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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 50th 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

School Profile

Good Shepherd is accredited by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS), the Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE) and the International Council Advancing Independent School Accreditation (ICAISA).
The school currently enrolls 100 children in Kindergarten through Grade 8 in a co-educational, family-like atmosphere. Our preschool serves more than 42 students throughout each week.
Ideal setting at the corner of the James River and the Forest Hill Park for place-based, outdoor education
Parents and teachers as partners and allies.
Average class size is 10
Student:teacher ratio of 10:1
Testing is diagnostic and low-pressure.
Community service is integrated into school life.
Families reside within 40-mile radius, in the City of Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover counties.
Nearly 30 full- and part-time faculty and staff members carry out instructional, operational and administrative responsibilities. All faculty/staff hold a bachelor’s degree; 45% have earned a master’s degree.

Founded in 1973, VAIS is the leader in advancing and advocating for independent school education in Virginia. The VAIS accreditation program is one of a select few recognized at the international level through the International Council Advancing Independent School Accreditation (ICAISA). VAIS also is recognized and approved by the Virginia Board of Education through the Virginia Council for Private Education (VCPE).

By The Numbers

10:1

Student to Teacher Ratio

12

Average Class Size

141

Student Body

children in chapel