Darrow School

Darrow School
Address
110 Darrow Road New Lebanon, New York 12125 Columbia County, United States
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.

History

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]}

Location

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).

Notable alumni

• Charles "Pete" Conrad, Apollo 12 commander and third man to walk on the moon. Darrow Class of 1949.
• Chris "Mad Dog" Russo, Sportscaster and radio personality. Darrow Class of 1979.
• Sam Harper, Screenplay writer of Cheaper by the Dozen and Cheaper by the Dozen II. Darrow Class of 1979.
• Jane Feldman, photographer and writer of several children's books including I am a Dancer and I am a Skater.
• Christopher Lloyd, Actor who appeared in "Taxi" and "Back to the Future".
• Indianapolis Mayor William H. Hudnut III
• Barron Hilton, son of hotel mogal and younger brother of celebrity Paris Hilton

External links

Hudson Valley portal

• School Website
• Darrow School listing at GreatSchool.com