Coming off one of the strongest years in the history ofKillington Mountain School, both in terms of academic and athletic pursuits, Head of School Tao Smith recently announced the introduction of the ski academy’s new nine-month traditional academic program. The school now will provide two academic tracks for student-athletes, where individuals can choose the best academic option to complement their athletic pursuits. In September, 12 student-athletes grades nine through 12 became members of the inaugural nine-month program.
‘After 36 years of offering a five-month academic program, there is no better time for me to formally announce our plans to extend our academic offerings to include a nine-month program as well,’ said Smith. ‘These student-athletes will have the ability to engage in elite sport-specific training while following a rigorous, college-preparatory course of study from September through June. Now we can create offerings for an individual who wants to remain part of their home school and communityandfor an individual who chooses to pursue their winter sports passion on a year-round level. The singular cross-discipline and program tie-in is the academic program, which we can tailor to fit either type of student-athlete.’
Student-athletes in the school’s nine-month program will handle a greater academic course load in the fall and spring, allowing them to compete in the winter months with fewer scholastic conflicts. Off-season sport offerings include both mountain and road bike racing under the banner of the new Killington Mountain School Cycling Team, as well as access to individual and club team sports.
‘We believe the nine-month program will serve the athletic and academic demands of those accomplished student-athletes who choose to remain close to KMS for the full year, as they balance elite competition with an exceptional high school education,’ said Smith. ‘For those who pursue sports and other activities in their home communities, the five-month program will continue to be at the heart and soul of KMS.’
The KMS Nine-Month academic program is designed with its own curriculum with the student-athlete as its sole beneficiary. It requires studies in the social sciences including the non-Western world, English, science, mathematics, and the arts, as well as mastery of a foreign language. The curriculum is synchronized with the students’ athletic schedule so there is a comfortable balance between academics and athletics. For example, mid-year exams will not occur in January at the height of the athletic season. Students can excel both athletically and academically without undue strain.
By expanding the offerings at KMS, Smith said the goal is to be able to attract and retain a wider group of students, while remaining committed to what the school is known for’providing an unparalleled academic and athletic college preparatory program. KMS graduates have been accepted to some of the best colleges across the country in the past six years including Babson College, Bates College, Colby College, Colorado State University, Cornell University, Ithaca College, Middlebury College, Northeastern University, Skidmore College, Stanford University, St. Lawrence University, Trinity College, Tulane University, Villanova University, and multiple state universities in Colorado, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, Utah, and Vermont.
Killington Mountain School is a fully approved Vermont independent school whose mission is to inspire students to pursue excellence in academics and athletics in a culture that promotes integrity, leadership, responsibility, and respect. The school offers year-round training with either a full-term or winter term academic program. To learn more about alpine, snowboard, freestyle, freeskiing, and cycling training and opportunities, visit www.killingtonmountainschool.orgor call 802.422.KMS1.
Killington Mountain School. 2.28.2012.