Montclair Kimberley Academy

Private school in Essex County, New Jersey, US

Montclair Kimberley Academy (MKA) is a co educational private school for students in pre kindergarten through twelfth grade located in Montclair in Essex County, in the U. S. state of New Jersey. One of New Jersey's largest independent day schools, Montclair Kimberley Academy celebrated the 125th anniversary of the establishment of its earliest component school in 2012. The current school, established in 1974, is the result of the merger of three separate schools: Montclair Academy, a boys' school founded in 1887; The Kimberley School, a girls' school founded in 1906; and Brookside, a coed school founded in 1925. As of the 2021–22 school year, the school had an enrollment of 1,025 students (plus 26 in PreK) and 168.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), for a student–teacher ratio of 6.1:1. The school's student body was 57.4% (588) White, 13.9% (142) Asian, 12.8% (131) Black, 11.6% (119) two or more races and 4.4% (142) Hispanic. The school offers a faculty professional development program, with 79% of the 175 faculty members holding advanced degrees and 11 holding doctorates. The school has accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1987 and is accredited until January 2025.

MKA offers a college prep curriculum featuring Signature Programs in Ethics, Writing, and the MKA Core – works of western and non western literary, artistic, musical, historical or mathematical significance. Each graduating senior is required to complete May Term. Choices for May Term include internships and travel opportunities in Europe and Asia. French and Spanish are offered from Pre K onwards; Latin and Chinese in 6th grade. The school has advanced technology, science labs supporting research based learning, four gymnasiums, a swimming pool, auditoriums, a black box theatre, and the Upper School both a $3 million arts wing and a multimillion dollar academic and technology wing. There is an interscholastic athletic program, and fields competitive teams in over 25 sports that have won over 100 championships in the past 10 years. Students have access to fine and performing arts opportunities ranging from a tri campus Strings Program, to mounting a full Shakespeare production in 7th grade, to making movies in the Upper School. Numerous community service opportunities exist at each campus, as well as extensive extracurricular offerings. 100% of students go on to college, with an 87% acceptance rate to one of their first three colleges of choice. The school is a member of the New Jersey Association of Independent Schools.

In 2013, MKA was recognized as an Apple Distinguished School for its use of technology in education. In 2009, Montclair Kimberley Academy was voted Best NJ Private School by parents in Bloomberg Businessweek. In 2010, the school was designated a Johns Hopkins School of Excellence. In 2003, Montclair Kimberley Academy was recognized as a National School of Character by the Character Education Partnership, one of ten schools selected nationwide. Montclair Kimberley Academy was recognized by the US Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School for 1999–2000, and the Upper School was also recognized as a Blue Ribbon School for 1994–1996.

Montclair Kimberley Academy has an extensive program for both performing and visual arts. The Fine and Performing Arts department is run by Nicole Hoppe. The school puts on four productions each academic year, including one large scale musical. On average, up to a quarter of the student body participates in the musical in some capacity. The school additionally puts on an arts showcase in September, and one to two plays each year, in the fall and in the spring. Every other year in the spring, the play is replaced by a film made by students with the help of a professional film crew. The department oversees the production of an arts newsletter, The Informer, published several times each semester. The Informer covers topics from current productions, to artist spotlights, and artistic opportunities and events in the community. Each year, students are recognized for their work on stage and in the fine arts. Montclair Kimberley Academy students are frequent recipients of Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. In 2016, two students have won Rising Star Awards from the Paper Mill Playhouse.

