Kent Place School
The Kent Place School is a girls independent college-preparatory day school serving students in preschool through twelfth grade in Summit, Union County, New Jersey, United States.
Kent Place School is a member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools. In 2007, The Wall Street Journal listed Kent Place School as one of the world's top 50 schools for its success in preparing students to enter top American universities.
As of the 2017-18 school year, the school had an enrollment of 602 students and 78.8 classroom teachers, for a student–teacher ratio of 7.6:1. The school's student body was 66.0% White, 18.4% Asian, 12.0% Black and 3.7% Hispanic.
Academics
The Primary, Middle, and Upper Schools each include science labs, art studios, and a computer lab. The Arts Center features a 260-seat theater, an art gallery, a dance studio, and practice rooms. Athletic facilities include a field house, three playing fields, and five tennis courts.Advanced Placement Program courses offered at the school include AP Art History, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP Computer Science, AP English Language and Composition, AP English Literature and Composition, AP Environmental Science, AP European History, AP French Language, AP Latin Literature, AP Macroeconomics, AP Music Theory, AP Physics 1, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature, AP Statistics, AP Studio Art, AP United States History, AP United States Government and Politics, and AP World History. The school also offers additional advanced mathematics courses in multivariable calculus and linear algebra.
Athletics
The Kent Place School Dragons compete in the Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference, which consists of public and private high schools in union County and operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Before the 2010 realignment, the school had participated in the Mountain Valley Conference, which consisted of public and parochial high schools in Essex County and Union County.The Upper School offers varsity level teams in cross country, soccer, tennis, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, swimming, squash, ice hockey, fencing, indoor track, lacrosse, softball, and outdoor track. Middle School teams are available in basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. Physical Education classes are also offered in Middle and Upper School in place of a sport. Physical Education is required in the Primary School and grade six.
Train
Many students take the train to Summit, and a Kent Place van will pick them up at the Summit station, located about five minutes from the school.Construction
Kent Place has undergone a major project to expand their learning space. Kent Place has added on a new wing to their middle and upper school buildings. This new wing has all new classrooms, lockers, science and math labs, and lounges for students. Following the completion of the new wing, Kent Place plans on renovating its main building. This project is a multimillion-dollar project that Kent Place has funded through generous donations from parents, alumni and other generous people in the community. Kent Place had its ground breaking ceremony on April 9, 2007, which all of the students attended. Many other members of the community attended as well. Head of School Sue Bosland welcomed the crowd and introduced Honorary Chair of the Campaign, Emily Meschter '60 who briefly spoke, as did President of the Board of Trustees, Neale Trangucci. Chair of the Campaign Michael Bird as well as the Mayor of Summit, New Jersey, Jordan Glatt, past Head of School Dori Dillon and numerous alumnae and parents were also in attendance. The Upper School flute ensemble and Chamber Singers entertained the crowd.The master plan includes a new state-of-the-art facility which will house a new library, technologically equipped classrooms, computer labs, a long-distance learning hall, science and math labs, music facilities and more. The New Academic Center is designed with the intention of becoming a LEED certified building. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green Building Rating System is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. An integrated sustainable educational program and the utilization of the building as a learning tool will be explored. The building is planned to be completed for the fall of 2008.
In addition to the bricks and mortar piece of the Campaign for Kent Place, there is an endowment portion for financial aid and faculty/staff compensation, as well as for sustaining additional facilities.
"This is an historic day at Kent Place. We are about to embark on a spectacular building project - a state-of-the-art facility - that will look one hundred years old! We are all working together to continue the legacy that was started in 1894; to sustain a top educational community for girls and young women," remarked Head of School Sue Bosland at the ceremony.
Notable alumnae
- Saleemah Abdul-Ghafur, author and activist who works with Malaria No More.
- Erika Amato, actress, singer and founder of Velvet Chain.
- Peggy Bacon, painter, illustrator and writer.
- Emily Barton, novelist.
- Maria Dizzia, actress, 2010 Tony nominee for Best Performance by an Actress in a Play.
- Gina Genovese, businesswoman and politician who has served as mayor of Long Hill Township.
- Chisa Hutchinson, playwright.
- Natalie Enright Jerger, computer scientist.
- Judy Joo, professional chef, author, and television personality.
- Maureen Ogden, politician who served seven terms in the New Jersey General Assembly, from 1982 to 1996.
- Shirley Paget, Marchioness of Anglesey, British public servant and writer.
- Gabrielle Stanton, television writer and producer best known for her work on the series Grey's Anatomy and Ugly Betty.
- Amanda Urban, literary agent.