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About
Our Location Makes Us Special

Nestled at the corner of the James River and Forest Hill Park, GSES capitalizes on learning in the community.

Where Inspiration Meets Community

Our curriculum maximizes the use of our community and inspires our students to serve our neighbors and learn typical subjects in compelling and thought-provoking new ways.
Admissions
Call for a Tour
The best way to learn if GSES is the right place for your family is to visit. Please call the school at (804) 231-1452 to arrange a personal tour.

Visits
Throughout the school year, GSES will provide opportunities for prospective families to visit for group tours and information sessions. Our open houses and visit days are the perfect opportunities for prospective students to get a taste of life in a GSES classroom.
Academics
Small Classes Allow for Big Experiences

Our small size provides big opportunities for learning. With a student to teacher ratio of 8:1, students receive the personalized attention to grow at their own pace and learn about subjects that matter to them in addition to the core academic subjects.

Innovative Learning
Our supportive environment allows students to take risks in their learning. Building a catapult that doesn't work teaches far more than a catapult that does. Feeling safe to try new things, while being carefully guided through challenging subjects, encourages our students to thrive.
Programs
We LOVE the Outdoors
Our outdoor education program takes advantage of our location near the James River and Forest Hill Park. Lessons often take students on adventures such as searching for local quarry stone in the neighborhood, measuring the velocity of student-built boats as they float down the James River, or collecting native pawpaws to use in cooking.
Community
Community Cleanup
Our families show up for GSES. Each August, our students and their families help clean the school grounds in preparation for the new school year. This is just one of the many ways we work together to create a united and close community.
Support
Supporting GSES
As GSES approaches its 53rd year, families, alumni, and friends loyally provide support for the school's academic programs, as well as capital improvements to school facilities. Over the past few years, funds from generous donors have provided for library and Parish Hall renovations, as well as classroom enhancements and special programming.

In This Section

Apply

Please call or email Admissions Director L orie Bartee for information about a personal tour. Until we can arrange your visit to campus, please take a moment to tour GSES virtually. We cannot wait for you to see what our program can offer your family!

THE ADMISSION PROCESS

Schedule a tour or attend an Open House. Open Houses for prospective students are held periodically; however, prospective families are welcome to schedule a private tour at any time.
Fill out an application, which you may do online or via print/mail, which may be downloaded here. If you are seeking admission to middle school, there is an additional application to be completed by the student which you can download here. (We are no longer accepting applications for The Nature Preschool for the 2024-2025 school year.)
Submit transcripts and school records. Upon receipt of the application, student transcripts and school records will be requested from the present school.
Submit confidential teacher recommendations. Teachers can mail these directly to the school or e-mail them to Lorie Bartee at lbartee@gses.org.
Schedule a student visit. After an application is received, a date for a student visit and admissions testing will be arranged, at which time prospective students spend a day (half day for rising Kindergarten) at GSES and participate in the day’s activities. Applicants will also complete admissions testing during this visit day.
Families may apply for financial aid once the applicant has been accepted to the school in Grades K-8.
Note that to enroll, students must meet the Virginia Department of Health's immunization requirements which may be found here. Religious exemptions are not accepted.

The best way to discover if Good Shepherd Episcopal School is a good fit for your child is to visit. We invite you to schedule a tour or plan a visit during one of our admissions events. We look forward to meeting you and your family!

three happy girls in a classroom

Admission Forms