Darrow School
Overview

Darrow School has been recognized as a thought leader in the field of curriculum design and innovation. Darrow is unique in that it places students at the center of their own education, finding new and innovative ways to challenge and support students at every turn. Our numerous elective offerings task students with designing a cohesive education in which the work they’ve done before always informs the work they do next. Our active curriculum, combined with our incorporation of project based learning, means that our students learn to solve real problems using skills they develop across disciplines. Darrow School students learn within an atmosphere that supports intellectual curiosity, creativity, and experimentation. Through project-based learning and problem solving, our students discover that education is active, and that their own curiosity is their most powerful motivator. Darrow classes are small, collaborative, and engaging. Our faculty excel at creating an atmosphere in which all members of the community are both learners and teachers - all students are valued for their unique perspectives, experiences, and ideas. Darrow students are taught that they should aspire to not simply succeed, but to thrive. By working with an outstanding faculty comprised of adults who care and are invested in their academic and emotional well-being, students experience the joy of self-discovery and curiosity. In this way, they are uniquely prepared to enter the world with excitement for life’s ambiguities and unknowns. Through differentiated instruction and student-centered, active learning, Darrow School is able to serve students with a wide variety of backgrounds and abilities, building on each student’s individual talents and interests to inspire enduring confidence to thrive in college and life. Our Academic Mentoring Program gives students the opportunity for individual or small group support in a range of academic and life-skill areas. Academic mentors help students develop strong study, organizational, leadership and management skills. All students can benefit from close collaboration with an academic mentor.



