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We do more than Prepare our Students for College. We Darlington School was originally founded as a day school in 1905 and established its boarding program in 1923. Darlington enrolls approximately 900 students in grades pre-K to 12, including nearly 200 Upper School resident students. Darlington students come from 22 states and 42 countries worldwide. Residential life revolves around a “house” system, where students experience small family within the life of the larger community.
Education of a Lifetime
Darlington School brings over 100 years of excellence as one of the leading day and boarding schools in the Southeast. Providing a rigorous college-preparatory curriculum, together with a diverse and enriching living experience, Darlington prepares students for a rewarding college career and instills in them the confidence, independence and maturity for a lifetime of success.
A New World
“Darlington changed my life – there’s no question about it. I was a five-year boarding student, graduated eighth in my class, and went on to attend Boston College. College was challenging but the real growth for me happened at Darlington, where I acquired the skill set to succeed academically. In college, I was ready to perform because of my experience here. I learned how to take care of myself. I learned that there are consequences for your actions. I learned about
independence, making friends, respecting that a schedule is a good thing in life, discipline. People say that I’m very motivated and very independent, very goal oriented, and I always credit Darlington.”
Justin Farmer (’87) of Atlanta, Ga. News Anchor, WSB-TV Channel 2
www.darlingtonschool.org/justinfarmer
Barriers are broken down very quickly at Darlington. What you may expect someone from Egypt or Indonesia or Bulgaria to be like isn’t necessarily what he or she is like. Living and studying with students from 42 different countries can have a tremendous impact on your thinking and your notions of people and cultures. It makes your world bigger. It makes your world better.
ge. We Prepare them for Life. Prepare to Prosper
Alumni consistently tell us that they felt better prepared for college than many of their peers. This might be because of the rigorous coursework they had at Darlington and the abililty to fine-tune their studying techniques before ever setting foot on a college campus. Or it might be the time management skills they learned while balancing academics with athletics and fine arts, campus leadership roles, service projects and more. It could also be the sense of responsibilty and independence they gained while living in their home away from home. But it is most likely a combination of them all.
Welcome Home
Resident students live in one of six houses on campus, three for boys and three for girls, each managed by a full-time head of house and faculty members who live on campus. Our English-style house system, unique to American boarding schools, encourages strong student-faculty mentoring relationships and creates an immediate sense of camaraderie for the students who are making their home on Darlington’s campus.
A Privileged Partner
It is a privilege to be a part of each boarding student’s life. We understand the amount of trust placed in us. To play such an important role in a young person’s development, during the teenage years, is not a responsibility we take lightly. We are committed to partnering with each family to do the very best possible for their child. It is our duty. It is our responsibility. It is our privilege.
The House System makes possible Close Relationship Each house is led by a full-time head of house who receives assistance from numerous other Darlington faculty. Fifty-five percent of faculty and staff live on campus. Darlington has a low resident studentto-faculty ratio of 4:1. Our First-Year Experience program helps new students transition and develop study and interpersonal skills needed for success.
Head Caregiver
The head of house serves as the stand-in parent for each resident student. His or her primary role is not teaching, not coaching, not administrating – but to care for each child, and to serve as the primary contact for parents. Our heads of house live in the dorms. They’re on the hall throughout the day. They monitor grades – daily. They go to doctor’s appointments with students. They provide a listening ear, advice, discipline and hugs. They know these kids. They’re immersed in them. They love them.
Reporting for Duty
“When I came to Darlington as a freshman, not only was I moving to another continent and entering high school, but I also had to transition from living with my family to living with 28 girls from all over the world. Thankfully, we had a lot of great leaders in Cooper House who made it easier. Our academic prefect really mentored me. She lived right across the hall and was always there for advice. She is the reason that I decided to get involved with student leadership. I became academic prefect in Cooper House my sophomore year and was head prefect my junior and senior years. I really enjoyed being in the first-year house and helping people
transition to Darlington – it was definitely the best part of my Darlington experience. Additionally, the constant interaction with teachers on campus and in your house is an advantage to boarding because you have those resources available to you 24/7. They really do want to help you and see you succeed.”
