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.
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
King School was swept up in the Roaring Twenties last week when upper school students brought “The Drowsy Chaperone” to the stage in the annual musical. The show was a resounding success, not only for its fabulous performances but for the collaboration and grit students demonstrated in producing it.
Math classrooms in the Lower School and Middle School were buzzing with excitement – not just the students, but the teachers too! That's what happened at King School recently when Susan Resnick, the mastermind behind the popular "Math in Focus: Singapore Math" curriculum, came to visit.
King School’s Advanced Science Program for Independent Research and Engineering (ASPIRE) students are on a winning streak, having earned accolades at the Connecticut STEM Fair and recognition at the Connecticut Junior Science & Humanities Symposium (CT-JSHS). Their success in these competitions bolsters the depth and breadth of the school’s success in fostering intellectual growth through curiosity and research.
A group of ninth grade students showed off their mathematics prowess at the "Girls in Math 2024" competition held at Yale University on Saturday, February 24. The event offered a stimulating experience filled with challenging problem-solving activities, insightful discussions with current Yale students, and a captivating presentation from Yale Computer Science professor, Dr. Holly Rushmeier.
Over the course of the year, upper school students in Spanish 501 tackled the complexities of Latin American immigration to the United States. In a recent lesson, students gained a more nuanced understanding of the socio-political dynamics surrounding immigration while learning the pertinent terminology in Spanish, before presenting their topic to teacher Margherita Farrell. The assignment was a perfect example of cross-disciplinary, inquiry-based teaching and learning.
Curious about the ocean's depths or the ethical dilemmas of scientific advancements? King School has launched two new science courses: Marine Biology and Bioethics.
Upper school science teachers Jay Hill and Benjamin Lovewell bring fluency in bioethics and marine biology to the science department. Their knowledge sparked conversations with students that led to more interest. The teachers worked with the Chair of the Science Department, Nicholas DeFelice, to create the new courses.
During Black History Month, the Black Student Union (BSU) and advisors recommended initiatives for the Upper School to celebrate Black excellence. This week, students learned about Black history through the lens of hip-hop culture with an informative King Talk from Staff Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Coordinator and BSU Advisor Lakeya Newton.
After successfully completing King School's most challenging psychology course, a group of juniors found themselves wanting more. Determined to delve deeper, they approached their psychology teacher, Paul Snyder, with a bold proposition: an independent study that would push them beyond the existing curriculum.
Following their intellectual spark, the students embarked on a journey of deeper exploration and self-directed learning, tackling fascinating topics such as the mysteries of insomnia, the intricacies of obsessive-compulsive disorder, and the persuasive power of propaganda.
This week, French 300 Honors students presented "Chez Soi," a project that merged language and art to explore life in a French community. Students addressed questions about where francophone people live by examining culture, language, and lifestyle. Honoring the name of the project, “Chez Soi,” which translates into “At home,” students chose homes in francophone countries, comparing French and American life, and created models showcasing their cultural insights and artistic skills.