The Montclair Kimberley Academy Cougars compete in the Super Essex Conference, which includes public and private high schools in Essex County and operates under the supervision of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA). Prior to the NJSIAA's 2010 realignment, the school had previously participated in the Colonial Hills Conference which included public and private high schools covering Essex County, Morris County and Somerset County in west Central Jersey. With 335 students in grades 10 12, the school was classified by the NJSIAA for the 2019–20 school year as Non Public B for most athletic competition purposes, which included schools with an enrollment of 37 to 366 students in that grade range (equivalent to Group I for public schools). The school was classified by the NJSIAA as Non Public Group B (equivalent to Group I for public schools) for football for 2022–2024, which included schools with 64 to 223 students. MKA's longtime rival is Newark Academy; there is also a rivalry with Montclair High School, Montclair's public high school. Some of the school's more successful athletic teams include girls' tennis, boys' tennis, boys' soccer, softball, ice hockey, golf, varsity and junior varsity baseball, boys' lacrosse, girls' volleyball, field hockey and boys cross country. The girls fencing team was the overall state champion in 1980 1983 and 1985 1990. The program's 10 state titles and nine individual titles are both ranked second in the state. The ice hockey team won the Gordon Cup in 1982, won the Handchen Cup in 1992, won the McInnis Cup in 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015, and the Kelly Cup in 2023. The MKA ice hockey team finished the 2006–07 season ranked in the top 20 in New Jersey but lost 2–1 to Paramus Catholic High School in the first round of the state playoffs. The season was highlighted with a win over Montclair High School in the Montclair Cup game. MKA would then win the Montclair Cup again in 2008. The two teams met again in 2009, Montclair High shutout MKA 4–0 to regain the Cup. The Cougars would finish the 2009 campaign at 5–19, leading to Head Coach Gary Kramer's resignation. In the spring of 2009, MKA named former MHS alumni and coach, Brack Healy, their new bench boss. In Healy's first game against his former team, MKA beat Montclair High 2–1. MKA's 9–2–3 start was rewarded with a Star Ledger Top 20 ranking. MKA qualified for the state playoffs and recorded their first postseason win since 1995 with a 3–2 win vs. Bishop Eustace. Citing professional advancement, Healy resigned from MKA after only one season behind the bench and took over as the head man at Fair Lawn High School. In the 2010–11 season the Cougars picked up John LaGorce as head coach. On January 3 they beat cross town rival, MHS in the annual Montclair Cup 3–0, only the second shutout in Montclair Cup history. The team capped off the season with a 4–2 victory over West Essex High School in the McInnis Cup championship. The Cougars were later declared the Essex County team of the year. The boys tennis team was Non Public B/C state champion in 1983 (defeating Mater Dei High School in the final match of the tournament), 1984 (vs. Gloucester Catholic High School), 1989 (vs. Moorestown Friends School) and 1990 (vs. Morrestown Friends). The 1984 team won the parochial state championship against Christian Brothers Academy and went on to win the overall state championship, defeating runner up Princeton High School 4 1. The boys tennis team was the 2009 Prep B state co champion. The team also made it to the finals of the 2007 North Non Public B state championship where they lost to Newark Academy 3–2. The 2008 team would repeat their 2007 success by making it back to the finals of the North Non Public B state championship in which they lost 3–2. The 2008 team also won the Colonial Hills Conference and Essex County Championships. The county tournament win was the first in the school's history. The girls tennis team won the Non Public B state championship in 1986 (defeating runner up Wildwood Catholic Academy in the tournament's final round), 1990 (vs. Moorestown Friends School), 1994 (vs. Moorestown Friends), 2003 (vs. Holy Spirit High School), 2004 (vs. Holy Spirit), 2005 (vs. Moorestown Friends), 2006 (vs. Sacred Heart High School) and 2012 (vs. Gill St. Bernard's School); the program's eight state titles are tied for seventh most in the state. The 2004 team won the Tournament of Champions against runner up West Morris Mendham High School. The team won their fourth consecutive Parochial B state championship in 2006 and won the 2007 Colonial Hills Conference championship. The 2004 team finished the season with a 24 0 record after defeating West Morris Mendham 4 1 to win the ToC. The baseball team has won four Prep B state titles since 