South Kent School


South Kent School, a private all-boys boarding school in South Kent, Connecticut, United States, is located on a campus in western Litchfield County. It is sited on Spooner Hill east of Bull's Bridge, overlooking the former Housatonic Valley rail-line, Hatch Pond, and the 'whistle-stop' South Kent station, and is itself overlooked by Bull Mountain.
South Kent has been ranked as the 42nd best private high school in Connecticut due to its curriculum, diversity, sporting achievements, and college placement record.
From its inception, South Kent School was intended to offer a service-oriented education "at minimum cost for boys of ability and character, who presumably on graduation must be self-supporting." Its motto is "Simplicity of life, Self-reliance, and Directness of purpose".

History

The hamlet of South Kent began in the mid-1700s on the "main road over Spooner Hill to Bull’s Bridge", where an important iron foundry had been established by Jacob Bull. By 1800, an ironworks and forge were also set up near the outlet from Hatch Pond; but when the railroad came up the valley in the 1840s, more efficient competition would shutter the Connecticut foundry industry. By 1920, the township of Kent's population was reduced to half its pre-Revolution level, and farm properties were to be had inexpensively.
The school was founded in 1923 as a joint venture between Reverend Frederick Herbert Sill, headmaster of Kent School, and two of his recent graduates, Samuel Slater Bartlett and Richard M. Cuyler. The Straight farm was purchased from members of the Judd family, and additions to the farmhouse were made to house a chapel, twenty-four students, and faculty. From the start, students provided labor for daily cleaning and maintenance, as well as for unskilled construction. Over the years a number of buildings were added on the Straight property, and additional acreage acquired. Most recently, the defunct farm on the north end of Hatch Pond was purchased.
Bartlett was followed as headmaster by conservationist L. Wynne Wister, then George M. Bartlett through 1989. Noble Richards '49 was headmaster until 2000, then John C. Farr '58, who retired in 2003, followed by Andrew J. Vadnais through 2018. South Kent School's current Head of School is Lawrence A. Smith '73.

Students

Enrollment at the beginning of the 2017–18 school year was 170 young men from around the world in four "forms". Foreign students from more than twenty nations, and U.S. students from across America are represented.

Academics

South Kent is a college-preparatory school; it is intended that every student continue his education at a higher-level institution.
In 2017–18 the school has 35 faculty who offer 48 courses in 2 primary divisions, Math/Science and Humanities. The school year is divided into three terms: fall, winter, and spring. Students normally enroll in five major academic courses each term. Accelerated courses, including advanced placement, are offered in more than a dozen subjects.
To graduate, a student must earn a minimum of 18 credits, which include:
The South Kent chapter of the Cum Laude Society annually considers the academic achievements of sixth-form students for election to membership.

English as a second language

ESL is a program for international students to improve and/or reinforce skills in written and oral English. The focus is on structure, comprehension and conversation. In recent years nearly half of South Kent graduates have been non-native English speakers.

Center for Innovation

Due in part to its rural setting, the school has established a learning track focused on environmental management and entrepreneurship. Technologies range from historic architecture and building techniques to robotics and software design.
. Students routinely interact with farm animals, engage in sustainable practice, and perform stewardship projects.

Student life

Students live in eight dormitories supervised by upper-formers; each dorm building has a resident faculty member or family. All meals are eaten in the school dining hall: a breakfast buffet, family-style lunch shared with faculty where seating is assigned to ensure all students and faculty have an opportunity to engage, weekly formal dinners. An on-campus health center provides 24-hour medical and infirmary services; on-line medical records enable access to every student's family.
Student leadership is developed with form councils, dorm supervisors, team captaincies, and prefects.
St. Michaels' Chapel holds daily Episcopal services. Students of all faiths are expected to attend the all-school services several times a week, but are not expected to disengage from their own faith; arrangements are made to provide access to other services.

Athletics

In common with many boys' boarding schools, every student must participate in a "fitness-oriented athletic offering" at least two seasons of the year. Sports include baseball, basketball, crew, golf, ice hockey, lacrosse, running, soccer, and tennis. Football was not offered after the 2009–2010 school year. Competition is available at a variety of levels, so students can be serious about their activities. At the same time, a number of boys attend the school each year preparing for a life as a professional athlete.
Facilities available to students include The Admiral James & Sybil Stockdale Arena, the Joseph J. Brown gymnasium, the Alumni Boathouse on Hatch Pond for rowing, the Anne H. Funnell cross-country trail, the hard court tennis courts, a weight-training facility, numerous athletics fields, and the adjacent Tom Fazio-designed Bulls Bridge Golf Club.
A strong intramural tradition assigns each student to a Cardinal or Black club; athletic, academic, and games events throughout the year accrue points for the annual award of a Cardinal/Black Cup. Students are also encouraged to participate in non-organized athletic activity: skiing, hiking, swimming.

Notable alumni

A number of notable people attended South Kent but graduated elsewhere; among them Nik Stauskas and Dion Waiters. Celebrity tattoo artist Keith "Bang Bang" McCurdy was twice expelled from the school, but was later awarded an honorary diploma.

Accreditation and association memberships

South Kent School is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and has held membership in District III of the Cum Laude Society for more than eighty years.
South Kent competes athletically as a member of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council and the Hudson Valley Athletic League, and adheres to all league guidelines. Students have the opportunity to participate in post-season tournaments and compete for league and New England titles.
The school also maintains membership in the National Association of Independent Schools, the National Association of Episcopal Schools, the Secondary School Admission Test Board, the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools, The Association of Boarding Schools, the International Coalition of Boys Schools and the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

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