Our History Our Future

Founded in 1964, Episcopal School of Baton Rouge, which was originally known as Episcopal High School, has become synonymous with academic excellence and a whole-child educational experience. Beginning with fewer than 25 seventh grade students on the school’s original campus at St. James Church in downtown Baton Rouge, the school now has an enrollment exceeding 900 students in PreK-3 through twelfth grade.

Our History

Episcopal’s 900+ students attend classes in innovative spaces on the school’s permanent campus in Woodland Ridge subdivision. The campus became a reality when the Diocesan Board of Directors and Episcopal’s first Headmaster, the Rev. Ralph Webster, accepted a donation of 20 acres of rural land in what would later become Woodland Ridge from Dr. Jack Jones, Henry Miller and Messrs. Heidel Brown and Ben Miller. The school’s founders quickly went to work establishing the new school, commissioning renowned architect A. Hays Town to design the original campus master plan. Perkins Hall and a cafeteria/auditorium were the first buildings to be completed. With progress underway in the spring of 1970, the Episcopal community celebrated a major milestone when the school’s first graduates received their diplomas. 

Meanwhile, the Episcopal campus continued to expand to meet student needs with the dedication of Aldrich Library and the naming of the original Middle School building as Penniman Hall. In the fall of 1985, Foster Hall was complete, adding space for science learning. School officials celebrated the completion of the Lower School building in the late 1980s, Frazer Hall in 1995 and the current Middle School building in 1998. The Episcopal community celebrated a new millennium with the opening of the Visual and Performing Arts Center in the 2000s.

UKNIGHTED Against the Elements

While there has been much to celebrate throughout Episcopal’s history, there have also been challenges to overcome. In September 1971, Hurricane Edith hit Baton Rouge, spawning a tornado that destroyed the gym and damaged the Middle School building and Perkins Hall. Years later in April of 1991, sixty-foot flames were seen coming from the roof of Perkins Hall. Once the blaze was extinguished, 11 classrooms, the business office, the headmaster’s office, reception area, Upper School office, NJROTC and art rooms were damaged. In August 2016, Episcopal faced the flood that impacted so many in the Baton Rouge area. The main gym, Phillips gym, Lower School, Penniman Hall, courts and fields suffered significant damage. Countless families, faculty and staff were also personally impacted. 

In March 2020, Episcopal and the globe grappled with the first pandemic in a century. Episcopal faculty and staff were quick to respond, efficiently transitioning to distance learning so that students could continue their educational journey. Episcopal was one of the first public or private schools in the region to successfully resume in-person classes the following school year. Winds, fire, flood and even a pandemic could not dampen the spirit of the Episcopal community. After each obstacle faced, the community rebuilt, repaired, reimagined, and recovered, always with an eye toward the future. 

The Flood of 2016

A Campus for the Future

The dream and determination of the Episcopal founders and those who follow have positioned the school well for helping students live purposeful lives. Each year, numerous students earn academic accolades, ranging from National Merit Finalist recognition to Presidential Scholars honors. Episcopal students matriculate to the right universities for their long-term goals, including many highly selective institutions. Episcopal alumni are making the world a better place and fulfilling the vision imagined so long ago.

Since its origins, Episcopal’s leaders have maintained a vision for the future that includes retaining outstanding faculty to foster critical thinking and leadership development among students. As the school has grown, administrators have maintained a commitment to excellence. Initially known as Episcopal High School, the name was changed to Episcopal School of Baton Rouge to reflect a larger student body. In anticipation of the needs of future Episcopal students, the school celebrated a new generation of progress in 2018 with the completion of the Academic Commons, the first new academic building on campus in more than a decade. Two years later, in March 2020, the community gathered again to celebrate the opening of the 22,000+ square foot athletic field house. Finally, in the most recent effort to prepare for future generations, Episcopal celebrated the addition of the QUEST Center in Foster Hall. The space is designed to inspire and encourage Lower and Middle School learners as they explore and experiment in their world. 

For more than 50 years, Episcopal School of Baton Rouge has provided students rigorous academic experiences along with the opportunity for spiritual, artistic and athletic development. The school is positioned well to continue its mission for the next 50 years and beyond.