Type Private, Coeducational Headmaster Thomas W. Nammack Grades Pre-K-12 Endowment 21.8 million USD Colors White, Blue, Green | Established 1974 Faculty 157.3 (on FTE basis) Phone +1 973-746-9800 Founded 1974 | |
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Motto Knowledge, Vision, Integrity Address 201 Valley Rd, Montclair, NJ 07042, USA | ||
Stephen colbert interviews neil degrasse tyson at montclair kimberley academy 2010 jan 29
Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA) is a co-educational private school for students in Pre-Kindergarten through twelfth grade located in Montclair in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. One of New Jersey's largest independent day schools, Montclair Kimberley Academy recently celebrated the 125th anniversary of the establishment of its earliest component school. The current school, established in 1974, is the result of the merger of three separate schools: Montclair Academy, a boys' school founded in 1887; The Kimberley School, a girls' school founded in 1906; and Brookside, a coed school founded in 1925.
Contents
- Stephen colbert interviews neil degrasse tyson at montclair kimberley academy 2010 jan 29
- Curriculum
- Awards and recognition
- Athletics
- Notable faculty
- Notable alumni
- Alumni Association Awards
- References
As of the 2013-14 school year, the school had an enrollment of 985 students in grades K-12 (plus 33 in preK) and 157.3 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 6.3:1. The school offers a faculty professional development program, with 79% of the 175 faculty members holding advanced degrees and 11 holding doctorates.
Curriculum
A college-prep education includes Signature Programs in Writing, Ethics and Character Education and the MKA Core.
MKA offers a college prep curriculum featuring Signature Programs in Ethics, Writing, and the MKA Core – works of western and non-western literary, artistic, musical, historical or mathematical significance. Each graduating senior is required to complete May Term. Choices for May Term include internships and travel opportunities in Europe and Asia. French and Spanish are offered from Pre-K onwards; Latin and Chinese in 6th grade. The school has advanced technology, science labs supporting research-based learning, four gymnasiums, a swimming pool, auditoriums, a black box theatre and a $3 million arts wing at the Upper School. There is an interscholastic athletic program, and fields competitive teams in over 25 sports that have won over 100 championships in the past 10 years. Students have access to fine and performing arts opportunities ranging from a tri-campus Strings Program, to mounting a full Shakespeare production in 7th grade, to making movies in the Upper School. Numerous community service opportunities exist at each campus, as well as extensive extracurricular offerings. 100% of students go on to college, with an 87% acceptance rate to one of their first three colleges of choice.
The school is a member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools.
Awards and recognition
In 2013, MKA was recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for its use of technology in education.
In 2009, Montclair Kimberley Academy was voted Best NJ Private School by parents in Bloomberg Businessweek. In 2010, the school was designated a Johns Hopkins School of Excellence.
In 2003, Montclair Kimberley Academy was recognized as a National School of Character by the Character Education Partnership, one of ten schools selected nationwide.
Athletics
The Montclair Kimberley Academy Cougars compete in the Super Essex Conference, which includes public and private high schools in Essex County and operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). Prior to the NJSIAA's 2010 realignment, the school had previously participated in the Colonial Hills Conference which included public and parochial high schools covering Essex County, Morris County and Somerset County in west Central Jersey.
MKA's longtime rival is Newark Academy; there is also a rivalry with Montclair High School, Montclair's public high school. Some of the school's more successful Athletic Teams include Girls' Tennis, Boys' Tennis, Boys' Soccer, Softball, Ice Hockey, Golf, Varsity and Junior Varsity Baseball, Boys' Lacrosse, Girls' Volleyball and Field Hockey.
Softball won eight Non Public B State Championships over the span of a decade, winning in 1999-2000, 2002, 2004–07, and 2009. They also won ten straight Colonial Hills Conference Championships 1999-2008. The team won the North B state title in 2007 and 2009. This streak tied the state's longest streak for consecutive state championships and overall state championships. This streak was broken during the 2008 season when the Cougar softball team fell in the 2008 Non-Public B State Championship game.
The MKA Girls' Soccer Team were 2010 NJ Prep B State Champions, Girls' Basketball were 2010 SEC Independence Division Co-Champions and Girls' Track and Field were SEC Colonial Division Champions.
Girls' Tennis won their 4th straight Parochial B State championship in 2006 and most recently won the 2007 Colonial Hills Conference championship.
