Kent School Corporation 
The information on this page was last updated 4/21/2023. If you see errors or omissions, please email: [email protected]
Summary
Kent School is an independent college preparatory boarding school serving grades 9-12, located within two hours of NYC in Kent, CT. Kent School is focused on equipping you with the skills that will empower you to make an impact on the broader world. We call these skills the Kent School Competencies.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Kent School Corporation
1 Macedonia Rd
PO Box 2006
Kent, CT 06757
Website: kent-school.edu
Phone: 860-927-6000
Email: [email protected]
Organization details
EIN: 060646687
CEO/President: Michael G. Hirschfeld
Chairman: James A. Lawrence
Board size: 28
Founder: Reverend Frederick Herbert Sill
Ruling year: 1938
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 06/30
Member of ECFA: No
Member of ECFA since:
Purpose
Kent's school motto is Simplicity of Life, Directness of Purpose, and Self-Reliance.
These values shape how we run the school and how we live our lives. They affect how we see the world and how we teach our students about it. They ground us in the important things like friends and family, hard work, and honesty. They remind us that spiritual understanding and growth, though sometimes difficult, are necessary to know oneself and to know one's path.
Our guiding words prompt us to be self-sufficient and, as you'll see when you come to Kent, we instill this in our students at every turn. We reward self-motivation and initiative. If students want to start a new club or do an Independent Study Project, we'll assist and applaud them.
But none of this counteracts the sense of community that is strong at Kent, for there is something about poise and certitude that brings out generosity and neighborliness. It may be surprising, given how intelligent and ambitious our students are, but you'll find that we all work together here. Students don't have a sense of competing against each other; they feel they're on the same team.
Mission statement
As an independent boarding school in keeping with the Episcopal Church, we prepare students for college and for life with a rigorous and comprehensive program. We teach those who strive to grow, nurture striving where it falters, foster academic excellence, and promote understanding of and respect for one another's beliefs and differences.
Statement of faith
Donor confidence score
Transparency grade
D
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: K-12 Schools/Academies
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 967 of 1104 | 48 of 48 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 1016 of 1105 | 48 of 48 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 778 of 1105 | 40 of 48 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 680 of 1104 | 37 of 48 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 11% | 51% | 61% | 49% | 37% | 47% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 3% | 7% | 6% | 5% | 5% | 5% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 15% | 14% | 10% | 10% | 13% | 11% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 3% | 7% | 7% | 5% | 5% | 6% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 85% | 86% | 90% | 90% | 87% | 89% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 83% | 78% | 78% | 79% | 80% | 78% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 94% | 102% | 80% | 89% | 88% | 89% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 76% | 80% | 62% | 70% | 70% | 70% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 6% | -2% | 20% | 11% | 12% | 11% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 6% | -1% | 8% | 3% | 4% | 4% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 14% | 15% | 14% | 16% | 15% | 16% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 0.46 | 0.23 | 0.23 | 0.20 | 0.22 | 0.23 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 3.08 | 1.72 | 1.74 | 1.65 | 1.72 | 1.73 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 1.44 | 0.40 | 0.40 | 0.33 | 0.38 | 0.39 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 3.01 | 5.39 | 5.74 | 5.73 | 5.19 | 4.35 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.33 | 0.19 | 0.17 | 0.17 | 0.19 | 0.23 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 4.19 | 24.70 | 24.51 | 29.64 | 25.39 | 23.56 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 33% | 22% | 23% | 23% | 27% | 27% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 11% | 11% | 13% | 12% | 14% | 13% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 143% | 339% | 332% | 380% | 328% | 322% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Cash | $17,804,025 | $15,998,604 | $20,296,722 | $22,969,948 | $21,040,746 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $4,654,612 | $4,943,016 | $4,891,773 | $7,019,372 | $5,459,012 |
| Short-term investments | $102,450,326 | $96,473,475 | $113,609,588 | $90,423,082 | $88,738,513 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $124,908,963 | $117,415,095 | $138,798,083 | $120,412,402 | $115,238,271 |
| Long-term investments | $29,787,706 | $28,123,866 | $29,328,221 | $25,042,802 | $24,430,696 |
| Fixed assets | $60,206,531 | $59,176,905 | $60,979,080 | $61,146,986 | $60,009,335 |
| Other long-term assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $89,994,237 | $87,300,771 | $90,307,301 | $86,189,788 | $84,440,031 |
