Boarding High School in New York State

Darrow School:
Situated in New Lebanon, a town in Columbia County NY, Darrow School is a co-educational college preparatory boarding & day school for students in Grades 9-12. We provide a challenging, hands-on college preparatory curriculum with a student/teacher ratio of 5:1. At Darrow School, we are dedicated to serving students with diverse backgrounds and abilities, building on each student’s individual talents and interests to inspire enduring confidence for success in college and life.

Co-educational College Preparatory Boarding & Day School for Grades 9-12:
We provide a challenging, hands-on college preparatory curriculum with a student/teacher ratio of 5:1. Darrow is known a pioneer in the field of active, hands-on learning, celebrating 75 years of inspiring confidence in students for college and in life. Academic departments include: Art, English, Mathematics, Language, History, Science, and ESL. Darrow boasts a 99% college placement record.

Solid Academic Foundation:
The curriculum at Darrow is designed to lay down a solid academic foundation, but that is just the beginning. The rewards of learning come from the building of meaningful interests upon such a foundation. Our curriculum is college-preparatory, but with several distinct advantages. An average class size of just 9 students provides excellent contact among students and faculty. 

Hands-on Learning Process:
Through a strongly emphasized hands-on learning process, students may find themselves applying their classroom knowledge by selling hot dogs to learn the details of macroeconomics, or getting their feet wet while studying the biology of the local watershed. In photography classes, students start by making a pinhole camera to learn how photography works before they use modern film and digital equipment. 

One-on-One Tutorials:
A one-on-one tutorial program is individually tailored to meet a student’s specific needs, be they the fortification of study skills, time management, SAT preparation, or advanced study.

Individualized areas of interest are pursued as Spring Term projects, in which students are encouraged to roll up their sleeves and put their hands to a focused undertaking for a week. Examples of recent projects include hiking on the Appalachian Trail, crafting boats and Shaker furniture on campus, and participating in Katrina relief efforts. On campus or off, the emphasis is on personal growth and the use of real-world learning, with a thread of community service and sustainability in the offerings.

Educational Philosophy:
This distinctive approach to education, where hands-on, active learning, small class sizes, and attentive teachers offer students a positive and challenging educational experience, has been at the core of Darrow School’s educational philosophy for more than 70 years. It prompted a recent graduate to remark about her decision to come to Darrow: “It’s the best decision I have ever made. Darrow has showed me what I can achieve and has supported me in every way possible. Darrow is a place to grow as a person, as well as a student."