Kimball Union Academy

Meriden

New Hampshire

United States

Overview

Founded in 1813, Kimball Union Academy is the fifteenth-oldest boarding school in the country. Kimball Union's location and its proximity to Dartmouth College make it the preferred choice for students seeking an educational experience that integrates a traditional preparatory curriculum with innovative programs and cutting-edge technology. Kimball Union balances a challenging, dynamic curriculum with excellent programs in both athletics and the arts. Located in Meriden, New Hampshire, the Academy's 1,300-acre rural campus is two hours from Boston, Massachusetts, and Hartford, Connecticut. Nearby bus, train, and plan terminals link the area directly with Boston, New York City, and Manchester, New Hampshire.

Academics

Summary: Kimball Union draws from 200 years of experience to provide a 21st century curriculum which meets students where they are academically and prepares them for achievement in college and life. By offering a rigorous, college-directed core curriculum with a wide range of advanced placement classes, our academic program is designed to prepare you for success in college and in life. The foundation of your academic experience will center around critical thinking and the development of effective analytical writing skills. Small classes ensure personal attention and faculty-student interaction. Our highly qualified, accomplished faculty members challenge and inspire each student to reach his or her potential. Although you will be taught as an individual, positive collaboration with classmates and teachers is essential to the learning process. We also have a comprehensive Learning Center, where our structured support programs are individualized to help our students where they need it most.

Department Director Tom Kardel

Student/Teacher Ratio: 6:1

Average Class Size: 11

Summer Programs: Not Offered

Full Time Teachers: 52

Number of AP Courses Offered: 20

Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 70%

Number of IB Courses Offered: 0

Noteworthy Information:
NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools) Leading Edge Honoree

Learning Support

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

English

Classics
Creative Writing
Honors
Literature
Playwriting
Poetry

History

European History
Honors
United States History
World History

Foreign Languages

Chinese-Mandarin
French
Latin
Spanish

Humanities / Social Sciences

Anthropology
Economics
Psychology

Sciences

Anatomy
Biology
Chemistry
Earth Science
Environmental Science
Marine Biology
Physics

Math

Computer Studies

Computer Programming
Computer Science

Music

Band
Choral Music
Electronic Music
Individual Instructions
Music History
Music Theory
Recording
Voice

Performing / Visual Arts

Acting
Animation
Architecture
Art History
Ceramics
Choreography
Dance
Design
Directing
Drama
Drawing
Graphic Design
Lighting Design
Painting
Photography
Pottery
Production
Publications
Public Speaking
Sculpture
Stagecraft
Studio Art
Theater Arts
Theater Design
Woodworking
3-D Art
Modern Dance

Special Programs

Study Abroad
Community Service
Exchange Programs
Independent Study
Leadership
Outdoor Education

Campus Life

Dorm Life

Number of Dorms: 11

Average Students Per Dorm: 22

Number of Girls Dorms: 7

Number of Boys Dorms: 4

Dorm Amenities

Laundry Facilities
Lounge
Wireless Internet

Other Dorm Amenities

Student Life

Kimball Union is often defined by our positive and inclusive community, which is advanced by our comprehensive Student Life program. This highlights a purposeful focus on leadership, character building, and ethics in the classrooms, dorms, studios, and playing fields.

Facilities

Baseball Field
Basketball Court
Fitness Center
Indoor Basketball Court
Technology Center

Other Facilities

Dance Studio
Arts Studios
Indoor Athletic Field
Campus Center

Clubs & Organizations

Chess Club
Community Service
Computer Club
Diversity Club
Dorm Proctors
Drama Club
Environmental Club
Foreign Language Clubs
Gardening Club
Honor Council
Horseback Riding
International Club
Investment Club
Jewish Student Organization
Literary Magazine
Math Club
Model UN
National Honor Society
Newspaper
Outing Club
Peer Counseling
Peer Tutoring
Pep Club
Photography Club
Sexualities Club
Snowboarding Club
Student Activities
Student Government
Student Publications
Theater Club
Weightlifting Club
Yearbook
Yoga Club
Young Republicans

Arts & Athletics

Summary: Whether your passion is instrumental or vocal music, dance, theater, or video, ceramics or woodworking, computer supported graphic design or traditional painting, Kimball Union offers the support of faculty, facilities, and opportunities to help your work flourish. The Flickinger Arts Center supplies not only the infrastructure to support your efforts, but a community of warm, committed students and faculty that make our work together joyous and sustainable. As a member of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Conference, the Wildcats compete in 14 Varsity sports. Over 70% of the school earns at least one varsity letter each year, and the Wildcats’ trophy case is ever-growing. Our student-athletes are coached by the best collection of coaches in the league, and many use Kimball Union as the launching point of their athletic career, and not the last stop. Hundreds of student-athletes move onto the collegiate level, and our community strongly supports the athletic success of all of our students, including players of all skill levels.