| Total assets | $214,903,200 | $204,715,866 | $229,105,384 | $206,602,190 | $199,678,302 |
| Liabilities | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $3,867,046 | $4,258,427 | $3,894,454 | $3,344,302 | $5,412,322 |
| Other current liabilities | $19,303,020 | $16,198,928 | $20,326,426 | $19,861,782 | $21,084,726 |
| Total current liabilities | $23,170,066 | $20,457,355 | $24,220,880 | $23,206,084 | $26,497,048 |
| Debt | $24,042,305 | $25,939,877 | $27,828,267 | $29,696,391 | $25,670,997 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $282,138 | $856,527 | $959,872 | $3,113,611 | $2,187,844 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $24,324,443 | $26,796,404 | $28,788,139 | $32,810,002 | $27,858,841 |
| Total liabilities | $47,494,509 | $47,253,759 | $53,009,019 | $56,016,086 | $54,355,889 |
| Net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Without donor restrictions | $60,326,515 | $58,249,319 | $64,803,013 | $56,248,714 | $55,971,038 |
| With donor restrictions | $107,082,176 | $99,212,788 | $111,293,352 | $94,337,390 | $89,351,375 |
| Net assets | $167,408,691 | $157,462,107 | $176,096,365 | $150,586,104 | $145,322,413 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Total contributions | $6,744,109 | $5,812,606 | $5,015,011 | $6,711,628 | $5,696,034 |
| Program service revenue | $39,067,687 | $37,526,021 | $38,141,431 | $40,246,466 | $39,061,528 |
| Membership dues | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Investment income | $2,441,750 | $15,965,450 | $9,203,836 | $5,245,407 | $6,034,844 |
| Other revenue | $56,352 | $85,919 | $28,336 | $48,342 | $73,496 |
| Total other revenue | $41,565,789 | $53,577,390 | $47,373,603 | $45,540,215 | $45,169,868 |
| Total revenue | $48,309,898 | $59,389,996 | $52,388,614 | $52,251,843 | $50,865,902 |
| Expenses | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Program services | $38,519,022 | $37,051,886 | $36,544,366 | $36,704,600 | $35,382,897 |
| Management and general | $7,445,088 | $6,874,384 | $7,408,824 | $6,727,312 | $7,119,249 |
| Fundraising | $3,457,158 | $3,541,228 | $2,437,849 | $2,513,804 | $2,698,192 |
| Total expenses | $49,421,268 | $47,467,498 | $46,391,039 | $45,945,716 | $45,200,338 |
| Change in net assets | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| Surplus (deficit) | ($1,111,370) | $11,922,498 | $5,997,575 | $6,306,127 | $5,665,564 |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | ($1,111,370) | $11,922,498 | $5,997,575 | $6,306,127 | $5,665,564 |
Compensation
| Name | Title | Compensation |
| Michael Hirschfeld | Head of School | $568,075 |
| Jeffrey D Cataldo | CFO & Coo, Asst. Treasurer | $400,478 |
| Brian Sullivan | Former Dir. External Affairs | $318,825 |
| William Kissick | Chief Advancement Officer | $263,662 |
| Tanya Horgan | Business Manager | $259,615 |
| Dr Suzanne Lefebvre | School Physician | $228,912 |
| Marya Neary | Director of Development | $222,035 |
| Todd Marble | Director of Planned Giving | $186,266 |
| Deneen Mantegani | Director of Donor Relation, Asst. Secretary | $139,023 |
Compensation data as of: 6/30/2023
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 4/21/2023. To update the information below, please email: [email protected]
History
Kent School was founded by an Episcopal monk. It's a small fact, one we like to share with people because it says a lot about us, about our character, where we've come from, and where we hope to go. When the Reverend Frederick Herbert Sill, a graduate of Columbia University and the General Theological Seminary, opened Kent's doors in 1906, he had a lot of ideas about the educational value of service, the importance of respecting others and respecting one's self, and the connection between intellectual effort and spiritual reward. We hold true to those values today. We still teach our students to respect each other and themselves, to search for spiritual understanding, and to give back to their communities. Students and faculty still attend chapel together.
But some of Fr. Sill's ideas were quite forward-thinking in their day. He envisioned a "democratic" school, a place in which students learned about self-reliance and stewardship by participating in a daily work program. And he wanted to teach students from "all walks of life," so Kent became the first secondary school in the country to charge tuition on a sliding scale. We continue this today with the Kent Parents Fund and our Financial Aid Program. In fact, with over six million dollars annually, our commitment to financial aid ranks first among our peers, relative to our endowment.
In 1960, Kent decided that being true to Fr. Sill's mission of inclusiveness meant including girls. A revolutionary idea among the traditional New England boarding schools, it fit in well with Kent's love of innovation. Fr. Sill served as Kent's original headmaster for 35 years. We've only had six other Headmasters since. Although many things have changed in those years, our values and mission have stayed the same: graduating highly intelligent, extremely competent, thoroughly grounded young people who go on to lead successful, values-focused lives.
Program accomplishments
520 Students from 29 U.S. states and 31 countries. 93% boarding, 7% day
73% Teaching faculty hold advanced degrees
40% Students who receive Financial Aid
5:1 Student to faculty ratio
50 Teams in 22 sports
151
Courses including Advanced Studies courses