In 2009, the Girls' Field Hockey Team were NJSIAA Prep B State Champions with a 2-1 win over Stuart Country Day School.
In the 2005-06 season the MKA Wrestling team won their first Prep B State championship in the history of the school.
The MKA Ice Hockey team finished the 2006-07 season ranked in the top 20 in New Jersey but lost 2-1 to Paramus Catholic High School in the first round of the state playoffs. The season was highlighted with a win over Montclair High School in the Montclair Cup game. MKA would then win the Montclair Cup again in 2008. The two teams met again in 2009, Montclair High shutout MKA 4-0 to regain the Cup. The Cougars would finish the 2009 campaign at 5-19, leading to Head Coach Gary Kramer's resignation. In the spring of 2009, MKA named former MHS alumni and coach, Brack Healy, their new bench boss. In Healy's first game against his former team, MKA beat Montclair High 2-1. MKA's 9-2-3 start was rewarded with a Star Ledger Top 20 ranking. MKA qualified for the state playoffs and recorded their first postseason win since 1995 with a 3-2 win vs. Bishop Eustace. Citing professional advancement, Healy resigned from MKA after only one season behind the bench and took over as the head man at Fair Lawn High School. In 2010-11 season the Cougars picked up John LaGorce as head coach. On January 3 they beat cross-town rival, MHS in the annual Montclair Cup 3-0, only the second shutout in Montclair Cup history. The team capped off the season with a 4-2 victory over West Essex High School in the McInnis Cup championship. The Cougars were later declared the Essex County team of the year.
The Boys' Soccer team were Prep B State Champions and NJSIAA sectional finalists, and won North Parochial B and overall Non-Public B championship in 2006, the school's first ever wins in the tournament. The 2007 and 2009 teams also won the Prep B State Championship. The 2011 team finished the season with a 21–2–2 record, winning the Prep B state championship and earning the NJSIAA Non-Public B state championship with a 1–0 overtime win against Gill St. Bernard's School.
Baseball has also done well in years past winning four Prep B State Title since 1991, most recently in 2009, and six Colonial Hills Conference Championships, the most recent was in 2009 when the Cougars were named the Colonial Hills Conference Co-Champions. The MKA baseball has also won three Non Public B North crowns, in 1997, 2002 and 2009. In 2002 the Cougars were led by Frank Herrmann who currently pitches for the Cleveland Indians (MLB). The Cougars' head baseball coach since 1991, Ralph Pacifico, won his 300th game in 2007. In 2009 MKA Baseball captured both the conference title and the Prep B championship. Pacifico was named Coach of the Year in the Colonial Hills Conference. On June 2, 2009, MKA defeated St. Mary's (Rutherford) by a score of 7-3 to win the North Non-Public B crown and clinch a spot in the overall state title game.
The Cougars' Boys' Lacrosse team won the 2007 Prep B state title, ending Morristown-Beard School's five-year win streak.
The Girls' Volleyball team has also been very successful, most recently winning the 2006 and 2007 Colonial Hills Conference Championship. The Cougar volleyball coach Mike Tully was also recently named the 2008 New Jersey State Coach of the year.
The Boys' Tennis team were 2009 NJISAA Prep B State Co-Champions. The team also made it to the finals of the 2007 North Non-Public B state championship where they lost to Newark Academy 3-2. The 2008 team would repeat their 2007 success by making it back to the finals of the North Non-Public B State Championship in which they lost 3-2. The 2008 team also won the Colonial Hills Conference and Essex County Championships. The county tournament win was the first in the school's history.
The MKA Golf team finished the 2010 season as Parochial Non Public B State Champions and NJISAA Prep B State Champions. In 2007, the team had a 19-1 record, winning the 2007 Colonial Hills Conference Championship, came in 2nd in the 2007 Essex County Tournament and won the 2007 Prep B State Championship.
In 2008, Coach Tony Jones led the Boys' Basketball team to the school's first Prep B championship for the sport, defeating Collegiate School 82-59. Kyrie Irving, who was a Sophomore at the time, became the school's second 1,000 point scorer two days earlier in the semi-final game against top seeded and defending champion Solomon Schechter. In 2010, they were named SEC Independence Division Champions.
Notable faculty
Notable alumni
Alumni Association Awards
Every year, the Alumni Association awards a notable MA, TKS or MKA alum the Distinguished Alumni Award.