The Bolles School

The Bolles School is an independent college preparatory school with an international reputation for excellence. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, the School enrolls more than 1,750 boarding and day students in Pre-Kindergarten through grade 12 on four campuses. Bolles is the place for students to pursue their passions and talents—and discover new ones. It offers the most extensive curriculum for grades PreK to 12 in Northeast Florida, and it connects students to the global community for an even broader perspective.

Established in 1933 as a military school for boys in grades 7-12, Bolles dropped its military affiliation in 1962 and became coeducational in 1971. The independent school is governed by a self perpetuating Board of Trustees. The School's balanced college preparatory program combines academics, offerings in the fine and performing arts, athletics, leadership and service opportunities and activities, and a nationally-known college counseling and guidance program. The boarding program complements the coeducational learning environment. After-school activities abound on each campus providing numerous opportunities and areas of interest for students.

Bolles' lower school opened in 1981 with the first kindergarten class, expanding each year until the full Pre-K through Grade 5 lower school was complete. In 1991, the School acquired the Bartram Campus, formerly the all-girls Bartram School, which allowed for the addition of a separate middle school facility and a girls' boarding section. In addition, Bolles opened a campus in Ponte Vedra Beach in 1999 to serve students from the Beaches area in grades Pre-K through 5.

The School now enrolls more than 1,700 students with the capacity to host 90 boarding students. An ongoing development program has made possible substantial improvements to its physical plant over the years. The Lower School Whitehurst Campus welcomed the addition of the Treehouse Outdoor Learning Center in 2017. George Hall, a 10,800-square-foot gym and multipurpose building, opened on the Lower School Ponte Vedra Beach Campus in 2018. On the Middle School Bartram Campus, additions have included the Conroy Athletic Center in 2003 and Betsy Lovett Arts Center in 2007. The San Jose Campus includes the additions of the the Peyton Boathouse & Rice Family Crew Complex and the Bent Student Center in 2009 and Tarver Pool and Gund Residence Hall for Girls in 2021.

Thank you for investing your time today in what we think is one of the single most important and foundational qualities of the Bolles community – our mission to deliver a Bolles experience that is safe, inclusive and diverse. The School’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts are not just critical to a successful Bolles future. They define us today and set us apart as an institution that adapts to change, embraces multiplicity and recognizes the strength of its unique togetherness. The Bolles School is a community distinguished by its rich differences – we are a dedicated, confident community of:

• Students, faculty and families from all over the world
• People with varied backgrounds and distinct cultural experiences
• And individuals with unique strengths, interests and definitions of themselves.

Student potential is nourished by a superior curriculum with the most extensive program offerings in Northeast Florida for grades Pre-K to 12. Students define their own measure of success through an abundance of extraordinary opportunities, as demonstrated by a long list of esteemed alumni that includes academic scholars, renowned artists and Olympic athletes.

Our beautiful, award-winning campuses are home to a vibrant, global community of contributors who celebrate all beliefs and cultures. And, our highly qualified, nationally recognized educators adhere to their own pledge of dedication to excellence and student life balance.

Safety is paramount in our quest toward what is possible. Students must feel safe in order to embrace their greatest selves. For this reason, students experience unsurpassed safety. Perhaps most important, everyone in the Bolles family commits to The Bolles Way and enlists in the Bolles Honor Code.

This is what we do. Prepare students for college and life. Students here experience better outcomes, more choices and greater possibilities.