1991, most recently in 2009, and six Colonial Hills Conference Championships, the most recent was in 2009 when the Cougars were named the Colonial Hills Conference Co Champions. The MKA baseball has also won three Non Public B North crowns, in 1997, 2002 and 2009. In 2002 the Cougars were led by Frank Herrmann who pitched in MLB for the Cleveland Indians. The Cougars' head baseball coach since 1991, Ralph Pacifico, won his 300th game in 2007. In 2009 MKA Baseball captured both the conference title and the Prep B championship. Pacifico was named Coach of the Year in the Colonial Hills Conference. On June 2, 2009, MKA defeated St. Mary of Rutherford by a score of 7–3 to win the North Non Public B crown and clinch a spot in the overall state title game. The boys fencing team won the overall state championship in 1993. The softball team won the Non Public B state championship in 1999 (defeating Sacred Heart High School in the tournament final), 2000 (vs. St. Joseph High School of Hammonton), 2002 (vs. Gloucester Catholic High School), 2004 (vs. Sacred Heart), 2005 (vs. Holy Spirit High School), 2006 (vs. Gloucester Catholic), 2007 and 2009 (vs. St. Joseph Hammonton both years). The eight state championships is tied for second most among schools in the state and the 10 finals appearances are the fourth most, while the streak of four consecutive titles from 2004 to 2007 is tied for second longest. The 1999 team finished the season with a 24 6 record after winning the Parochial B title with a 5 0 win in the championship game against Sacred Heart. The 2007 team finished the season with a record of 21 6 after winning the Non Public B state title with a 2 0 win against St. Joseph of Hammonton by a score of 2 0 in the championship game. The team won ten straight Colonial Hills Conference championships from 1999 to 2008. The girls swimming team won the Non Public Group B state championship in 2000 and 2001. The field hockey team won the North I Group I state sectional championship in 2001 and 2012. In 2009, the team was NJSIAA Prep B state champions with a 2–1 win over Stuart Country Day School. In the 2005–06 season the MKA Wrestling team won their first Prep B state championship in the history of the school. The boys soccer team won the Non Public Group B state championship in 2006 (against Wildwood Catholic High School in the finals of the tournament), 2011 (vs. Gill St. Bernard's School) and 2012 (vs. Gill St. Bernard's) The boys' soccer team were Prep B State Champions and NJSIAA sectional finalists, and won North Parochial B and overall Non Public B championship in 2006, the school's first ever wins in the tournament. The Cougars' boys' lacrosse team won the 2007 Prep B state title, ending Morristown Beard School's five year win streak. The girls' volleyball team won the 2006 and 2007 Colonial Hills Conference Championship. The Cougar volleyball coach Mike Tully was also recently named the 2008 New Jersey State Coach of the year. In 2007, the team had a 19–1 record, winning the 2007 Colonial Hills Conference Championship, came in 2nd in the 2007 Essex County Tournament and won the 2007 Prep B state championship. The MKA golf team finished the 2010 season as Parochial Non Public B State Champions and NJISAA Prep B state champions. In 2008, Coach Tony Jones led the boys' basketball team to the school's first Prep B championship for the sport, defeating Collegiate School 82–59. Kyrie Irving, who was a Sophomore at the time, became the school's second 1,000 point scorer two days earlier in the semi final game against top seeded and defending champion Solomon Schechter. In 2010, they were named SEC Independence Division Champions. The boys lacrosse team won the Non Public Group B state championship, defeating Pingry School in the tournament final. MKA boys cross country through 2014–2017 won four consecutive Prep B state championships, including a Non Public B championship in 2014 and top 3 finishes in 2015 and 2017. This dominance not matched nearly by any other MKA sports program was led by coach Thomas Fleming until his death in the spring of 2017 where he suffered from a heart attack during a track meet. He later died at the hospital. The girls soccer team finished the 2017 season with a 17 4 5 record, after winning the Non Public Group B state title as co champion with Moorestown Friends School after a 3 3 tie in the finals of the tournament. The girls spring / outdoor track team won the Non Public B state championship in 2021.

Richard W. Day (1916–1978), principal of Montclair Academy who was the 10th principal of Phillips Exeter Academy. Thomas Fleming (1951–2017), winner of the New York City, Tokyo, Cleveland International, and Los Angeles marathons.

Every year, the Alumni Association awards a notable MA, TKS or MKA alum the Distinguished Alumni Award.