Arts Department Director: Kay McCabe

Athletics Department Director: Michael Doherty

Notable Achievements: 2016 NEPSAC Girls Soccer Champions Div. C '17 '18 '19 Elite 8 Boys Hockey Champions

Arts

Acting
Animation
Architecture
Art History
Ceramics
Choreography
Dance
Design
Directing
Drama
Drawing
Graphic Design
Lighting Design
Painting
Photography
Pottery
Production
Publications
Public Speaking
Sculpture
Stagecraft
Studio Art
Theater Arts
Theater Design
Woodworking
3-D Art
Modern Dance

Interscholastic Sports

Alpine Skiing
Alpine Ski Racing
Baseball
Basketball
Cross Country Running
Equestrian
Field Hockey
Golf
Horseback Riding
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Mountain Biking
Nordic Skiing
Nordic Ski Racing
Rugby
Snowboarding
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis

Recreational Sports

Alpine Skiing
Camping
Canoeing
Dance
Equestrian
Freestyle Skiing
Outdoor Education
Paddle Tennis
Snowboarding
Track and Field
Ultimate Frisbee
Weight Lifting
Ice Skating

Graduates

Summary: The Philosophy of Kimball Union Academy’s College Advising Office “Independence and Interdependence” In keeping with Kimball Union Academy’s objective to foster independence within a context of interdependence, the College Advising Office strives to educate, guide, support, and advise students as they go through the process of self-assessment, research, application, and college choice. We celebrate and honor the diversity of achievements, interests, aspirations, and backgrounds our students represent, and as such we work tirelessly to support our students’ applications to a wide variety of colleges and universities. Our goal is to help students find a group of colleges that meets their individual needs — academic, social, athletic or artistic. We try to help students to find colleges that best fit them, not merely those that have the highest “name recognition.” A “great school” is first and foremost a “great match.” We invite students and parents to take full advantage of the abundant resources offered by KUA’s College Advising Office, working together to identify these “great matches.” While the search is a collaborative process, ultimately it is the student who will be going to college. To that end, we expect and empower each student to be the leader in this process and to take.

College Information

Percentage of graduates who attend college: 100%

Middle Percentile of SAT Scores	Reading	Math	Writing
25th percentile	560	570	560
75th percentile	670	740	670

College attended in the past 5 years by our graduates:

University of New Hampshire: 15

Boston University: 13

Northeastern University: 12

Skidmore College: 12

Connecticut College: 10

Babson College: 8

Hobart William Smith Colleges: 8

New York University: 8

University of Vermont: 20

St. Lawrence University: 15

Notable Alumni

Ernest Everett Just

Class of 1903

African American biologist

Dana Stone

Class of 1958

Vietnam War photographer

Chester Bradley Jordan

Class of 1866

Governor of New Hampshire

Kathryn Woodman Leighton

Class of 1894

Artist

Augustus Washington

Class of 1843

African American photographer

Andrew Wheating

Class of 2006

Olympian

F. Lee Bailey

Class of 1950

Defense Attorney

Kasim Edebali

Class of 2009

NFL Football Player

Steven Sotloff

Class of 2002

Journalist

Merit

Merit Scholarships: Offered

Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 19%

Average Merit Scholarship: 8,000

Current Endowment Amount: $51,900,000

Interested in Kimball Union Academy?

Vital Information

Student Body Type: Coed

Total Boarding: 242

Total Day: 90

Total Enrollment: 332

Boys: 192

Girls: 140

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: $66,700

5-Day Boarding: N/A

Day Tuition Fee: $42,400

Need-Based Aid: Offered

Payment Plans: Offered

Students Receiving Aid: 45%

Average Awarded: $28,635

School Finances