Considering a Move? Start with the Right School
Choosing to relocate is a major decision, especially when you have children. The search for the perfect home often begins not with real estate listings, but with school reviews. For many families, the question isn’t just “Where will we live?”—it’s “Where will our children thrive?”
At Kent School in Chestertown, Maryland, families find the answer. Kent School is a nurturing, academically rigorous environment set in one of the most beautiful and welcoming communities on the Eastern Shore.
How Are the Schools?
When families consider relocating, one of the first questions they ask is, “How are the schools?” Families moving to Maryland’s Eastern Shore can be confident in the educational opportunities available. With a blend of high-quality public, parochial, and independent schools, the region supports both lifestyle changes and academic success. In today’s era of flexible work, families are increasingly choosing where they want to live, not just where they have to.
Why Families are Choosing Maryland’s Eastern Shore
Nestled within reach of major Mid-Atlantic cities like Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC, and New York, Maryland’s Eastern Shore offers a peaceful alternative to city and suburban life. Towns like Chestertown in Kent County and neighboring Queen Anne’s County are becoming popular among families seeking a slower pace of life, surrounded by natural beauty and a strong sense of community.
Why Kent School Stands Out
Located along the scenic Chester River in Chestertown, Kent School is a standout option for families looking for a high-caliber independent school in a rural setting. Serving Preschool through Grade 8, the school combines rigorous academics with a nurturing, inclusive environment. As one parent shared, “Kent School makes it possible for us to live here full time. Otherwise we would not have left the Bucks County (PA) area.”
Campus Setting and Environment at Kent School
Kent School’s riverside campus, surrounded by a working farm, creates a one-of-a-kind environment where learning extends beyond the classroom. The school is nationally recognized for its Chesapeake Bay Studies curriculum, which is enriched through partnerships with environmental leaders like the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Sultana Education Foundation, Echo Hill Outdoor School, and Washington College’s Center for Environment and Society. As a certified Maryland Green School, Kent School integrates environmental literacy into everyday learning.
Is Kent School Considered a Good School on the Eastern Shore?
Kent School is accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools (AIMS) and is a member in good standing of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). The School takes pride in its ability to offer rigorous academics in a joyful environment. A multi-year partnership with the Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning (CTTL) supports Kent School teachers with professional development guided by neuroscience support. With the CTTL faculty, Kent School teachers are learning how children’s brains learn and can adjust their teaching to ways children learn best.
Prepared for the Future
Graduates of Kent School go on to thrive in top-tier independent day schools, boarding schools, parochial, and public schools. They often place into honors-level classes and become leaders in academics, arts, and athletics. The school emphasizes character development, with a focus on critical thinking, empathy, inclusion, and moral excellence.
Benefits of a K-8 School
The benefits of a K–8 school are supported by research. Studies have shown that students in schools like ours often experience higher academic achievement and report stronger feelings of school connectedness than their peers in traditional middle school models. In smaller settings, students are more likely to take on leadership roles and feel known and valued—critical ingredients in building the kind of self-assurance that serves them well in high school and beyond.
One study from the American Educational Research Journal found that students in K–8 schools demonstrated fewer behavioral issues and higher academic performance than those in 6–8 middle schools. The continuity of environment, faculty, and classmates appears to play a crucial role in these outcomes,
Affordability Without Compromise
Kent School is attractive because it is more affordable compared to independent schools in urban and suburban areas of the Mid-Atlantic. Families enrolled in tuition charging schools in DC, Baltimore, and Philadelphia could save thousands of dollars on annual tuition without sacrificing quality of education. Tuition assistance is also offered for families along with a Loyalty Discount for families with three or more children enrolled.
Explore Kent School and Chestertown
For families exploring a move to Maryland’s Eastern Shore, Kent School and the welcoming community of Chestertown should be top of mind. Discover a place where children can thrive academically and personally in a setting that inspires.
Visit www.kentschool.org or call 410-778-4100 for more information.
Kent School prepares students for active citizenship through joyful and rigorous academics, arts, and athletics in an inclusive community that fosters moral excellence.
