Kents Hill School
Overview

Located on a beautiful 400-acre campus in central Maine, Kents Hill School is an independent, coeducational boarding and day school grades 9-PG attracting 225 students from 21 states and 28 countries. For close to 200 years, Kents Hill has been dedicated to providing transformative experiences rooted in the power of community, character, and core values. Through a broad curriculum of academics, arts, athletics, and leadership development, our students make our school - and the world - a better place. At Kents Hill, a student’s success is not measured solely by test scores or college acceptances, but by the relationships that they build and the opportunities that they have to experience, develop, and live by a set of core values. Our 4D Academic Curriculum focuses on the individual and supporting young people in reaching their fullest potential. Illustrative of this commitment is our robust Learning Skills Program, where teachers trained in academic coaching deliver personal, empathetic, and innovative learning experiences.




Academics
Summary: The Kents Hill School curriculum offers over 100 courses that challenge students to apply what they learn through critical thinking and problem-solving. Our small classes allow students to take initiative, think independently, and explore ideas with outstanding teachers who also serve as mentors, dorm parents, coaches, advisors, and friends. Classes are focused on collaborative, project-based learning where students may find themselves working on cutting-edge research with students leading colleges such as Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby, or earning college credit from the University of Maine at Farmington in physics, chemistry, or writing. Our academic program offers a wide range of Advanced Placement, College Level, Honors, and College Prep classes to ensure that students are able to customize their program to fit their needs, goals, and aspirations. With the introduction of the Academic Transformation Team in Spring 2018, we are taking steps to build a team of educators that will ensure that Kents Hill is on the leading edge of student-centered learning and teaching, while honoring the skills and values that have made us strong for nearly 200 years.
Department Director Ben Priest
Student/Teacher Ratio: 6:1
Average Class Size: 10
Summer Programs: Not Offered
Full Time Teachers: 29
Number of AP Courses Offered: 13
Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 50%
Number of IB Courses Offered: 0
Noteworthy Information:
Siemens Foundation Award for Advanced Placement in Science and Math, Harvard Singer Prize
Learning Support
- Evening Study Assistance
- Learning Center
- Learning Differences Support
- Peer Tutoring
- Study Skills Assistance
- Subject Tutoring
- Technology Center
- ADD/ADHD Support
English
- Creative Writing
- Honors
- Literature
- Playwriting
- Poetry
History
- Classical History
- European History
- Honors
- Medieval History
- United States History
- World History
Foreign Languages
Religion / Philosophy
- Ethics
- Faith
- Moral Philosophy
- Philosophy
- Religious Studies
- Social Justice
- World Religions
Humanities / Social Sciences
- Economics
- Psychology
- International Relations
Sciences
- Anatomy
- Astronomy
- Astrophysics
- Biology
- Biotechnology
- Chemistry
- Ecology
- Epidemiology
- Environmental Science
- Genetics
- Geology
- Health
- Physical Science
- Physics
- Zoology
Math
Computer Studies
- Multimedia
- Computer Programming
- Web Design
- Robotics
- Graphic Design
- Digital Media
Music
- Band
- Choral Music
- Composition
- Electronic Music
- Individual Instructions
- Music Theory
- Orchestra
- Songwriting
- Voice
Performing / Visual Arts
Special Programs
- Study Abroad
- Community Service
- Exchange Programs
- Independent Study
- Internships
- Leadership
- Outdoor Education
- Entrepreneurship
- Robotics
- Student Council
- Digital Design
Campus Life
Dorm Life
Number of Dorms: 5
Average Students Per Dorm: 30
Number of Girls Dorms: 2
Number of Boys Dorms: 3
Dorm Amenities
- Game Room
- Laundry Facilities
- Lounge
- Vending Machines
- Wireless Internet
- Refrigerator
Other Dorm Amenities
Student Life
In a community that is purposefully small, Kents Hill crafts a co-curricular experience where students are able to be their authentic selves and make meaningful connections that will last a lifetime. Whether it's participating in athletics or afternoon activity, hanging out with friends in the Student Center, or being a part of an event programmed by the “Weekenders,” the Student Life Team is focused on building a student experience that offers variety, comfort and fun. Kents Hill is a supportive and diverse community where students feel seen, heard, and valued.