Academics
Summary: Darrow School students learn within an atmosphere that supports intellectual curiosity, creativity, and experimentation. Through project-based learning and problem solving, our students discover that education is active, and that their own curiosity is their most powerful motivator. Darrow classes are small, collaborative, and engaging. Our faculty excel at creating an atmosphere in which all members of the community are both learners and teachers - all students are valued for their unique perspectives, experiences, and ideas. Darrow students are taught that they should aspire to not simply succeed, but to thrive. By working with an outstanding faculty comprised of adults who care and are invested in their academic and emotional well-being, students experience the joy of self-discovery and curiosity. In this way, they are uniquely prepared to enter the world with excitement for life’s ambiguities and unknowns. Through differentiated instruction and student-centered, active learning, Darrow School is able to serve students with a wide variety of backgrounds and abilities, building on each student’s individual talents and interests to inspire enduring confidence to thrive in college and life. Our Academic Mentoring Program gives students the opportunity for individual or small group support in a range of academic and life-skill areas. Academic mentors help students develop strong study, organizational, leadership and management skills. All students can benefit from close collaboration with an academic mentor.
Department Director Mike Saarela
Student/Teacher Ratio: 4/1:
Average Class Size: 9
Summer Programs: Not Offered
Full Time Teachers: 30
Number of AP Courses Offered: 0
Teachers Holding Advanced Degrees: 77%
Number of IB Courses Offered: 0
Learning Support
- Evening Study Assistance
- Learning Center
- Learning Differences Support
- Study Skills Assistance
- Subject Tutoring
- Technology Center
- ADD/ADHD Support
English
- Creative Writing
- Literature
- Poetry
History
- United States History
- World History
Foreign Languages
Religion / Philosophy
- Ethics
- Moral Philosophy
- Social Justice
Humanities / Social Sciences
- Anthropology
- Economics
- Psychology
Sciences
- Anatomy
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Earth Science
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Geology
- Health
- Meteorology
- Physical Science
Math
Computer Studies
- Multimedia
Music
- Composition
- History of Jazz
- Individual Instructions
- Music Appreciation
- Music Theory
- Principles of Arranging
- Recording
- Songwriting
- Voice
Performing / Visual Arts
Special Programs
- Community Service
- Personal Finance
- Independent Study
- Internships
- Leadership
- Outdoor Education
Campus Life
Dorm Life
Number of Dorms: 5
Average Students Per Dorm: 20
Number of Girls Dorms: 2
Number of Boys Dorms: 3
Dorm Amenities
- Laundry Facilities
- Lounge
- Wireless Internet
Other Dorm Amenities
Student Life
Classes, Hands-to-Work, Academic Mentorship, sports, activities, student leadership, living together in the dorms—Darrow School life provides many opportunities to develop relationships and have fun exploring life with adults and peers.
Facilities
- Baseball Field
- Basketball Court
- Fitness Center
- Indoor Basketball Court
- Technology Center
Other Facilities
- Lacrosse
- Tennis Courts
- Cross Country Trails
- Hiking trails
Clubs & Organizations
- Community Service
- Diversity Club
- Dorm Proctors
- Environmental Club
- Food Council
- Foreign Language Clubs
- International Club
- Literary Magazine
- Outing Club
- Peer Tutoring
- Photography Club
- Snowboarding Club
- Student Activities
- Student Government
- Student Publications
- Theater Club
- Yearbook
- Yoga Club
Arts & Athletics
Summary: Darrow School believes that studying the world through the lens of an artist is essential to truly understanding who we are and what we value. Our Joline Arts Center provides studio and lab spaces for a broad range of fine arts, including classrooms and studios specifically built for painting, drawing, design, film and animation, ceramics, photography, and woodworking. In addition to areas for private work and individual projects, the building also includes gallery spaces, seminar rooms, and a graphic design lab. The Performing Arts Center at Darrow contains a state-of-the-art recording studio, where students learn to record, mix, and master like a professional. Darrow School athletics are dedicated to developing our students as athletes and cultivating exemplary sportsmanship standards for team players and individual athletes alike. Our program is inclusive of all students who wish to participate. Interscholastic teams compete in soccer, cross-country, basketball, softball, lacrosse, Ultimate Frisbee, and tennis. Each season, non-competitive electives are also offered, including skiing and snowboarding, outdoor education, MMA, and general fitness/conditioning. In recent years, fencing, mountain biking, yoga and dance have also been offered, based on faculty availability and expertise.
Arts Department Director: Liz Fougere
Athletics Department Director: Don Singleton
Arts
Interscholastic Sports
- Basketball
- Cross Country Running
- Lacrosse
- Soccer
- Softball
- Table Tennis
- Ultimate Frisbee
Recreational Sports
- Aerobics
- Alpine Skiing
- Hiking
- Mountain Biking
- Outdoor Education
- Rock Climbing
- Snowboarding
- Table Tennis
- Tennis
- Weight Lifting
Graduates
Summary: College counseling at Darrow School is made up of a robust suite of services ranging from SAT/ACT prep to the creation of college lists for each individual student to the opportunity to meet college and university admissions representatives right here on campus. Darrow’s Director of College Counseling works with each student to guide them through the process of getting the most out of their high school experience and translating those experiences into compelling college applications. Darrow students are accepted into some of the most elite colleges and universities in the country, including: Cornell, Kenyon, Macalester, Grinnell, RIT, Bucknell, Oberlin, and many more. More importantly, they’re getting accepted to the colleges they most want to attend, no matter where those colleges fall in the rankings.
College Information
Percentage of graduates who attend college: 100%
Middle Percentile of SAT Scores | Reading | Math | Writing |
---|---|---|---|
25th percentile | |||
75th percentile |
Notable Alumni
Charles 'Pete' Conrad
Class of 1949
Third man to walk on the Moon Apollo 12.
Sam Harper
Class of 1979
Screenplay Writer Cheaper by the Dozen""
Chris Mad Dog" Russo"
Class of 1979
Sportscaster and Radio Personality
Quotes From Alumni
Merit
Merit Scholarships: Offered
Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 8%
Average Merit Scholarship: 8,000
Current Endowment Amount: $5,200,000
Vital Information
Student Body Type: Coed
Total Boarding: 80
Total Day: 30
Total Enrollment: 110
Boys: 66
Girls: 44
Boarding Grades Offered: 9-12
Day Grades Offered: 9-12
School Type: High School, Post-grad
Dress Code: Casual
Applications Accepted: SAO
Application Deadline: Rolling
Tuition & Financial Aid
7-Day Boarding: $61,000
5-Day Boarding: N/A
Day Tuition Fee: $36,000
Need-Based Aid: Offered
Payment Plans: Offered
Students Receiving Aid: 40%
Average Awarded: $39,554
School Finances
Merit Scholarships: Offered
Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 8%
Average Merit Scholarship: $8,000
Current Endowment Amount: $5,200,000
Contact
Director of Admissions: Libby Doan
Admissions Phone: 518 704 2770
Fax: 518 794 7065
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://www.darrowschool.org
Nearby Schools
- Miss Hall’s School - 7mi / 12 km
- Bard Academy At Simon’s Rock - 17mi / 27 km
- Buxton School - 19mi / 31 km
- Emma Willard School - 23mi / 37 km
- Berkshire School - 23mi / 38 km
- The Hotchkiss School - 35mi / 57 km









School Events
Monday Feb 17 2921 - Wednesday Feb 17 2021
02:00:00pm - 03:30:00pm
Discover the transformative power of an education that prepares students for a lifetime of success. We hope to see you there!