Built on principle. Led by purpose. Simplicity of Life, Directness of Purpose, and Self-Reliance. These are the three principles upon which Father Frederick
Sill founded Kent School in 1906. The Episcopalian monk had $300, a handful of students, and a conviction that a school built on moral character could change a young person’s life. These values have taken on different meanings through the years, infused into lessons taught within classrooms in the broadest sense of the word. Today, Father Sill’s Motto guides a more holistic Mission for the School.
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MISSION We are guided by our Motto—
Simplicity of Life, Directness of Purpose, Self-Reliance—to educate our students intellectually, socially, ethically, and
spiritually so that they will be prepared to contribute to the common good in the world beyond Kent School.
MISSION & MOTTO
MOTTO SIMPLICITY OF LIFE is the practice of clearing away distractions and excess, creating space for what truly matters, including thoughtful learning, meaningful relationships, personal growth, and quiet reflection.
DIRECTNESS OF PURPOSE is honing a steady, intentional focus on what matters most, following curiosity, channeling energy, and committing fully to the pursuit of passions.
SELF-RELIANCE is confidence in personal ability paired with the discipline to follow through. It manifests as independence, resilience in the face of challenges, and the courage to stand up for deeply held beliefs.
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Kent School is a special kind of place.
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Emphasis on “kind.” 5
An education that shapes character as much as intellect. CORE COMPETENCIES Active Empathy
Servant Leadership
Critical & Creative Thinking Effective Communication Engaged Citizenship
The core competencies are the heart of a Kent education. Students grow as people and scholars by strengthening
these life skills in all types of classrooms and social settings across campus. Most notably, our signature Community
Learning curriculum ensures that developing the Kent kind of character isn’t just an aspiration—it’s something every student actively works to grow into.
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CORE COMPETENCIES
“Community Learning courses focus on character development, well-being, and self-awareness while creating opportunities for servant leadership throughout a student’s time at Kent.” – Dale Reinhardt, Dean of Community Life 7
An academic program that grows with every student. Challenge, choice, and guidance at every step.
At Kent, students take an active role in their own learning. With a broad and challenging curriculum, opportunities to pursue advanced work, and the close guidance of teachers and advisors who know them well, students can explore new interests, build on their strengths, and discover areas they want to pursue more deeply. It’s an approach that combines challenge with choice and guidance with growing independence, helping students become confident, curious, and self-reliant learners.
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ACADEMICS
We love how we learn. ACADEMIC RESOURCE CENTER Learning at Kent is both challenging and supported.
Beyond faculty guidance, conference periods, peer tutoring, and math and writing labs, every student has access to the Academic Resource Center for individualized help, study strategies, and course support.
We learn what we love. ADVANCED STUDIES For students eager to go deeper into a subject they love,
Advanced Studies emphasizes depth over breadth. Students pursue focused inquiry, develop advanced mastery, and create a substantial body of work in their chosen area.
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210
1 in 2
50+
Academic Departments
Students Enroll in Advanced Studies Courses
Electives
Advanced Studies Diploma Candidates Per Year
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The sooner they begin, the further they can go. At Kent, College Counseling starts early, creating a foundation for the years ahead. Students begin setting meaningful goals in their Third Form (Freshman) year, and in the Fourth Form, they are paired with a dedicated college counselor. That early start gives counselors time to build trusting relationships well before applications are submitted. College Counseling is part of a broader commitment to helping students develop a sense of purpose and direction. Through Community Learning classes, Chapel Talks, and leadership opportunities across campus life, students are encouraged to grow into thoughtful, capable adults prepared for what comes next.
Read more about what
to expect from the College Counseling experience: 10
COLLEGE COUNSELING
Our process is as unique as our students. Each year, college counselors partner closely with students to build a personalized plan that reflects their goals and strengths. With an exceptionally low student-to-counselor ratio, every student benefits from individualized guidance from counselors who take the time to know them well. The goal isn’t simply to help students gain admission to outstanding colleges; it’s to help them find a college where they will thrive.
We help students achieve their goals, including admission into their first-choice colleges. For many, those schools include: Amherst College Boston College Bowdoin College Brown University Columbia University Cornell University Dartmouth College Georgetown University Harvard University
Johns Hopkins University Massachusetts Institute of Technology
University of California, Los Angeles
Access the
full list here:
University of Chicago
Northwestern University
University of Michigan
Princeton University
University of North Carolina
Stanford University
University of Pennsylvania
Swarthmore College
Vanderbilt University
Tufts University
Williams College
United States Naval Academy
Yale University 11
We are a school
with a soul. 12
CHAPEL
ST. JOSEPH’S CHAPEL St. Joseph’s Chapel embodies the spirit of campus, a space where our community gathers twice a week for reflection, connection, and celebration. Rooted in the Episcopal tradition of radical welcome, Chapel brings students together across the spectrum of belief and experience, strengthening their sense of belonging and shared purpose. Here, students engage with big questions, share lessons with one another, and explore how their own perspectives and beliefs take shape. For many, it also offers something quieter: a valued moment within the rhythm of their week to pause, reflect, and reset.
There’s a warmth to the Kent spirit. It greets you before
you even check in at the Admissions Office. While the people drawn to this place tend to be inherently kind, that sense of connection isn’t coincidental—it’s the result of a daily, intentional practice woven into the
spaces where students gather, reflect, lead, and grow. At the center of that practice is Chapel, where Kent’s values move beyond abstraction and begin to take hold as lived experience.
