitutional law at its intellectual pique. It is always memorable, and the students’ excitement and engagement never cease to amaze me,” Smith said. |
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Advanced ChemistryVisiting the Smithsonian’s Lunder Conservation Center to see art conservators at work in the laboratories and studios. |
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EngineeringDave Collins’ engineering class visited Building Momentum, a fabrication laboratory that collaborates with industry and military organizations to solve problems creatively. Using the engineering design process, students participated in a team challenge to design, weld, and create a water-holding vessel from four pieces of steel. This hands-on experience encouraged creative improvements and sparked discussions about the strengths and weaknesses of welding compared to other joining methods. “It was awesome to see each group tackle the problem with a different design,” Collins said. “Even though no team was completely watertight, they each made improvements on their original design plan which strengthened their understanding of the lesson plan.” |
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Advanced CalculusPatrick Thompson’s Advanced Calculus class found an ideal application for solving the mathematical scenario of an airplane’s descent. Students had a unique opportunity to calculate the angle and speed of the planes at Gravelly Point Park, just north of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Against the backdrop of the scenic Potomac River, the Washington Monument, and other iconic D.C. landmarks, the class witnessed planes descending with such powerful gusts that they nearly swept their graphing calculators away. |
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U.S. HistoryVisiting Mount Vernon to study how effectively historical monuments tell the full story of the past. |
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Advanced American StudiesStudents in Dr. Charlotte Taylor Fryar’s Advanced American Studies visited the Library of Congress to encounter some of the artifacts and texts that shaped their year-long curriculum. Highlights included a first edition of “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave” from 1845, a life mask of Abraham Lincoln made in 1865, and early editions of works by Henry David Thoreau and Walt Whitman. Guided by Education Outreach Specialist Patrick Hastings through the Rare Books and Special Collections Division, students discussed the enduring legacy of the authors, leaders, and ideas that defined the American narrative. |
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Anatomy and PhysiologyOur Anatomy and Physiology class explored the fascinating world of respiration by immersing themselves underwater. This hands-on experience allowed students to directly observe and understand the physiological aspects of respiration in a real-world context. Students learned how breathing and gas exchange work underwater, gaining a deeper appreciation for the intricate mechanisms that keep organisms alive in challenging environments. This holistic approach to reflection ensures that students gain a deeper understanding of respiratory physiology and develop critical thinking skills, connect theory with practice, and foster effective communication within the learning community. |
WASHINGTON Networking is built into your experience.
Career-Related Externships
| All students leave EHS with career experience and connections. Externship opportunities are available to all juniors and seniors. Every graduate’s Episcopal journey culminates with the Senior Externship, a month-long, 35-hour-per-week professional opportunity to job shadow, research, or create with a mentor in the nation’s capital. |
Unique to Episcopal
The McCain-Ravenel Center for Intellectual and Moral Courage
The McCain-Ravenel Center partners with faculty to marshall the resources of Washington, D.C., enriching the student experience and highlighting examples of courage at work as we strive to produce intellectually and morally courageous leaders, dedicated to the common good.
Actively making connections to real-world experiences for Episcopal students, the MRC oversees all Flex Block experiences, Externships, and most all-School speaking engagements, including the Civil Dialogue Series.
Impossible to Replicate
The school you choose will be your second home. It’s where you’ll shape your intellect and find the best friends of your life. Come find out what makes Episcopal unique among boarding schools.
