The Kiski School

Saltsburg

Pennsylvania

United States

Overview

The Kiski School is one of America's oldest boys boarding schools located in the foothills of the Laurel Mountains 30 miles east of Pittsburgh. Every Kiski boy gains an appreciation of academic excellence the importance of personal integrity community responsibility and develops a capacity to take risks and build self-confidence. Kiski is renowned for leadership in boys education small classes competitive athletics an extraordinary faculty the fine art program the Swank Student Center and its newly renovated and expanded Ross Athletic Center.

Academics

Department Director Brendan Moriarty

Student/Teacher Ratio: 7:1

Average Class Size: 11

Summer Programs: Offered

Full Time Teachers: 33

Number of AP Courses Offered: 0

Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 50%

Number of IB Courses Offered: 0

Learning Support

Evening Study Assistance
Learning Center
Learning Differences Support
Peer Tutoring
Study Skills Assistance
Subject Tutoring
Technology Center
ADD/ADHD Support

English

Honors

History

Classical History
European History
Honors
Medieval History
United States History
World History

Foreign Languages

Chinese-Cantonese
Spanish

Humanities / Social Sciences

Economics
Psychology
Sociology

Sciences

Biology
Chemistry
Environmental Science
Health
Physics

Math

Algebra
Calculus
Geometry
Honors Math
Statistics

Computer Studies

Computer Applications
Computer Programming
Computer Science

Music

Band
Choral Music
Composition
Music Theory
Orchestra
Voice

Performing / Visual Arts

Acting
Architecture
Art History
Debate
Design
Directing
Drama
Drawing
Graphic Design
Journalism
Metal
Painting
Photography
Portfolio
Pottery
Production
Publications
Public Speaking
Screen-Printing
Screenwriting
Sculpture
Silkscreen
Stagecraft
Studio Art
Theater Arts
Theater Design
Woodworking
3-D Art

Special Programs

Community Service
Independent Study
Leadership

Campus Life

Dorm Life

Number of Dorms: 6

Average Students Per Dorm: 35

Number of Girls Dorms: 0

Number of Boys Dorms: 6

Dorm Amenities

Game Room
Laundry Facilities
Lounge
Vending Machines
Wireless Internet

Other Dorm Amenities

Student Life

A pillar of the Kiski experience... Along with academics and athletics, residential life is one of the keystones of the Kiski experience. More than half of a boy's hours at Kiski are spent in and around the dormitory. There are few places where a boy can interact with his peers 16 hours a day – The Kiski School is one of them. Under the supervision of prefects and dorm masters, Kiski boys develop lifelong friendships and learn to be accepting of differences while living in our dorms. Supporting personal growth and development. Nothing more fully prepares our boys to be gentlemen throughout their lives than the boarding experience at The Kiski School. It is this aspect of the Kiski experience where boys learn the proper behavior for a member of a community. In addition to the independence required to care for oneself, our boys cooperate with their roommates, working together to keep their room tidy and to resolve the inevitable petty squabbles associated with adolescence. They will learn to schedule their time, avoid procrastination and develop the universally respected habit of punctuality.

Facilities

All-Weather Track
Baseball Field
Basketball Court
Fitness Center
Football Field
Indoor Basketball Court
Indoor Climbing Wall
Indoor Pool
Pool
Technology Center

Other Facilities

Ross Athletic Center; Swank Student Center

Clubs & Organizations

Astronomy Club
Chess Club
Community Service
Computer Club
Debate Club
Diversity Club
Dorm Proctors
Food Council
Foreign Language Clubs
Gardening Club
International Club
Investment Club
Math Club
Newspaper
Student Activities
Student Publications
Weightlifting Club
Woodworking Club
Yearbook
Radio Station

Arts & Athletics

Summary: ATHLETICS: The Kiski School has a long and distinguished athletic history. The young men who attend Kiski learn a great deal about themselves through their athletic participation. Kiski values the “athletic experience” and the benefits it produces for our students. The concepts of team work, unselfishness, working toward a common goal, and never giving up are invaluable lessons that our graduates carry with them for the rest of their lives. Kiski coaches have a tremendous ability to make the average athlete better, and the better athlete greater. The reason for this is simple: because our coaches spend the extra time with our athletes before and after practice. Kiski produces Division I athletes, but we are just as proud of our Division II and III athletes. Kiski has twenty-three athletic teams and participates in over 300 contests, so there are plenty of opportunities to explore a variety of athletic challenges. Many of our students will participate in sports they have never played before and succeed at them. Our commitment to athletics is evident in our newly renovated Ross Athletic Center. This 75,000 sq. ft. facility houses professional equipment and training resources. ARTS: In our art studio, students paint, sketch, sculpt, and create other forms of visual artwork. Our drama program produces three major performances each year, and brief sketches on special occasions. The music program provides a wealth of opportunities for Kiski boys to develop and share their talent. Introductory courses teach performance, theoretical, and listening skills. The instrumental music program includes a jazz and symphonic ensemble with opportunities for individual study with private instructors. Two singing ensembles, the Glee Club and the Double Quartet, tackle music from the classic Americana to contemporary a cappella. All groups perform numerous times throughout the year, including trips to nearby girls' schools for joint concerts.

