Alexandria’s Episcopal High School offers students an advantage unrivaled across the state: The 130-acre historic campus sits just 7 miles from the White House, and its “Washington is Our Classroom” program capitalizes on that proximity.
Daily forays into the capital are woven into the curriculum as 2.5-hour, midday
“flex blocks.” Faculty members lead students on immersive outings to landmark
destinations like the National Air and Space Museum, the Lincoln Memorial, and the Library of Congress.
EHS’s status as a full boarding school encourages ambitious learners to parlay benefits through optional evening and weekend flex blocks. Aspiring politicos, for instance, may work with instructors to schedule trips to hear lectures at The Brookings Institution, while forensic science students case a mock murder site with the Alexandria Police Department’s CSI unit.
Partnerships with more than 85 metro area agencies and organizations—ranging from conservation nonprofits to military contractors, government agencies, and arts institutions—bring culminating externships for juniors and seniors.
“Our faculty goes above and beyond to inspire curiosity, critical thinking, and make every lesson come to life,” says Ryan Pemberton, who directs the McCain Ravenel Center for Intellectual and Moral Courage, which oversees the Washington is Our Classroom program. The connections with industry experts and immersive field experiences push students “to expand their knowledge and test it in real-world settings, which brings a much deeper level of understanding as they continue on their educational journey.”
Photos courtesy of Episcopal High School. This article originally appeared in the April 2026 issue.
