A Brief History

Born in 1874 in New York City, The Reverend Frederick Herbert Sill, a member of the monastic Order of the Holy Cross (O.H.C.) and a graduate of Columbia University and the General Theological Seminary, opened the doors of Kent School in 1906, at the age of 32. Fr. Sill retired as active Headmaster 35 years later in 1941; he remained Headmaster emeritus until his death on July 17, 1952. The growth of Kent School is a testament to his will and vision.

In the ensuing years, Kent has been led by three headmasters: William S. Chalmers (O.H.C.), Fr. John O. Patterson, and Sidney N. Towle '31. Our fourth and current Headmaster and Rector is Richardson W. Schell. A 1969 graduate himself of Kent, Fr. Schell went on to study at Harvard (A.B. '73) and Yale (M.Div. '76) before returning to Kent as Chaplain. He was appointed Headmaster in 1981.

The history of Kent School is a history of innovation in education. Fr. Sill founded Kent with a vision different from most prestigious boarding schools, which is captured in the school motto: Simplicity of Life, Directness of Purpose, and Self-Reliance. In accordance with the vision of our Founder, Kent was conceived as a "democratic" school; consequently, all Kent students participate in a daily work program. In addition to fostering self-reliance, the program teaches stewardship, invests students in the environment in which they live, and teaches the value of individual contributions to the community.

Fr. Sill was also committed to educating students from "all walks of life." This original mission resulted in his "sliding scale tuition," in which families paid a tuition which Fr. Sill felt they could afford. This mission is continued today with the Kent Parents Fund and our Financial Aid Program. Kent's commitment to financial aid ranks first among our peer schools, relative to its endowment. We dedicate over six million dollars annually to this important goal.

With the construction in 1960 of the girls' campus, Kent was at the forefront of co-education among traditional New England boarding schools. The girls' and boys' campuses were consolidated in 1992, resulting in the current, fully integrated co-educational campus of 560 students. Currently 46% of our students are female, and 54% male, a strong indication of the success of our co-educational mission, in which boys and girls grow and learn in a traditional boarding environment.

Founded in the Episcopal tradition, as were many New England boarding schools, Kent has retained its spiritual affiliation in an era when many other institutions have relinquished theirs. Our diverse student body comes from a variety of religious backgrounds and secular traditions. Supported by School Chaplains, students at Kent find an atmosphere which supports the beliefs and practices of all faiths by actively encouraging moral and spiritual understanding and growth. The whole school gathers at St. Joseph's Chapel for two weekday services, which often include a student, faculty, or guest speaker or performance. Thus, the spiritual component of life at Kent School contributes to our sense of community, provides students with a moral basis -- and resources -- for decision-making, and enriches the quality of life and education at Kent.

Kent is at the forefront of technological innovation in education. In 1995 we partnered with Microsoft, Toshiba and 29 other pioneer schools creating the Anytime AnyWhere Learning program. This unique program has grown and developed in the intervening years and we currently equip Kent students with tablet PC computers that can be used throughout our campus. In addition, all of our classrooms and dorm rooms, as well as our library, administrative offices and many of our exterior areas have access to the Internet and the School network. All dorm rooms are equipped with individual data and voice connections which provide phone, Internet, and intranet access for each student. Our faculty receive training in educational technology here at Kent and abroad to hone their skills. Kent is dedicated to harnessing the power of technology to give our students the best education possible.

Kent continues our proud tradition of innovation in education - which is ongoing, every day, across our campus.