Arts Department Director: Andrew Scott

Athletics Department Director: Christopher Spahn

Notable Achievements: Andrew Scott is a 1985 Kiski School graduate Chris Spahn 2016 Lacrosse Coach of the Year

Arts

Acting
Architecture
Art History
Debate
Design
Directing
Drama
Drawing
Graphic Design
Journalism
Metal
Painting
Photography
Portfolio
Pottery
Production
Publications
Public Speaking
Screen-Printing
Screenwriting
Sculpture
Silkscreen
Stagecraft
Studio Art
Theater Arts
Theater Design
Woodworking
3-D Art

Interscholastic Sports

Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country Running
Football
Golf
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Swimming
Tennis
Track and Field
Wrestling

Recreational Sports

Alpine Skiing
Camping
Canoeing
Cross Country Running
Golf
Hiking
Nordic Skiing
Rafting
Rifle Team
Swimming
Ultimate Frisbee
Volleyball
Weight Lifting

Graduates

Summary: The College Counseling Team at Kiski is committed to helping our boys with the entire college search process. We work in conjunction with the administration, faculty, students and parents in an attempt to find a proper fit for the college bound student. Accordingly, there is a specific agenda that we follow for each group of our boys along the way. Clearly the college search process is an important one to all people involved; certainly we take our role quite seriously in the College Counseling Office. Working as a team with the administration, faculty and students, we aspire to place each one of our boys in the college or university that offers the best “fit”. Throughout this entire process we will be here as an advocate for each one of our boys and their parents. We are available for any questions that may come up along the way. Also, please take some time to peruse the list of helpful internet sites as well as some helpful forms that we’ve developed which should provide additional support during this process.

College Information

Precentage of graduates who attend college: 100%

Middle Percentile of SAT Scores	Reading	Math	Writing
25th percentile	520	510
75th percentile	620	680

College attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: 1

Simmons College: 2

Pomona College: 1

Bates College: 1

Berklee College of Music: 1

Parsons School of Design: 1

University of Colorado: 2

Purdue University: 1

Trinity College: 2

United States Military Academies: 5

Bowdoin College: 2

Columbia University: 2

Notable Alumni

Beano Cook

Class of 1949

He began by serving as Pitt's sports information director for ten years — then went on to ABC Sport as NCAA press director to the St. Petersburg Times as a sports writer to the Miami Dolphins as a public relations director and back to ABC Sports.

John Murtha

Class of 1951

Congressman Murtha represented the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and chaired the subcommittee on defense which controls the largest component of the federal budget. At Kiski he played varsity basketball and baseball.

Jack Hanna

Class of 1965

At Kiski, Jack was a prefect, played varsity football and baseball, and sang in the Glee Club. As director of the Columbus Zoo, Jack manages the facility and supports national and international efforts to conserve habitat and wildlife.

James Moore Jr.

Class of 1971

Professor Jim Moore is the former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Trade Development and helped to launch the Uruguay Round, which led to the creation of the World Trade Organization.

David Conrad

Class of 1985

We had no idea he was going to use his Kiski Drama Club experience as a springboard to Hollywood. Now, suddenly, he's a big star!

Curtis Enis

Class of 1995

When the country's hottest young backfield prospect asked Joe Paterno how to prepare for the Penn State academic program Paterno suggested Kiski (where his own son Scott graduated in 1991).

Daryll Clark

Class of 2005

Daryll Clark was named the Nittany Lions' starting quarterback for the 2008 season.

Merit

Merit Scholarships: Offered

Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: %

Average Merit Scholarship: 61,300

Current Endowment Amount: $8,798,305

Interested in The Kiski School?

Vital Information

Student Body Type: All Boys

Total Boarding: 186

Total Day: 4

Total Enrollment: 190

Boys: 190

Girls: 0

Boarding Grades Offered: 9-12

Day Grades Offered: 9-12

School Type: High School, Post-grad

Dress Code: Formal

Applications Accepted: SAO

Application Deadline: January 31st

Tuition & Financial Aid

7-Day Boarding: $61,300

5-Day Boarding: N/A

Day Tuition Fee: $31,000

Need-Based Aid: Offered

Payment Plans: Offered

Students Receiving Aid: 68%

Average Awarded: $40,310

School Finances