MAILING ADDRESS
HEAD OF SCHOOL
COLLEGE COUNSELORS
CEEB Code: 472020
ACADEMIC DEAN
Jerry Filler, Assistant Director of College Counseling: 434.992.0566
273 Mayo Drive St. George, VA 22935
www.blueridgeschool.com
William A. ‘Trip’ Darrin, III
Jim Douglas
Amber Wilkins, Director of College Counseling, Dean of Faculty: 434.992.0558
Courtney Gardner, Registrar 434.992.0559
SCHOOL PROFILE 2023-2024
Founded as the Blue Ridge Industrial School in 1909 by Reverend George Pickett Mayo, the school’s early mission was to provide a vocational education for boys and girls who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to realize their rich potential. Today, Blue Ridge School is dedicated to providing a sound collegeprep education for capable and willing young men. In our supportive, structured community, self-esteem is founded upon solid accomplishment in the classroom, on athletic fields, in the arts, and in a host of co-curricular activities. Typically, total enrollment is approximately 180 each year. Currently there are 156 boys enrolled representing 25 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 23 foreign countries. Approximately 31 percent of the students come from traditionally under-represented ethnic groups. The student/faculty ratio is less than 6/1 with an average class size of eight.
THE BLUE RIDGE GRADUATE From our Headmaster and Deans to our faculty and staff, we share a unified vision that forms the foundation of our approach and includes the following beliefs: • An all-male, all-boarding environment facilitates bonding and connection, minimizes distractions, emphasizes character, develops leadership skills, helps boys become better men, and enables boys to better relate to learning. • A structured, systematic approach to learning—emphasizing study, time-management and organizational skills, and providing the time and resources for help and improvement— motivates young men to achieve and prepare for adulthood. • A regular program of worship and/or reflection promotes spiritual and moral awareness, as well as growth. • Educational programs should be student-focused and students should be responsible for their learning, acting as active participants in the learning and assessment processes. • The most important role for our faculty and staff is to serve as advisors and guardians for the boys. This caring, respect-driven relationship sets the tone for participation in, appreciation of, and buy-in to the total Blue Ridge experience. • Our Code of Conduct is the linchpin and ethical compass that guides the Blue Ridge journey. • The quality of our residence life is the centerpiece around which every other aspect of the Blue Ridge experience revolves and determines how disposed a boy is to learning and community involvement. Living in a community provides fertile ground for learning responsible decision-making, time management skills, empathy, mutual respect, acceptance of differences, and teamwork. • A comprehensive co-curricular program is an essential part of the learning and growth experience. Sports, the arts, clubs, service learning, outdoor programs, and social activities are all valuable vehicles for developing the unique array of gifts and/or interests that inspire every young man. Such programs build self-esteem and foster an appreciation for—and development of—skills in leadership and teamwork. All aspects of the BRS curriculum, academics and beyond, are cultivated to produce well-rounded men, ready for the collegiate world that awaits them. We seek to produce men who are; A Critical Thinker, A Powerful and Effective Communicator, A Global Citizen, An Environmental Steward, An Appreciator of the Arts, Empowered with Habits of Wellness and Independence. The learning experiences that we provide our students are all geared towards these six graduate aims.