School Facts

• Established in 1933
• Enrollment of approximately 1,700 co-ed students in grades PreK-12 on four campuses
• Bolles classes stay small—allowing no more than 12-15 students in some upper school classes and, often, as low as eight in other classes, depending on the subject
• Bolles offers courses in five languages (including Chinese and Japanese) and 22 Advanced Placement Courses
• Bolles offers exchange programs with schools in Spain, Japan, China, and France
• Of Bolles’ faculty members, 10 hold doctoral degrees and 91 hold master's degrees.
• Fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Southern Association of Independent Schools, Florida Council for Independent Schools, and Florida Kindergarten Council
• Memberships in the National Association of Independent Schools, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and the Florida High School Athletic Association, among others
• The School is recognized locally by the Jacksonville Historical Society and the City of Jacksonville and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places
• Bolles graduates matriculate to several of the top-ranked colleges and universities in the country
• Bolles graduates consistently place in the top 10% of Advanced Placement scores achieved throughout the country
• Since 2007, 44 Bolles students have been named National Merit Finalists with 17 of those students earning National Merit Scholarships for their success on the PSAT
• Bolles’ athletic program has received the FHSAA All-Sports Award for 18 of the last 19 years
• As of January 2014, Bolles teams have claimed 110 state titles and 78 state runner-up finishes in 17 different sports
• Approximately 85% of our students participate in over 100 performances and gallery openings within the Fine and Performing Arts Department each year
• 41 Sports Teams—the student body regularly approaches or exceeds 90% participation in one or more sport
• 85 Clubs and Activities offered in Upper School
• Bolles students are actively involved in the local community and host or provide countless community service hours and events each year. Since 2007, Bolles upper school students have contributed  more than $123,000 to numerous charities

 

Accreditations, Memberships, and Recognitions

Fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Southern Association of Independent Schools, Florida Council for Independent Schools, and Florida Kindergarten Council

• Memberships in the National Association of Independent Schools, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and the Florida High School Athletic Association, among others
• The School is recognized locally by the Jacksonville Historical Society and the City of Jacksonville and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places

 

Achievements

Bolles graduates matriculate to several of the top-ranked colleges and universities in the country

• Bolles graduates consistently place in the top 10% of Advanced Placement scores achieved throughout the country
• Since 2007, 44 Bolles students have been named National Merit Finalists with 17 of those students earning National Merit Scholarships for their success on the PSAT
• Bolles’ athletic program has received the FHSAA All-Sports Award for 18 of the last 19 years
• As of January 2014, Bolles teams have claimed 110 state titles and 78 state runner-up finishes in 17 different sports

 

Student Life

Approximately 85% of our students participate in over 100 performances and gallery openings within the Fine and Performing Arts Department each year

• 41 Sports Teams—the student body regularly approaches or exceeds 90% participation in one or more sport
• 85 Clubs and Activities offered in Upper School
• Bolles students are actively involved in the local community and host or provide countless community service hours and events each year. Since 2007, Bolles upper school students have contributed  more than $123,000 to numerous charities

 

Academics

The Bolles School has maintained a tradition of excellence in a well-rounded educational experience. Bolles challenges students and faculty alike to reach for all things possible, take pride in their achievements, and celebrate their successes. An independent college preparatory school with an international reach, the School enrolls more than 1,700 boarding and day students from more than 23 countries in Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 on four campuses. Bolles provides an unequaled breadth of opportunities and experiences which enable every student to optimize his or her unique interests, abilities, and talents.

• Bolles has 10 professional staff employees who hold doctorate degrees and 91 who hold master degrees.
• Fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Southern Association of Independent Schools, Florida Council for Independent Schools, and Florida Kindergarten Council
• Memberships in the National Association of Independent Schools, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and the Florida High School Athletic Association, among others

 

Fine and Performing Arts

Bolles offers a dynamic and comprehensive program in the fine and performing arts as part of a complete education for students in every grade level. Disciplines include dance, drama, instrumental music, vocal music, and visual arts through academic classes and extracurricular activities. Bolles students are given the opportunity to not only express themselves, but also discover all things possible through the arts.