Facilities
- Baseball Field
- Basketball Court
- Fitness Center
- Football Field
- Indoor Basketball Court
- Indoor Climbing Wall
- Technology Center
- Softball Diamond
- Soccer Field
- Tennis Courts
- Hockey Rink
- Weight Room
- Athletic Fields
- Waterfront
- Turf Fields
- Cross Country Trails
- Ice Rink
- Lacrosse Field
Other Facilities
- Private Skiing and Snowboarding Hill
- Visual Arts Center
- Performing Arts Center
Clubs & Organizations
- Chess Club
- Community Service
- Computer Club
- Diversity Club
- Dorm Proctors
- Drama Club
- Environmental Club
- Food Council
- Foreign Language Clubs
- Habitat for Humanity
- International Club
- Literary Magazine
- Math Club
- Model UN
- National Honor Society
- Outing Club
- Peer Counseling
- Peer Tutoring
- Photography Club
- Student Activities
- Student Government
- Student Publications
- Theater Club
- Woodworking Club
- Yearbook
- Robotics
- Film Club
- GSA
Arts & Athletics
Summary: The Kents Hill School athletics program offers athletes teams in 21+ sports and a full range of opportunities for practice and competition. Students participate in a team sport or afternoon activity each trimester. Our coaches have extensive experience competing as college and professional athletes. Kents Hill School is known for strong teams in alpine skiing, ice hockey, cross country running, and golf. Our facilities feature the largest contiguous complex of turf fields in New England and state-of-the-art Alfond Athletics Center which features an NHL-size ice hockey rink, gymnasium complex, and fitness center. The Joanne & Dick O’Connor Alpine Training Center is one of the most unique features of our athletics program. Just steps from central campus, the Center provides private skiing and snowboarding terrain and two on-surface lifts. It's the center of coaching and training for our USSA and MAISAD alpine racing teams, the Division I Colby College alpine racing team, and local public schools. We provide a rich program in the visual arts, music, and theater that gives every student the opportunity to practice and perform. Students may choose from a range of arts electives and extracurricular activities. Students are required to take four trimesters of courses in the arts, but most go beyond the requirement with a full two years or more of arts courses.
Arts Department Director: Dylan Gifford
Athletics Department Director: Nan Hambrose
Arts
Interscholastic Sports
- Alpine Skiing
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country Running
- Equestrian
- Fencing
- Field Hockey
- Freestyle Skiing
- Golf
- Ice Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Mountain Biking
- Snowboarding
- Soccer
- Softball
- Tennis
- Track and Field
Recreational Sports
- Alpine Skiing
- Basketball
- Hiking
- Kayaking
- Mountain Biking
- Nordic Skiing
- Outdoor Education
- Snowboarding
- Yoga
- Fitness
- Outdoor Activities
Graduates
Summary: Finding the right college or university that fits a student's goals and interests is a core element of the Kents Hill School experience. Our college counseling program is highly individualized with counselors who become strong, informed advisors and advocates for our students and their families. Students are guided through every step of the process, from deciding where to apply to completing the necessary forms. In preparing students for the next steps after graduation, we focus on their ability to think independently, advocate for themselves, and work in a collaborative spirit with others. Kents Hill graduates enroll in a wide range of outstanding colleges and universities and go on to work in many different fields.
College Information
Percentage of graduates who attend college: 99%
Middle Percentile of SAT Scores | Reading | Math | Writing |
---|---|---|---|
25th percentile | |||
75th percentile |
Notable Alumni
Leon Leonwood Bean
Class of
Entrepreneur: Founder of L.L.Bean
Alden J. Blethen
Class of
Co-owner and editor-in-chief of Seattle Daily Times
Charles Collins
Class of
President of Dickinson College
Joseph Cummings
Class of
President of Syracuse University, Wesleyan University, and Northwestern University
Charles Deering
Class of
American Businessman and Philanthropist
Ray Eliot
Class of
American football and baseball player, former football coach of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
John Huard
Class of
National Football League player and Canadian Football League coach
Elihu B. Washburne
Class of
United States Representative from Illinois, Secretary of State under Ulysses S. Grant, and Minister to France
Stephanie Welsh
Class of
1996 Pulitzer Prize winner in Feature Photography
Merit
Merit Scholarships: Offered
Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 10%
Average Merit Scholarship: 7,500
Current Endowment Amount: $30,000,000
Vital Information
Student Body Type: Coed
Total Boarding: 142
Total Day: 58
Total Enrollment: 200
Boys: 116
Girls: 84
Boarding Grades Offered: 9-12
Day Grades Offered: 9-12
School Type: High School, Post-grad
Dress Code: Casual
Applications Accepted: SAO, Gateway to Prep
Application Deadline: Rolling
Tuition & Financial Aid
7-Day Boarding: $64,750
5-Day Boarding: $0
Day Tuition Fee: $34,250
Need-Based Aid: Offered
Payment Plans: Offered
Students Receiving Aid: 60%
Average Awarded: $30,000
School Finances
Merit Scholarships: Offered
Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 10%
Average Merit Scholarship: $7,500
Current Endowment Amount: $30,000,000
Contact
Director of Admissions: Alison Lincoln-Rich
Admissions Phone: 207-685-1606
Fax: 207-685-9529
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.kentshill.org








