About the Boys Home of VA
A School Built on a Simple Idea: Every Young Man Deserves a Real Chance.
For more than a century, Boys Home of Virginia has provided young men with the structure, support, and opportunity they need to build a meaningful future. We are a tuition-free residential school, and we have been doing this work since 1906.
Our Story
Boys Home was founded in 1906 as an outreach of the Episcopal Church, created to serve young men in rural Covington, Virginia who needed greater support than their circumstances allowed. In the decades since, Boys Home has grown into a full residential school community, serving thousands of young men along the way.
Today, Boys Home is a tuition-free residential school. We provide academics, trades training, residential life, and a genuine community where young men are known, challenged, and supported. Our funding comes almost entirely from private donors and partners, which means a family’s financial situation is never a barrier to enrollment.
Our Campus
Boys Home is located on a 1,400-acre campus in the Alleghany Highlands of western Virginia. The campus includes:
- Eight residential cottages, each home to a small group of young men and their Residential Life Mentors
- A fully accredited education center with small classrooms
- An applied trades center
- A newly renovated gymnasium and student center
- A dining hall and chapel
- Working farmland and an equine program
- Trails, waterways, and outdoor spaces used daily
The campus itself is part of the program. Young men fish, hike, kayak, and work on the farm as part of daily life, not as occasional extras.
Our Approach
Small Classes
Every student is known by name. Small class sizes let teachers meet each young man where he is academically, whether he needs to catch up, stay on track, or be pushed further.
Hands-On Trades
Our applied trades program gives students real skills and real confidence. Whether a student goes on to college, a trade career, or military service, he leaves Boys Home with practical experience most of his peers don’t have.
Residential Mentorship
Residential Life Mentors live alongside students and invest in their daily lives. This is not a job that ends at 5 pm. The adults at Boys Home show up consistently, hold students accountable with care, and model what it looks like to be a responsible person.
Leadership Development
Students take on real responsibilities, earn privileges, mentor younger classmates, and grow into young men who make a difference in whatever community they join.
Spiritual Life
Establishing a Strong Foundation
At Boys Home, we believe developing the whole person, mind, body, and spirit, is central to our work. Our spiritual life is grounded in the Episcopal tradition, which values respect for every individual, thoughtful reflection, service to others, and a commitment to living with integrity.
As a member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES), we welcome students from all backgrounds and faith traditions. Each young man is encouraged to explore his own beliefs while learning to respect the perspectives of others.
Through chapel, mentorship, and daily community life, students have time and space to reflect, ask questions, and develop a deeper sense of purpose.
Called to Lead and Serve
We believe leadership begins with service. Students are encouraged to look beyond themselves and contribute to something greater, both within Boys Home and in the world beyond it.
Mission:
To help each student become a successful man by fully developing his spiritual, intellectual, physical, and social potential.
Vision:
A community where every young man discovers what he is capable of.
I wouldn't be here for 10 years if I didn't truly believe in this place and what we do for the kids
Jessica Loisel, Residential Life Mentor 
My job is to get them ready to leave. If I do my job correctly, they're going to be able to leave and be okay.
Kelly Westfall, Residential Life Mentor 
The most important thing is getting students outdoors, getting their hands busy in a constructive way, and helping them take pride in what they can grow and accomplish.
Linda Angle, Farm Manager and Equine Instructor 
My life was shaped by great coaches and mentors who believed in me, challenged me, and helped me grow. I am at Boys Home because I want to provide that same support and encouragement for young men as they discover their potential and build their future.
Head of School Chris Doyle 
I wouldn't be here for 10 years if I didn't truly believe in this place and what we do for the kids
Jessica Hine, Residential Life Mentor
My job is to get them ready to leave. If I do my job correctly, they're going to be able to leave and be okay.
Kelly Westfall, Residential Life Mentor
The most important thing is getting students outdoors, getting their hands busy in a constructive way, and helping them take pride in what they can grow and accomplish.
Linda Angle, Farm Manager and Equine Instructor
The direction of my life was shaped by great coaches, mentors, and teachers who believed in me, challenged me, and helped me grow into the person I am today. I am at Boys Home because I want to provide that same encouragement, structure, and opportunity for young men who need someone to believe in them and help them discover their potential.
Head of School Chris Doyle
Frequently Asked Questions
How Students Join and Grow at Boys Home
Our students come to Boys Home through a thoughtful family decision, often at a time when a young man needs greater structure, support, and a fresh start.
Our admissions process includes an interview, campus visit, and time to get to know each student and his family. Once enrolled, students begin with an orientation period focused on understanding their strengths, setting goals, and building a personalized path for success.
Students live and learn as part of a close-knit residential school community, where they are supported each day by caring adults who provide consistent guidance, accountability, and encouragement.
With small classes and individualized instruction, we meet each student where he is and help him grow academically, socially, and as a young man of character.
Is There a Cost to Attend Boys Home?
Boys Home is a tuition-free residential school serving families with demonstrated financial need. There is no cost for families to attend. Every student receives full scholarship support, ensuring that finances are never a barrier to enrollment.
Come See It for Yourself
The best way to understand Boys Home is to visit. Reach out to us directly and we will set up a time for you to see the campus, meet the staff, and get a real picture of what life here looks like.