OVERVIEW
Killington Mountain School offers unmatched opportunities for today’s student-athlete to excel athletically while pursuing rigorous college preparatory academics.
For over 40 years, KMS has provided student-athletes the opportunity to pursue excellence on the slopes and in the classroom. KMS alumni have proved themselves as athletes and as scholars, as leaders in business and in the community. The personal attention and passion for excellence at KMS guides each student-athlete towards his or her potential, helping each alum reach his or her goals.
MISSION
The KMS Experience…
…is an educational opportunity for the student-athlete with high aspirations and steadfast integrity. We are a community united by shared passions and a competitive spirit; our commitment to each other is built upon teamwork and mutual respect.
Combining rigorous, college-preparatory academics with world-class athletic training in a personalized setting, our students learn to balance their responsibilities in a diverse environment that includes competition and world travel. It is the mission of the Killington Mountain School to facilitate this dynamic by providing a highly individualized program, skilled teachers and coaches, a dedicated staff and the technological infrastructure to support distance learning.
We believe that the greatest lessons at Killington Mountain School come from facing challenges with courage and grace. These experiences of failure and success provide unmatched opportunities for personal growth and create a lasting will to persevere. Our graduates are uniquely prepared for life beyond KMS.
Killington Mountain School's core values are summarized by the acronym RILER:
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Respect
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Integrity
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Leadership
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Excellence
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Responsibility
We strive to bring these five principles to all aspects of life at KMS from the dorm room to the hill.
DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION
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At Killington Mountain School (KMS), our community is “built upon mutual respect” where “students learn to balance their responsibilities in a diverse environment.” Graduates of our academic and athletic programs are “uniquely prepared for life beyond KMS.” It is clear that the world is even more interconnected than ever before. Thus, our mission involves a sharpened focus on diversity and equity, recognizing inequalities and the need for a sustainable future for all people and the planet.
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In alignment with our goal of preparing good global citizens, we help students:
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Investigate the world beyond their immediate environment.
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Recognize their own and others’ perspectives.
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Communicate their ideas effectively with diverse audiences.
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Translate their ideas and findings into appropriate actions to improve conditions.
Definitions:
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Diversity: We commit to increasing diversity, which is expressed in myriad forms, including race and ethnicity, gender and gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, language, culture, national origin, religious commitments, age, (dis)ability status and political perspective.
Equity: We commit to working actively to challenge and respond to bias, harassment, and discrimination. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, height, weight, or veteran status.
Inclusion: We commit to pursuing deliberate efforts to ensure that our campus is a place where differences are welcomed, different perspectives are respectfully heard and where every individual feels a sense of belonging and inclusion. We know that by building a critical mass of diverse groups on campus and creating a vibrant climate of inclusiveness, we can more effectively leverage the resources of diversity to advance our collective capabilities.
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Diversity is where everyone is invited to the party.
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Equity means that everyone gets to contribute to the playlist.
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Inclusion means that everyone has the opportunity to dance.
(source: https://diversity.umich.edu/about/defining-dei/)​
HISTORY
In 1975, the first class of student-athletes graduated from Killington Mountain School. Since then the school has produced more than 100 skiing and riding podium medals, multiple Olympians, National Champion titles, and dozens of outstanding college placements.
1974
Noel Wilson becomes the first Headmaster for Killington Mountain School. The school's administration office was a small janitor's closet at the Sherburne Elementary School. There were 12 students, six coaches including the first head coach, Tom Torge, and three tutors. During her tenure, she saw the first KMS student-athlete join the U.S. B Team and three freestylers made it onto the U.S. National Team. Wilson remained as Headmaster until 1981.
1976
Program moves to the Grange on River Road in Killington. Rent was $1.00 a year.
1978
KMS student body grew to 19 racers and 12 freestylers.
1981
Ken McEwan becomes new Headmaster. School has 20 full time students. Scholarship program begins during McEwan's short, interim tenure.
1983
Sumner Erbe named Headmaster. Erbe was the former captain of the Dartmouth Ski Team, a member of the U.S. Ski Team and member of the World Pro Tour.
1983
KMS freestyle program disbands due to Killington Ski Area's restriction on aerial maneuvers.
1984
Betty Hughes starts first silent auction.
