Darrow School

New Lebanon

New York

United States

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

“If I hadn't gone to Darrow I would not have gotten to the moon.”

-Charles "Pete" Conrad, Class of 1949,

Merit

Merit Scholarships: Offered

Students Receiving Merit Scholarships: 8%

Average Merit Scholarship: 8,000

Current Endowment Amount: $5,200,000

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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