Upper School
The Power of Possibility
At King, our students bring a unique blend of interests and talents to the educational experience. No two journeys are the same. Our schedule allows the flexibility for students to pursue passions and explore new interests. King students have access to a wide range of offerings that allow them customize their studies while deepening their identities as scholars.
King offers a four-year college counseling program. Starting in Grade 9, students are paired with an experienced counselor who guides the college preparatory journey. Students work with their counselors, teachers, and families to shape their curricular and co-curricular strategies, prepare for standardized tests, identify the right list of colleges, complete applications and make the right selection.
King's Upper School emphasizes self-knowledge, expansive learning, and courageous thinking — the very qualities that lead to happy and healthy lives filled with possibility.
Upper School Students Emphasize Courageous Learning
Inquiry-based learning can be found throughout the Upper School.
The Advanced Science Program for Independent Research and Engineering (ASPIRE) places students in internships at the most prestigious labs in the country. Our Leadership program provides students with opportunities to interact with school administrators to make improvements to the King community. We have ongoing assessment and instruction meetings for faculty in which we focus on teaching practices and student assessments that bolster our inquiry-based approach in real time. The Upper School is rich with clubs, including the Math Team, Model UN, and the Odyssey of the Mind, all of which emphasize inquiry and research. Our interdisciplinary electives further extend the possibilities available to our students.
Everything in the inquiry-based approach to learning in the King Upper School cultivates curiosity and fosters self-discovery.
At King, we emphasize that an excellent education takes students where they want to go. We also believe that courage and compassion are essential components in the search for purpose, a key element of a King education. Our students support one another as they begin to bring their ambitions into sharper focus and work to achieve their goals, cheered on by the whole community.Marnie Sadlowsky, Head of Upper School
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Upper School in Action
Six students and nine faculty and staff members traveled to St. Louis, Missouri, to attend the annual National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) People of Color Conference (PoCC) and Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) from Wednesday, November 29 - Saturday, December 2.
Students from King School’s Model UN club traveled to Brown University in November to compete in the Brown University Simulation of the United Nations (BUSUN). The group of 18 students expertly argued their positions with a high level of sophistication and knowledge over the weekend of intense debate, lobbying, caucusing, and resolution writing and sponsoring with students from across the country and the world.
King students, parents, faculty, staff, and families interested in King School’s approach to science packed the Performing Arts Center on Thursday, November 16, for King’s second annual Science Research Night. The evening event was a testament to King’s commitment to inquiry-based learning and showcased the high level of scientific research students engage in each year.
Six King students attended this year's Girls Advancing In STEM (GAINS) conference at the University of Chicago earlier this month. Accompanied by Director of Science Research Victoria Schulman, the students attended panel discussions, took STEM tours, and met and networked with role models from various fields.
Members of the King School community and the Global Citizens Initiative (GCI) celebrated the organizations' long-standing partnership, during a special event on Wednesday, November 8. King was formally recognized as one of GCI's select partner schools during the celebration where faculty, students, and alumni spoke of the program's impact on fostering deep connections and a sense of global citizenship. The partnership reflects both organizations' commitment to developing global leaders and creating a meaningful global education experience.
The King Model UN Club welcomed students from Rye Country Day School and St. Luke’s School for a Model UN conference on Sunday, October 29. The exciting event, organized and run by the club, sets the stage for the upcoming collegiate competition this month at Brown University.
Upper School Art Teacher Corina Alvarezdelugo was recently named the 2023 Connecticut Outstanding Art Educator of the Year by the Connecticut Art Education Association (CAEA), a professional organization which represents the art teachers of the state. Alvarezdelugo earned the recognition for her work cultivating artistic growth and critical thought in her students by offering a multidimensional and rich multicultural curriculum.
This week, “The Morning Show” returned with a teaser for the second season of the episodic, student-produced series on Tuesday, October 10. The show was created by Connor Neary ’25. Previous productions included athletic highlight reels, a promotional video for the King 5K, short student and teacher interviews, and a podcast. Connor expanded the show this year by creating a club to support the production. “The Morning Show” Club allows more students to contribute ideas and segments.
Thank you to King upper school students Spencer Neckritz ’24, Grant Dietz ’24, Chase Phillips ’24, Rafe Reinstein ’24, Varun Bennabattula '26, AJ Mahadeva ’26, Kyle Kipnes ’24, and Nathan Trepanier ’24 for their insightful King Talk on Wednesday, October 4. The students spoke about their experience abroad this summer during the Global Education program’s Sustainability in Japan trip.