1986
Student population at KMS was numbered at 34 and KMS students were ranked number one, three and four in the country for J2's. Kyle Weiche, who would go on to become an Olympian, was ranked 12th in the world. During Erbe's tenure, KMS brought to the ranks five Olympians—one alpine, three freestyle, and after a tragic accident, Ann Walters '86, was KMS's first competitor in the Paralympic Games (Summer Olympics in Seoul).
1987
Bill McCollum becomes new Headmaster.
1988
Jeremy Babcock, a member of the U.S. Disabled Team, takes silver in the giant slalom at the Olympics in Lillehammer.
1990
Freestyle returns to KMS. New "small, supervised dorm" was established. Dee Williams '81 becomes freestyle head coach.
1992
Hannah Hardaway is national mogul champion.
1993
Men's freestyle team wins every Eastern men's moguls event. Evan Dyvbig lands his first ESPN interview.
1998
KMS Alumni Evan Dyvbig and Alex Wilson named to the Olympic Team. Jay Rodenberger appointed director of studies. Bill McCollum retires after producing three Olympians, more than 34 Division One collegiate skiers and 13 U.S. Ski Team members during his tenure.
1998
Betty Hughes becomes new Headmaster after serving the school in roles including dorm parent, coach, teacher, academic coordinator, assistant headmaster, and fundraiser.
1999
Chip Stevens named Headmaster.
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2000
Jay Rodenberger named interim Headmaster. KMS academic space moved from the Grange on River Road to space at the base of Pico Mountain.
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2001
Tao Smith named Head of School.
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2002
KMS initiates development of a 5 year strategic plan including plan to purchase building and create a campus.
2004
Purchased the old Red Rob Inn on the Killington Road and invests over $400k in renovations. KMS starts its first year at its own Campus located less than 2 miles from the Killington Base area.
2008
Michael Morse ('99) earns U.S. National Freestyle Championship title.
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2010
Michael Morse named to U.S. Olympic Team, competes in Vancouver.
Freestyle Program Director Deb Newson named 2010 USSA Development Coach of the Year.
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2011
Nick Keating ('11) earned the Junior National Mogul Championship title; named to the US Development Group.
Bryan Zemba ('10) earned the Junior World Freestyle Championship title; named to the US Freestyle Team.
KMS begins offering full-term programs.
Alpine Sports Training Center opens.
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2014
KMS receives Gold Certification by USSA
KMS Finishes widening Highline trail as part of the Trails Campaign
2015
KMS receives full NEASC accreditation
Turner Ramsay National Cyclocross Champion
2016
KMS Trails Initiative funds the Snowden Triple Mid-Station
Abe Studler and Hannah Soar named to 2016-2017 U.S. Freestyle Ski Team. Abe Studler earned Junior National title in Moguls and Dual Moguls
KMS Freestyle Program named USSA Freestyle Club Program of the Year
Nori Pepe named USSA Freestyle Domestic Coach of the Year.
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2017
KMS adds midstation on the Triple to access Highline
Mazie Hayden named to the US Skicross Development Team, National Champion
EK Robinson Leith named to the Canadian SBX Development Team
2018
KMS finishes Four Season Air Bag Jump facility at the bottom of Superstar
KMS moves power pole in the middle of the Highline trail and regrades the trail to allow for more consistent pitch and world class freestyle venue
Tyler Clarke Canadian National MTB Champion
Mazie Hayden US Worlds Downhill MTB Team, Collegiate National Champion
Spencer Wood, competes in the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games, PyeongChang
2019
KMS Freestyle Program Names USSA Freestyle Club Program of the Year
Alex Lewis named to 2019-20 US Freestyle Ski Team
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KMS FACTS
At Killington Mountain School, student-athletes learn time management, independence and initiative through a rigorous daily schedule. This schedule creates a healthy balance for the students between school, sports, family and friends.
Approximately 120 student-athletes:
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Roughly half are Alpine Skiers, the balance is spread among the other disciplines: Freestyle, Freeski, Snowboard and Cycling
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50% boarding, 50% day
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1/3 females, 2/3 males
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Approx. 55% Full term nine month student athletes
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Hail from all over the East Coast (Vermont, New Hampshire, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia) and from all over the world (students have hailed from Australia, Denmark, Japan, Brazil, Sweden and France, to name a few)
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Fully NEAS&C Accredited school serving grades 6-12 with additional offerings for post-graduate student-athletes
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Focused academic programs provide students with instruction and support alongside high-level athletics
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Individual focus through low student to faculty ratios