About KHA
Sections: Advisory Board • Enrollment • A Day at KHA
Our Mission
“Kingston Hill Academy is dedicated to providing students with the opportunity for an inclusive, individualized, and challenging curriculum that supports them to reach their full potential.”
Kingston Hill Academy is a public (no tuition) charter school located in South Kingstown, Rhode Island. The school opened in September of 2001 with just 40 Kindergarten students. Over the next 5 years, KHA grew to 180 students in Kindergarten to Sixth grade. KHA is licensed for up to 260 students, Kindergarten to Eighth grade, and hopes to open a middle school program in the future.
KHA is operated under a charter granted by the Board of Regents of the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE), and follows RIDE regulations, assessment and teaching standards, and all other requirements mandated for traditional public schools in Rhode Island. Teachers and teacher assistants are certified by the State of Rhode Island and meet highly qualified status under No Child Left Behind.
The school day is a 6-hour, 20 minute day from 8:50 am to 3:10 pm, with a full day Kindergarten. KHA has a 185-day school year. Hot lunches are catered to the school, and KHA participates in the National School Lunch program. Transportation is provided by the sending school district and there is no charge to the family if the family lives within the bussing region of KHA.
Advisory Board
Kingston Hill Academy is overseen by The Groden Center Board of Directors.
In addition, Kingston Hill Academy utilizes an Advisory Board that meets throughout the school year to advise the school administration and plan the development of the school.
The Advisory Board consists of parents, members from the sponsor organization (Groden Center), Special and General education professionals, community partners, University faculty, and parents of general and special education students.
2005-2007 Board Members
- June Groden – Groden Center Executive Director
- Ellen Nelson – Founder and Community Professional
- Lisa Davis – Groden Center Board Representative
- Alan Skiffington – Parent
- Sandra Lally – Parent
- Deb Deion – Special Education Educator
- Lewis Lipsett – University Affliliate
- Bill Hanson – Parent
- Johnna Bicknell – General Education Educator
Enrollment
Enrollment into KHA is done randomly using the lottery system, as mandated by RI state law. A lottery is conducted each spring to fill all available positions. Families selected in the lottery will be contacted and asked to fill out enrollment forms. Once enrolled, parents of students with 504 or IEP (special education needs) should contact the office so that the family can take part in a KHA multi-disciplinary team meeting to ensure that KHA is an appropriate placement for the child and to ensure a successful transition into a new school.
You can download a Lottery Application form (below) or pick one up from the school office.
Siblings of students already enrolled at KHA are exempt from the lottery and are automatically enrolled when classroom space is available.
For Families Interested in KHA
For Families Currently Enrolled Only
- Activities Permission Form
- Health Screening Permission Form
- Release of Records Form
- Enrollment Form
- Health Record and Emergency Release Form
A day at KHA
When walking through the classrooms of KHA, you soon realize that this is not the school next door. Throughout the day, students are learning responsibility and independence as they transition to and from classes and work with a wide variety of teachers.
Ability groups for the basics . . .
Grouping students at their developmental ability levels is the key to mastery in reading, spelling, and basic mathematics skills. Each morning, Monday through Thursday, students work together in homogenous ability groups for language arts and mathematics. Students move around in these groups throughout the school year as they develop at their own pace. Groups may range from 1:1, 5:1, to 20:1, depending on the makeup of the students at any given point in time.
Interest groups for specials. . .
At other times, students are grouped by interest levels. For example, each Wednesday students get together for ILP groups (Individual Learning Plan groups). Students get to rank their top choices for a six-week class taught by a teacher or consultant. Classes have included specialized sciences, creative writing, music, gardening, mural painting, digital technology, furniture refurbishment, puppetry, spelling B, tumbling, and many others. These groups are often multi-age groups so that students can learn from each other at different developmental levels. Students also work in multi-age interest groups in the arts throughout the year for specialized projects and extended curriculum.
The Homeroom Connection . . .
There's no place like homeroom to tie it all together. Every day students begin the day in their homerooms. Same age (grade level) homerooms typically begin with a morning meeting that focuses on culture, social skills, and current events, as well as arithmetic and problem solving skills. Homeroom is also where most of the integrative science, writing, social studies, as well as specialized instruction in PE, Health, and the Arts takes place. As mentioned previously, approximately ½ of the homerooms are taught by spanish proficient teachers who give daily lessons in Spanish language and cultures. For non-Spanish homerooms, a Spanish language consultant and support staff are able to offer weekly lessons.