Lauren Renaud (’12) of Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Georgia Institute of Technology Class of 2016
www.darlingtonschool.org/laurenrenaud
Duty teachers are faculty who live on campus and who help support the head of house on weeknights and weekends. They work with the prefect and academic liaison to run study hall during the evening from 7:30-9:30. They monitor free time – pizza, games, TV, fun! – after study hours. They make sure lights are out at 11. Once all is taken care of, they return home, leaving responsibilities once again to the head of house.
onships and a Strong Sense of Family.
Prefect Making Perfect
Prefect is the highest student leadership position in our school. Each house at Darlington has two prefects – one for day and one for boarding. Prefects work with the heads of house and with students to help residence life go smoothly. They provide student-to-student support – offering encouragement, addressing student issues and generally helping students maneuver through this experience called boarding school.
Safe at Home
Safety is a high priority at Darlington, and we have proven processes in place to ensure it. For example, students are not permitted to leave campus unless they check out with their head of house or duty teacher – and they must do so face-to-face. If students wish to leave on weekends, there is a process for that as well – involving student, head of house, host family and parent. Our campus has 24-hour security. With these measures and many more, you can trust that your child will be safe and secure at Darlington.
Far From Home
We understand that our international students are far from home, and so we do all we can to support them. Our heads of house regularly visit and talk with each international student. Our director of international students remains in regular contact as well. Faculty, faculty advisors, and college advisors assist on a consistent basis. And dorm mates and friends, as well as our Rome parents, reach out to make their Darlington experience a success.
Mrs. Whitewater?
Living at Darlington is a lot of fun – and we all share in it. On birthdays – which, by the way, are huge here! – you’ll have 30 house mates singing “Happy Birthday” to you. On weekends, if you were to go whitewater rafting or to a football game or a concert, beside you (having just as much fun as you) may be a head of house or perhaps your history teacher! These shared experiences make for different, deeper kinds of relationships. They also make for a lot of fun!
This is a 21st Century Education, shaped by a Passion
The student-teacher relationship is at the center of the Darlington experience. Darlington has a low student-faculty ratio of 9:1. Darlington offers 20 AP classes and Honors classes in every discipline. Our Advisory Program is a daily system of support designed to help students succeed.
High-Level High Tech
Technology is taught at a higher level at Darlington. Our A+ Certification class is a technical college-level class, where students learn how to repair computers and can become certified A+ technicians if they pass the college-level exams.
“My four years at Darlington were incredibly transformative. In addition to providing many opportunities for leadership and personal development, my experiences in and out of the classroom prepared me for the rigorous academic environment of college. One of my favorite classes was AP English Literature with David Powell. Our conversations in that course taught me to think critically and develop strong opinions. Outside of the classroom, I served as an academic prefect and was given the opportunity to mentor younger students and develop valuable leadership skills. Aside
from personal and intellectual growth, I value most the great relationships I developed with my teachers and the dorm families. They truly made Darlington a home away from home and gave me a second family. I started as a quiet and nervous freshman but went to college a stronger, more confident individual and I have Darlington to thank.”
Rachel Buckle (’09) of Princeton, N.J. Princeton University Class of 2013
Tools for Success
When needed, students’ schedules and activities can be quickly adjusted to ensure success. Students grades are posted promptly, and this constant flow of information not only informs a parent in China 15 minutes after a quiz, but, closer to home, it informs heads of houses on a daily basis. On each student’s individual web page, assignments are posted along with lesson plans. Every tool is available to help students manage their time wisely and to achieve their maximum.
assion for Teaching and Learning. Eye to Eye with a Red-Eye Each fall, our senior-level Zoology classes travel to the Conasauga River in the Cohutta Wilderness to experience the wonders of a pristine mountain stream. Officials from the Cherokee National Forest in Tennessee loan us snorkeling gear and
give a short presentation on the inhabitants of this unique ecosystem. Then, everyone slips into the cool water for a swim – with loggerhead musk turtles, logperch, redhorses, red-eye bass and other cold water fishes.
