Knox College is a grant-aided secondary institution. It remains today as the only secondary co-educational boarding school in Jamaica. Most students come from the surrounding districts and towns. However, a significant number of students are from other parishes throughout the island. With seven grades and up to seven streams, Knox College takes in approximately 300 students each year in grade 7 and approximately 100 students in grade 13.
Curriculum
The broad-based curriculum is geared at equipping students for life. All students sit the Caribbean Examination Council examinations at the end of the grade eleven year and after lower and upper sixth form Caribbean Examination Council. The course work for these examinations begins in the ninth grade for all students. English Language, English Literature and Mathematics are compulsory.
Work programme
The Student service work programme initiated in 1968 continues as an integral part of the course, providing learning opportunities for students. Seniors are required to complete at least fifty hours of an assignment in the work programme under the supervision of their teachers. This programme is geared at building effective work ethics, and providing work experience, as students are selected to work in a department that complements their career choice.
Student leadership
The purpose of the Students Council and Prefect Council is to enhance the involvement of students in their education while developing their skills in decision-making and leadership. Students choose their own student council representatives. From the pool of elected representatives, teachers and students select a president and vice-president in a democratic election process. The academic staff selects the prefect body based on positive leadership qualities, academic performance and attitudes. From the complement of prefects, the head boy and head girl are selected.
Extra curricular activities
The school participates in a number of national and regional competitions, often receiving awards. Among these are Science competitions, Spanish competitions Literacy, Visual and Performing Arts competitions, the Junior Achievement and 4H competitions. Knox College has some thirty active clubs and societies. These bodies provide important opportunities for students to enrich their education and experiences outside the normal classroom sessions. These cater for a wide variety of interests and include athletic, creative, intellectual, recreational and spiritual activities. Students are encouraged to be actively involved in at least one club. Some of the current clubs and societies include cadets, drama, Inter School Christian Fellowship, junior achievement, 'Knox Novelities", 4H, literary, debating, music, rangers/guides, science and technology, schools’ challenge quiz, Spanish, speech, tourism action, Red Cross, girls brigade, male empowerment fraternity, journalism club, sign language club, technovators club, Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, environmentalist club, passion and purity and Sixth Form Association.
Sports
Knox College has particular interest in the sports of:
Knox College has enjoyed success in the sporting field of basketball since the inception of the school boy competition. Knox College has won multiple ISSA Basketball and Volleyball Championships.
