The Constant, yet Changing, Mission of Episcopal

At the beginning of the 20th century, Episcopal's mission widely did not change; rather, it was the goal of the school to educate its students to become "good Christian boys" who continued afterward at the University of Virginia. As opposed to high schools today, the course of study comprised of six years and six forms. As seen in the similarities between the 1908-1909 catalog and the 1938-1939 catalog, there is largely no change in the goal of the school during the first half of the century. 

By the 1968-1969 school year, the mission of the school had changed drastically. No longer was it the school's goal to solely educate good Christian boys to learn to avoid the evils of the world, but now the school also stated an intent to help foster strong citizens of an effective democracy. Both a strong character and faith were now goals of the school, but the two are listed as two separate entities in the catalog, as opposed to a joint one as before. It is noted that this change in mission came about in 1963 when the faculty specified the mission of the school. The mission continued to change in specific wording, but largely not in meaning, up through the 21st century. Today, Episcopal's mission is "Guided by its founding principles of honor, academic distinction, spiritual growth, and community, Episcopal High School prepares young people with the intellectual and moral courage to pursue lives of ethical leadership and service as citizens of an increasingly connected world."