It's Good to be at King's: Academics

The Principles that Guide Us

A King’s Academy’s education is defined by a comprehensive focus on our students' development in every sense: intellectual, personal, physical, social and ethical.

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Upper School

Grounded in the liberal arts and sciences, the Upper School’s academic program provides opportunities for both breadth and depth of study. We offer Advanced Placement exams in 28 subjects, as well as a variety of electives in history, religion and the arts, including courses in vocal and instrumental music, dance, theater, sculpture, drawing and painting. 

Following our five Guiding Principles — respect, a love of learning, responsibility, the need for an integrated life and global citizenship — the goal of education at King’s Academy is to ensure that students emerge with the knowledge and skills that will allow them not merely to gain admission to the most selective colleges and universities in the world, but more importantly to develop their full potential as human beings.

At King's Academy, we stress canonical approaches to the acquisition of understanding, as well as less traditional means, such as collaborative small group work, individual research, and a "portfolio" approach, in which students demonstrate their understanding through projects and activities, not just through exams.

Each semester, students typically take six to seven classes suited to their course of study and their particular stage of academic development. Each day is divided into six academic blocks and the school year is divided into two semesters, with mainly year-long courses and a few semester-long courses. During their junior and senior years, students will have the option of taking a number of advanced or interdisciplinary elective courses.

I had history teachers who transferred decades’ worth of knowledge to me through their enthusiastic lecturing. I had English teachers who instilled in me a passion for creative writing, and I had a psychology teacher who instilled in me a curiosity about understanding the scientific nature of the human condition.

Hussein Abulamzi '17

Throughout the curriculum we emphasize:

  • Mastery of written and oral expression in both Arabic and English and the related skills of interpretation, analysis and argument;
  • Quantitative literacy, scientific investigation and the responsible, thoughtful use of technology;
  • The exercise of critical and ethical judgment as well as a rigorous inquiry into the world’s major religious, philosophic and literary traditions;
  • The cultivation of imagination and empathy;
  • Active, engaged learning.