• Approximately 85% of the Bolles student body participates in over 100 performances and gallery shows within the fine and performing arts department each year.
• Bolles fine and performing arts facilities are second to none. On the Bolles Middle School Bartram Campus, the Betsy Lovett Center for the Arts includes Parker Auditorium and the Murchison-Lane Gallery. The Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus is enriched by the McGehee Auditorium, Lynch Theatre and the Cindy and Jay Stein Fine Arts Center, which includes Gooding Gallery and the Independent Life Music Building. Ponte Vedra Hall provides flexible space for school gatherings and events, and is an outstanding venue for student performances and shows.

 

Athletics

The internationally recognized athletic program at Bolles provides students in middle and upper school the opportunity to learn, grow, and develop into well-rounded individuals.  Participation and comraderie are as important as competition and success in the overall educational aspect of the athletic program.  While Bolles teams and athletes are often recognized for outstanding achievements and results on the field, the important lessons of leadership, self-discipline, and teamwork  are the lasting rewards possible through athletic involvement at the School. With over 50 teams at the middle, junior varsity, and varsity levels, Bolles offers a full complement of athletic opportunities.  The student body regularly approaches or exceeds 90% participation in one or more sports.

• The Bolles School athletic program has been recognized by several organizations as one of the best in the nation. In 2009, ESPN RISE ranked Bolles as the #1 boys’ athletic program in the country andMaxPreps named Bolles the third best overall athletic program nationally in the same year. In 2005,Sports Illustrated ranked Bolles as the ninth best athletic program out of 38,000 high schools in the nation over the previous 10 years.
• In Florida, Bolles continues to earn recognition as the best in its classification year in and year out, earning an All-Sports award for the 31st year in 2011. Bolles won the Florida High School Athletic Association’s Sunshine Cup for the 16th year in 2011, earning the award for 11 consecutive years from 1995-2005 and again from 2007-11. Bolles also claimed the Florida Athletic Coaches Association’s Carey E. McDonald All-Sports Award for 26 consecutive years, beginning in 1980 until the FACA stopped awarding the trophy in 2005.
• Bolles teams have won a total of 98 team state titles in 15 different sports, along with 73 state runner-up finishes
• Bolles teams have ranked among the best in the nation highlighted by nine national titles and a national runner-up finish in girls’ swimming and five national titles and national runner-up finishes in boys’ swimming
• Bolles football coach Corky Rogers holds the most state titles (9) and wins (398) among high school football coaches in Florida history

 

Activities

At Bolles, students understand the importance of giving back and getting involved in a purpose. They are involved because they want to help, not because it is a school requirement. From local nonprofit groups to individual student clubs, Bolles students, along with parents, faculty, and alumni, make helping others a priority. With a boarding program representing several states and as many as 23 countries, Bolles literally brings the world to its campuses. As such, Bolles students are globally minded. This is reflected in the local and international causes they study and support, in their classrooom discussions and in their freidnships with one another. These experiences are not only mutually rewarding for students, but they further enhance students' educational opportunities. Each student who attends Bolles is immeasurably enriched by an abundance of experiences. Through academics, arts, athletics, community service, and more, Bolles truly emulates the School’s All Things Possible mindset.

 

Boarding at Bolles

The Bolles School is home-away-from-home for more than 90 boarding students in middle and upper school from all over the world.  Students immersed in this culturally diverse environment learn self-discipline, respect for others, and cooperation. The San Jose Campus features comfortable residence halls for 60 male students, along with apartments for resident staff members and their families.  The Bartram Campus is home to approximately 30 female boarders, along with resident staff members and their families, nestled in a picturesque wooded setting along Pottsburg Creek.  Shuttle buses transport middle school male boarding students to the Bartram Campus and female boarding students to the San Jose Campus for school and other activities.  Boarding students at both campuses get the guidance and discipline they would at home, as well as familial intimacy.  In addition, the Resident Ambassador Program (R.A.P.) pairs boarding students with Bolles families living off-campus, giving them the chance to form strong bonds while they’re away from home.