“When a student takes a risk, the soul, love, and compassion of this community are there to hold them.” – The Rev. Dr. Kate Kelderman, Dean of St. Joseph’s Chapel
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Kindness is our culture. At Kent, kindness is more than a value—it’s
something that is intentionally cultivated every day. Community Life is a defining part of that experience,
bringing together programs, traditions, and everyday moments that help students learn to lead with empathy, care for others, and contribute to something larger than themselves. From the day students arrive on campus, they begin building leadership skills, practices that support their well-being, civic responsibility, a commitment to community service, and the habits of living in community. Those lessons are reinforced through Kent’s Community Learning, Residential Life, Wellness, Community Service, and Equity & Inclusion programs, as well as through the everyday experience of living, learning, and growing together. Across their years at Kent, students are supported in becoming more self-aware, more thoughtful, and more responsible members of the community, carrying these lessons into every part of life.
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COMMUNITY LIFE
“Caring is cool here. Commitment and effort are expected, and they carry into everything—academics, athletics, friendships, and community life.” – Dennis Z., Student
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An exercise in competition and community. At Kent, we invest energy and focus in developing the best people, not simply the best athletes. Kent students thrive in athletics because they’ve learned to succeed anywhere. They work hard toward goals, learn to support one another, find lessons in losses, and win as part of a larger team. Grounded in the core values of integrity, competitiveness, and joy, our program reflects a longstanding commitment to purposeful, values-driven development and a strong sense of community. That commitment takes shape in a highly competitive environment. Kent is part of one of the most respected leagues in the country, the Founders League, where athletes at every level are challenged to grow, from those trying a sport for the first time to those aspiring to compete at the collegiate level and beyond. At Kent School, athletic spaces serve as classrooms where students grow not only in skill but in character.
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ATHLETICS
18
Total Sports
54
13
Boys Sports
Interscholastic Teams
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Girls Sports
2
Co-Ed Teams (Equestrian & Mountain Biking) 17
DANCE Kent’s Dance program offers training in ballet, pointe, hip hop, tap, and contemporary styles. Students build
technique, confidence, and performance skills through
recitals, showcases, and student-choreographed works. Movement-based electives also invite students of all backgrounds to engage with dance in new ways.
Creativity comes to life at Kent. 18
PERFORMING & VISUAL ARTS
VISUAL ARTS Kent’s Visual Arts program spans drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, film, graphic design, and fashion design. Students develop foundational skills and personal creative voice through studio-based learning, exhibitions in the Walkway Gallery, and select off-campus experiences, including visits to institutions such as The Costume Institute at the Met. Across disciplines, students are encouraged to experiment, refine technique, and build confidence in their artistic practice.
THEATRE Students participate in all aspects of theatre as actors, directors, and technical artists. The program includes a fall play, winter one-acts (often student-created), and a spring musical, along with opportunities in improvisation, theatre club, and technical theatre. Visiting professionals and faculty mentorship deepen learning throughout the year.
MUSIC The Center for Music Studies supports students at every stage of their musical journey through ensembles, private instruction, and academic coursework. Students develop skills in performance, theory, history, and production in a collaborative environment that emphasizes creativity and growth. 19
Every student deserves to feel at home here. Kent’s residential life culture ensures that every student feels valued and welcomed in and outside the dorms. It is a community built on care, connection, and accountability. During the academic day, study hall periods, and throughout the school year, dorms at Kent provide space for students to build community with friends, classmates, and faculty, while learning to live alongside one another.
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6
5
Dorms
Faculty Residents
10%
90%
Day Students
Per Dorm
Boarding Students
RESIDENTIAL LIFE
STUDENT LIFE & DOWNTIME Life at Kent extends beyond the academic day, offering moments for connection, energy, and fun alongside a full schedule of classes, athletics, and commitments. Organized by our student-run activity group and student leaders, campus life activities include campus traditions, seasonal events, and informal gatherings that create space for both celebration and downtime. These experiences give students opportunities to step back from structure, build friendships, and enjoy being part of a close-knit, engaged community.
DORM PREFECTS & FACULTY Student Dorm Prefects set a positive tone, working alongside faculty to maintain safe, respectful, and nurturing dorms while upholding the integrity of residential life at Kent. Dorm faculty embrace their roles as educators, mentors, confidants, and trusted adults who deeply care about the well-being of students.
DAY STUDENTS Day students at Kent are fully immersed in campus life, enjoying access to all facilities, meals, and a diverse schedule of evening and weekend activities. With dedicated dorm affiliations, personalized study spaces, and the option to stay overnight once a week, day students enjoy the best of both worlds.
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The School loves the town. Kent’s campus sits in a valley between the
breakfast on a Sunday morning, settling into a
setting that shapes daily life as much as it frames
friends and neighbors. In a place as welcoming
Appalachian Trail and the Housatonic River, a
it. Just across the river, the town of Kent offers a walkable mix of restaurants, cafés, galleries, shops, and everyday essentials—a natural
extension of campus life. Students move easily
between the two. They head into town between classes, on weekends, or after school, grabbing
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favorite coffee spot to study, or connecting with as it is vibrant, students learn to navigate the
world beyond campus with confidence and ease. Few boarding schools offer this kind of access
to a true New England town. At Kent, it’s part of
the rhythm of daily life, and part of how students grow into themselves.
TOWNOF OFKENT KENT TOWN
The town loves the School. “We are preparing students for a world where they understand what it means to be part of a community.” – Shaquille Brown-Butler, Director of Equity & Inclusion and International Student Coordinator
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1 Macedonia Road
Admissions Office
Kent, CT 06757
860-927-6111
kent-school.edu
admissions@kent-school.edu
FIND YOUR PLACE AT KENT.