About Us

 Kenston Forest School is located in rural South-Central Virginia within a forty minute drive of Chesterfield County and Petersburg to the north, Farmville to the west and South Hill to the South.  The school enrolls nearly 400 students in grades Pre-K to 12.  The majority of students come from Amelia, Brunswick, Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, and Nottoway counties, and the City of Petersburg.  Free school bus transportation is available within the service area.

The 79 acre campus includes 30 classrooms, library/ media center, two cafeterias, science lab, computer lab, and gymnasium.  Outdoor sports facilities include a baseball field, softball field, football/ soccer field, and two practice fields.      

The school is fully accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Virginia Independent Schools Association (VISA).  The Early Learning program is licensed by the State of Virginia.

 The History of Kenston Forest School

In 1966, a group of interested citizens in Lunenburg and Nottoway counties
organized the Lunenburg-Nottoway Educational Foundation, a non-profit
corporation, which established Kenston Forest School, a private
co-educational day school for grades eight through twelve.  A year earlier,
the Kenbridge Day School and the Blackstone Day School were opened for
grades pre-school through seven.  The founders believed there were a need
for such a school in the area and envisioned the two lower schools as
feeders for the new upper school.

Residents of the two counties, some without children, agreed to underwrite
the establishment of Kenston Forest School.  A twenty-eight and one-half
acre tract of beautiful rolling land (formerly known as Holden's Orchard)
located just south of Blackstone, Virginia in Nottoway County was chosen for
the site of the new school and in the spring of 1966, construction began on
the school's two original buildings, each 5,000 square feet and containing
eight classrooms, a library, and administrative offices. Football, baseball and softball fields were also added.

Approximately 175 students had enrolled in the new high school by the fall
of 1966.  Tuition was set at $350 per student, and the school offered all
courses required by the State Board of Education.  In an effort to
distinguish itself from other area schools, public and private, Kenston
Forest secured a staff of outstanding educators from surrounding counties
and established itself as "college preparatory" by offering advanced courses
in mathematics and science.

Enrollment quickly rose during the early years and it became necessary to
add on to the original school.  A new wing consisting of six classrooms was
built in 1969 to help accommodate the increasing number of students.  By
1972, enrollment had grown to over 325 students and the need for additional
facilities was evident.  A large, modern building that included a gymnasium,
locker rooms, offices, reception area/ lobby, kitchen, dining room, stage
area, and classroom was completed and dedicated in December of 1973. 

Enrollment began a steady decline in the mid-seventies until in 1981, when
the Blackstone Day School, Kenbridge Day School, and Kenston Forest School
merged to form one school for grades pre-k through twelve.  It was during
this timeframe and continuing throughout the eighties that many small
private schools in Virginia closed their doors for lack of enrollment or
lack of funding.  Despite similar obstacles, Kenston Forest School was able
to weather this storm with outstanding leadership and its strong commitment
to the values and beliefs of its founders.

 By the late nineties, the Board of Directors had begun to discuss ways to
accommodate an increasing student body.  A small building had been built in
1992 to house a day care program for three and four year olds and the David
C. Wright field house had been added a few years later.  Otherwise, the
buildings and surrounding campus looked very much as it did in 1973, though
a bit worn with age.

Development of an aggressive long range master plan and a successful capital
campaign led to the construction of a new upper school building in 1999 as
well as long overdue improvements to existing facilities including paint,
tile, carpet, technology upgrades and air conditioning.  The new upper
school building included a well equipped computer lab, science lab and five
additional classrooms.

Phase II of the master plan included construction of a modern 10,000 square
foot building in 2005 with nine classrooms to house the early learning
program, after school program, summer program, kindergarten, and first
grade.  This facility also included a playground, office space, kitchen and
cafeteria.

Additional campus improvements since 2004 included the addition of
fifty-three acres adjoining the campus, new lighting, new fences and a new
press box for the football field, paved parking lots, additional computer
stations, improved exterior signage, lighting and landscaping, an upgraded
bus fleet, and kitchen improvements.  The original gymnasium and stage
underwent significant renovation in late 2007 and the basketball court was
dedicated as "Alumni Court" on January 7, 2008.

Enrollment had climbed significantly over the prior decade by the start of
the 2007 - 2008 school year.  Academic and other opportunities for students
had increased.  And, the grounds and facilities had dramatically grown and
improved.  At no point in the school's long and rich history has the future
looked brighter.