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Academics

Our classes teach confidence and creativity

The Kiski School nurtures qualities of curiosity, creativity, and confidence in all our students. At the same time, we never assume that every student is the same. In fact, our appreciation for their unique qualities is built into our academic programs. While our focus is on the liberal arts and sciences in order to prepare students for the curricula they will find at the nation's best universities – our commitment to interactive, personalized instruction is what creates an ideal environment for Kiski boys and girls to excel. 
 
Kiski offers choices to satisfy a variety of interests, and our expert faculty members provide engaging classes and one-on-one tutoring to accommodate different learning styles. Small class sizes, hands-on projects, and collaborative learning offer opportunities for students to develop skills that are essential to succeed in college, work, and life. It’s no wonder that every year exceptional colleges invite Kiski students to join their ranks and our alumni report feeling better prepared due to their Kiski experience      . 
 
Kiski students have a number of state-of-the-art facilities, technologies, and resources at their disposal. They carry school-provided laptops around campus and use them in all of their academic coursework. The computers allow students to participate in directed online research activities, access and submit assignments through our network, and use the latest ed-tech.
Our campus is rich with maker technology and tools including 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC routers, a vinyl cutter and press, green screens, a large format printer, and a full complement of tools and other woodworking machinery. Students prototype, make models, solve problems, and create original inventions like rubber band-powered cars, lasercut rockets and planes, luminaries, and other hands-on projects. Adobe Illustrator, Autodesk Inventor, and Corel Draw are several graphic design and CAD programs students learn to use. All classes are able to use these tools for various projects, but most notable are the STEAM and Inventionland courses.
 
Among our academic facilities, the McPhail Classroom Center houses six well-equipped laboratories for scientific research and experimentation and the Stephen C. Rogers Fine Arts Center caters to the fine and performing arts. The Zeigler Science Center (ZSC) houses our physics and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) courses. The building was designed to encourage students to engage in hands-on inquiry, to engineer creative solutions to real-world problems, and to actively participate in meaningful collaborative work. Ideal for facilitating both classroom learning and practical application, the building provides a transitional space for teachers to move from lecture to experiment with ease, by having movable furniture inside the vast classrooms. Because of this dynamic space, our teachers can develop new ways to approach, understand, apply, and practice science. 
 
The John A. Pidgeon Library is the “learning commons” of the Kiski School, serving the school’s mission in preparing young men and women to succeed in college and in life. The library program seeks to ensure that all members of the Kiski community are resourceful, effective, and ethical in using ideas and information to pursue and generate knowledge. This mission is accomplished by:
  • Providing intellectual and physical access to quality materials in a variety of media formats that meet students’ information needs
  • Providing sanctuary for quiet study and reflection along with the physical space for group work
  • Promoting collaboration with faculty and designing interdisciplinary teaching opportunities to integrate resources, information and technology across the curriculum 
  • Fostering literacy and a life-long love of reading and learning through stimulating instruction and activities
  • Educating students, faculty and staff on the appropriate use, and intellectual property of information
 
In the 2016-2017 school year, courses formerly titled “Advanced Placement” changed to “Advanced.” Kiski is one of the hundreds of leading independent schools that have determined that AP is no longer the best coursework that can be offered. In developing our own advanced courses, Kiski teachers are not constrained by preparing for multiple-choice exams focused on a limited knowledge base. School-designed advanced courses are given equal weight to AP classes by colleges during the admissions process. Kiski will continue to offer students the opportunity to take AP exams and those choosing to take an AP exam at the end of a course will receive support from the faculty as they prepare for the test.

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A Life-Changing, Co-Ed Boarding School.
(877) 547-5448
1888 Brett Lane, Saltsburg, PA 15681