Independent School in West Hartford, CT

Kingswood Oxford School, West Hartford:
At Kingswood Oxford School in West Hartford CT, we provide a multifaceted education that actively prepares students in grades 6 through 12 to be global thinkers, communicators and leaders ready for the challenges, complexities and opportunities of the 21st century. At the heart of our academic program are excellent teachers, coaches and advisors who challenge and motivate students to excel and to master the content and skills necessary for college and beyond.

Educational Programs from 6th through 12th Grade: 

Middle School:
The teaching and learning of writing is an important common thread through the Middle School curriculum. Students here write analytical essays in history, lab reports in science, descriptive problem solutions in math, and stories, poems and essays in English or in a foreign language. We teach students to brainstorm ideas, organize them and edit them. We teach a variety of writing styles and models, and we give students room to develop their own writing voices.

We introduce students to challenging language patterns and effective reading skills. Teachers require students to go beyond the literal facts, data or plot and to think in more abstract terms about the overarching concepts in each subject area. They ask students not only "when" but "why," not only "what" but "for what purpose." Classes revolve around discussion and inquiry. An assignment in any subject many ask for a critical analysis and an imaginative response. We believe that knowledge cuts across the lines of the traditional disciplines, and we create interdisciplinary challenges that ask for creative risks.

Upper School:
At the Upper School, our curriculum builds on the Middle School's foundation. We guide students through the breadth of a liberal arts education with a focus on what it means to be an educated person. In all that we do, we pay attention to the needs of our students. We encourage Upper School students to discover their own interests, talents and passions, and ask them to become increasingly responsible for and engaged in their own learning.

One can feel the energy level here. We think that it comes from the fact that both students and teachers view the work they do here as important. To that end, while we teach students how to read, write and calculate, we also ask them to be readers, writers and mathematicians. Here, students learn by doing.
Students are also musicians, artists, linguists, political scientists, journalists, researchers and economists. Latin students do not translate merely for the sake of learning how to translate, but rather to have conversation with the great philosophers of antiquity. English students meet and learn from professional writers and create a portfolio of their own fiction.

Core Subjects include English, math, history, science, creative arts, modern languages including Chinese, French, and Spanish, classic languages such as Greek or Latin.
Advanced Placement Courses offered:
We offer 18 advanced placement courses leading to exams in 17 areas.

College Preparation Courses:
We offer college prep courses for PSAT, SAT and ACT.

Athletics:
We offer 26 sports; 26 varsity teams; 65 teams covering four levels