| Darrow School | |
|---|---|
| Address | |
| 110 Darrow Road New Lebanon, New York 12125 Columbia County, United States |
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| Information | |
| School type | Independent, Boarding |
| Denomination | Non-denominational |
| Founded | 1932 |
| Oversight | Board of Trustees |
| Chairperson | Alexa Seip |
| Head of school | Nancy M. Wolf |
| Staff | 52 |
| Teaching staff | 31 |
| Grades | 9-12 |
| Average class size | 8-9 |
| Student to teacher ratio | 4:1 |
| Language | English |
| Campus size | 365 acres (1.48 km2) |
| Houses | Ann Lee Cottage, Brethren's Workshop, Hinckley, Neale House, Meacham |
| School Colour(s) | Maroon, White, and Gray |
| Athletics | Baseball, Basketball, Cross-Country, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Ultimate Frisbee |
| Athletics conference | HVAL, NEPSAC |
| Mascot | Darrow Ducks |
| Accreditation(s) | Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools |
| Publication | 'The Peg Board' |
| Endowment | $2.5 million |
| Affiliation | NAIS, TABS, NYSAIS, NYBSA |
| %Faculty with Advanced Segrees | 57% |
| Average Teaching Experience | 10.9 years |
| Number of States Represented | 14 |
| Number of Countries Represented | 8 |
| Website | www.darrowschool.org |
Darrow School is an Independent co-educational high school. Its New Lebanon campus is a 365-acre (1.48 km2) property in the Berkshire Hills, which are a southern extension of the Green Mountains of Vermont.
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Over two hundred years ago the area was selected by a group of Shakers. As Shaker communities all over the US declined, the property became available. Darrow opened in the fall of 1932 as the Lebanon School for Boys. It was renamed "Darrow School" in 1939 in honor of the Darrow family who had first settled the land and had provided support and leadership in the early years of the Shaker community. In the later part of the 20th century it began to accept female students.
Until 1948, Mount Lebanon was home to the largest Shaker community in America. More than a decade before the last of the Shakers left the village, they set in motion plans for a school, and in 1931 contacted New Lebanon admiralty lawyer Charles Haight to make their idea a reality. In 1932, the Lebanon School for Boys, later renamed Darrow School, opened its doors, utilizing many of the original Shaker buildings as classrooms; meeting, dining, and athletic facilities; and dormitories for both students and teachers. Darrow’s buildings have been well maintained throughout the School’s 75-year history, and although some accommodations have been made for modern living and learning, all renovations have been conducted in consideration of the Shaker principles of simplicity, function, beauty, and stewardship of both the historic site and the earth.
In the late 1980s the school was forced to sell much of its original Shaker furniture to meet budget deficits. Then, in the spring of 1991 the board of trustees voted to close the school at the end of that term. Parents of the 106 students enrolled in the school and alumni (led by Harve Light) acted quickly to raise over a quarter of a million dollars. Weeks later the board voted unanimously to reverse its decision and Darrow got a second chance.
The school currently enrolls about 100 students and employs 31 teachers. Students come primarily from New York and Massachusetts, however, the school has a sizable population from other states as well as countries such as South Korea, Jamaica, Japan, Hong Kong, China, and Angola.
The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) has recognized Darrow School as a Leading Edge Honoree for its curriculum innovation, specifically in the area of sustainability. The School’s Sustainability Program is an important feature of the academic program and examines the relationship between people and their resources.
Darrow School is located on Mount Lebanon, just outside of the central Berkshires, in New Lebanon, New York. Darrow Road, marked by Darrow School’s sign, turns off of Route 20 seven miles (11 km) west of Pittsfield, Massachusetts and 26 miles (42 km) east of Albany, New York. Darrow is approximately 150 miles (240 km) north of New York City and 150 miles (240 km) west of Boston.
Darrow occupies the 365-acre (1.48 km2) site and buildings of an original Shaker village that has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Darrow has 26 buildings, 4 playing fields, 2 tennis courts, 5 residential dormitories, a 15,000 volume library, a 12,000-square-foot (1,100 m2) arts center, and a three building science facility that includes a Living Machine (natural wastewater treatment and learning center).