About KING
King School is home to courageous thinkers, the inquisitive, the explorers, the imaginative, and to those who seek to find their own path.
We unlock the power of wonder. It begins with students becoming agents in their own learning. When students explore, question, and make connections, and teachers create these moments of discovery, students are truly learning. This is what King students experience at every grade level and in every discipline.
From the wide variety of active, immersive learning experiences to intentional efforts to reach each and every child, King students embrace learning in a diverse community where multiple backgrounds and perspectives are celebrated.
By the time they graduate, students didn’t just learn, they learned how to learn. King graduates leave school full of possibility – ready to succeed and better prepared to better the world.
King School MissionKing School prepares students to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Our students are immersed in an engaging and innovative curriculum anchored in an inquiry-based approach that fosters curiosity, intellectual growth, and character development. At King, individual accomplishment complements a deep sense of belonging. We embrace diversity in all its forms, nurturing every student to learn and grow in a collaborative and supportive community. Guided by dedicated educators and a commitment to academic excellence, King students become invested in their journey, develop a lifelong love of learning, and are well-equipped to succeed in college and beyond. They graduate with a global mindset, a strong sense of social responsibility, and the confidence to pursue lives of purpose. |
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King School VirtuesIntegrity: Being honest and accountable to our shared principles. Kindness: Treating others with empathy and compassion. Perseverance: Pursuing excellence with a focus on growth and improvement in the face of challenges. Respect: Treating every person with dignity through our words and actions. |
King School History
King is the convergence of three founding schools -- Low-Heywood, King, and Thomas -- that, from the beginning, shared similar educational missions. The oldest of the schools, Low-Heywood, was founded by Mrs. C.E. Richardson in 1865 and was located in downtown Stamford. In 1883, Miss Louisa Low purchased Mrs. Richardson’s School for Girls. Her niece, Miss Edith Heywood, was her assistant.
In 1875, Hiram King, a Dartmouth graduate, was asked by several local families to form a private boys' school. King School was also located in downtown Stamford and had several homes before settling on Colonial Road in 1933. Twenty-five years later, the school building burned to the ground and was relocated to a replacement building. Five years later, the King School moved to the Simon Estate, the summer home of singer/songwriter Carly Simon's family.
In the meantime, the Low-Heywood School was forced to move from its downtown location to Shippan Point to make way for the main Post Office building. The School was successful, but in 1944, the heirs of Miss Louisa Low and Miss Edith Heywood sold the property on which the school was located. Within a month of the sale, the school relocated to Judge Lockwood’s estate on Courtland Avenue, and in 1969, finally settled into the Walker estate adjacent to the King School on Newfield Avenue.
While all this was happening in Stamford, a few miles away in Rowayton, Miss Mabel Thomas created a school on her parents' summer estate. Opening in 1922, the Thomas School was intended to be both a day and boarding school. According to a story in The Norwalk Hour, the school would offer “lessons in the morning and after a wholesome hot dinner, there will be games and sports in the afternoons, both indoor and outdoor, under the supervision of a physical director.”
In 1974, the neighboring Low-Heywood and King schools began coordinating their educational and co-curricular programs in the Upper Schools. In 1975, the Thomas School merged with the Low-Heywood School at the latter’s Newfield Avenue campus.
Both the King School and Low-Heywood Thomas School maintained individual identities until 1988, when the King & Low-Heywood Thomas School was formed as a coeducational school. The Lower School and Middle School were located on the former King (South) Campus, while the Upper School took over the former Low-Heywood Thomas (North) Campus.
In 2008, the School unveiled a new visual identity. In addition to creating an updated look for its logo and seal, the School streamlined its formal name to King Low Heywood Thomas and started referring to the School as King. In 2016, the School completed its brand refresh and shortened its name to King School. Its nickname remained as King.
The King School Book
To celebrate King's sesquicentennial anniversary, King School released a hardcover book outlining King's unique history as the convergence of three distinct independent schools. The book, dedicated to the thousands of students, exceptional faculty, generous donors, and board members who have graced our hallways over the past 150 years, highlights King's commitment to academic excellence. If you would like more information about obtaining a copy, please contact our development office at giving@kingschoolct.org.
Explore King School
| Inquiry-Based Learning |
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Our students develop a research mindset and apply that approach to all subject matters. From discovering the world around them in Prekindergarten to crafting complex and multidisciplinary senior projects, King students embrace learning through discovery, exploration, and hands-on experiences. Every aspect of the King experience prioritizes and optimizes engagement — from the wide variety of active, immersive learning experiences to intentional efforts to reach each and every student. True engagement at King is the entire community’s commitment to excellence in learning. |
| Inspiring Educators |
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Teachers take the time to truly know each child — not just as a learner, but as an individual with unique passions, strengths, and potential. With small class sizes and a student-centered approach, our teachers create learning experiences that nurture each child's curiosity, build confidence, and inspire growth. King teachers ensure every child is encouraged and supported in their journey to thrive both academically and personally. |
| Global Perspectives |
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Learning occurs in the classroom and far beyond our campus. Through an expansive, interdisciplinary curriculum, students develop their understanding of the world, gaining the global competencies they’ll need to thrive in this interconnected world. |
| Endless Possibilities |
| A robust selection of academic, athletic, artistic, and service programs allows students to pursue an education that develops core subject mastery as well as individual interests and talents. |
| Welcoming Community |
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A community that celebrates multiple backgrounds and perspectives. We learn from one another and become stronger together. Our students come from 40 different towns like Stamford, Greenwich, New Canaan, Darien, Norwalk, Pound Ridge and more. We are a global community with more than 70 countries represented. There is no one type of student at King. Our students have multiple interests and our school offers opportunities to explore them. |
| Preparation for a Changing World |
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By the time they graduate, our students have more than learned, they learned how to learn. The world is rapidly changing, but King graduates will be ready! King students attend some of the top colleges and universities in the country. The world is rapidly changing; we might not know what the future will bring, but we know our graduates will be ready – ready to succeed and better prepared to better the world! |
King has helped me pursue and explore new passions in numerous ways. Pursuing the global studies distinction, I did a research capstone project junior year that piqued my interest in the study of the world. With the competitive yet inclusive spirit of King athletics, I was able to compete in field hockey games and tournaments alongside close friends. King's wide variety of opportunities has allowed me to explore and find new interests in order to develop both academically and athletically.
Elizabeth ’23