High SCHOOL
Sixth Grade is a Year of Transition and Growth
The start of high school marks a pivotal moment in students’ academic and future success. At King, we recognize the significance of these formative years and strive to create an environment that nurtures personal growth, academic excellence, and holistic development.
Our commitment to students extends beyond the classroom, emphasizing a team approach to ease the transition from middle school, a diverse array of offerings to nurture and develop passions, a comprehensive four-year college counseling program, and an unwavering focus on developing skills, academic prowess, and overall wellness.
At King, we believe in empowering students to thrive and succeed in the ever-evolving landscape of higher education and beyond.
| Cultivate Inquiry and Exploration |
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King uses an inquiry-based approach to learning that leverages student curiosity. We encourage students to identify problems, ask complex questions, and seek solutions. In this process, students engage at the deepest level, draw from multiple disciplines, develop a range of skills, and establish a depth of knowledge. This process yields increased academic learning and student engagement. With inquiry-based learning, our students apply 21st-century learning skills to their everyday classwork. They enhance their collaboration, communication, creativity, and digital literacy skills as they explore solutions to real-world problems. |
| Explore All of Your Passions |
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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 to customize their studies while deepening their identities as scholars. There are endless possibilities to pursue passions and interests in the Upper School. |
| College Counseling |
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Starting Early and Planning Ahead With a Tailored Approach Read More about College Counseling: Starting Early and Planning Ahead With a Tailored Approach |
| Graduate With a Certificate of Distinction |
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Certificates of Distinction are entirely elective. They are only appropriate for students who prefer digging deeply into a focused area of study rather than continuing to explore broadly across the curriculum. The result is a wealth of knowledge, enhanced confidence, and refined skills, preparing students for the next stage of their academic journey and the broader world. Distinctions are offered in Art and Design, Global Studies, Leadership, Performing Arts, STEM, and World Languages At King, each student possesses a unique set of interests and questions about the world. For Wafa Nomani ’21, it was a desire to understand the medications her grandparents were taking. Bryce Heaton ’23 sought to deconstruct the essence of leadership. Luisa Simon ’23 was curious about the functionality of wind turbines, and Alexandra Oxenstierna ’23 wondered if art could serve as a tool to overcome obstacles. |
| Co-curriculars, Clubs, and Community Activities |
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Starting Early and Planning Ahead With a Tailored Approach Read More about College Counseling: Starting Early and Planning Ahead With a Tailored Approach |
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 of Greenwich, CT
Embark on Independent Study and Research Opportunities
The programs build on content acquired within King’s curriculum to investigate topics or undertake projects that advance deeper and/or further than King’s formal course offerings. Guided by a mentor(s) from the appropriate academic department(s) - and sometimes by outside experts - students are responsible for the work and research required to master a topic and/or design and implement a project. King offers two distinctive programs, Advanced Science Program for Independent Research and Engineering (ASPIRE) and the Tom Main Fellowship that focuses on liberal arts of major global interest. Students can also complete an indepdent study through a topic of their choosing.
Advanced Science Program for Independent Research and Engineering (ASPIRE) ASPIRE is King School’s elite two-year science research program designed to offer hands-on, high-level experiences to King School’s most promising, top-achieving upper school students to better prepare them for a career in research prior to college.
Students in this program participate in on and off-campus research opportunities where they receive mentoring, training, and guidance while focusing on their research.
Yuriy Sandmeier ’23 Fights Tuberculosis Fueled by Passion
Upper school student and ASPIRE scientist Yuriy Sandmeier ’23 has created a combination therapy to treat tuberculosis (TB) infections, and, until this breakthrough, the disease was resistant to drug treatments. His accomplishment recently earned top marks at the Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair, and the story behind the research is as powerful as the breakthroughs he is generating.