Advising for Success
Room for Advancement
From Page to Stage
Poetry comes alive during the English department’s annual Poetry Out Loud competition. More than 150 students participate by memorizing and reciting a poem of their choice in class. The top eight classroom winners are then selected to recite two poems in front of their peers and a panel of judges. Choosing a poem and internalizing it through memorization helps them engage with poetry, and recitation inspires appreciation for sounds and rhythms. It’s great practice for everything from making a speech in assembly to presenting a proposal to a business client.
Stop-and-Go Spanish Our Spanish II students study commands used in giving directions. But instead of reading about them in a book, they travel our hallways in pairs, with one partner blindfolded and the other giving commands in Spanish – for turning right, turning left, going straight, going up stairs, going down stairs and stopping. They are using Spanish. They are learning Spanish. They are having fun with Spanish!
Relationship building is the main goal of the Advisory Program. Advisors play a prominent role in each student’s experience at Darlington by regularly checking on grades and counseling about classes, extracurricular activities and school life. Advisors meet daily with advisees, allowing the advisor to effectively track and address each student’s progress academically, socially and emotionally.
Darlington offers 20 Advanced Placement courses, which provide opportunities for advanced specialized coursework and college credit. Sophomores take AP World History, AP Chemistry and AP Languages. Juniors take AP English Language, AP Sciences, AP U.S. History, or AP Calculus. Seniors may choose from offerings including AP Statistics, AP Calculus, AP Government, AP English Literature or AP Music Theory.
We instill a Joy of Learning, inspiring students to be We empower our students to learn with passion, act with integrity, and serve with respect. Darlington faculty stay abreast of current research and participate in ongoing professional development to ensure the highest quality curriculum. Darlington students can choose from more than 200 course options. Our faculty members are committed to teaching all types of learners.
How’s Business?
Economics students learn business by doing business. Dividing into small groups, they create their own company and product. They develop an advertising campaign with a logo and commercials. They decide where to locate their headquarters and estimate costs of building, materials, labor and utilities. They then use these estimates to determine their cost of product, and they create supply and demand charts in order to set a retail price. Lastly, the groups present their product, advertising and estimated income statement to the class.
Ship Shape “Darlington does an excellent job of developing the whole person, for those who are courageous enough to take advantage of it. There are so many classes and activities that challenge the mind, body and soul. I participated in so many things at Darlington that I can’t even remember them all. I took AP classes, served on the Honor Council and as its president, and participated in community service and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The range of experiences was truly incredible. I was able to get credit for an entire year of college thanks to my AP scores, and if
my college had not limited the amount of credit you could earn, I would have had even more. I learned leadership, compassion and forgiveness through the Honor Council. I learned to appreciate the arts. I developed a love of reading fiction. I can trace so much back of who I am now to my time at Darlington.”
Michael Van Cise (’97, LD ’12) of Atlanta, Ga. Attorney
Each year, Darlington Physics students compete in our always-fun Physics Boat Race. Taking principles of Physics learned in the classroom, students construct boats out of cardboard and duct tape and head to our own Silver Lake. With students, teachers and parents surrounding the lake, as many as 90 students, two to a boat, do their best to navigate the length of the lake. It’s an exciting race day, with more than a few sunken ships, and a lot of water balloons and water guns thrown in as well!
to become Lifelong Learners.
Learning Center
Students learn in different ways. Our goal is to enable a student to learn in the way that brings out his or her best. That is the mission of Darlington’s Teaching and Learning Center, to empower students to discover their unique academic talents. Designed for students with mild learning differences, the center’s learning specialists work with students and teachers, or directly with students needing academic support, to develop an academic plan and support system that will best help each student to thrive.
Math vs. Math
Students in Algebra 2 Honors, Pre-Calculus Honors, AP Calculus and AP Statistics compete in the Georgia Mathematics League six times during the year. Top finishers from these competitions are selected to participate in Darlington’s Math Team, which competes in events like the Georgia Tech High School Math Competition and at the GACS Dwight Love Mathematics Tournament. A competitive atmosphere plus a love of math – it all adds up to an active, fun learning experience.
SAT-Friendly Geometry
One concern with Geometry is that students take the course as freshmen and often have a two-year gap before taking the SAT. So in Honors Geometry, Darlington students compile a special SAT notebook, starting day one of class – made up of tips, sample problems and the most common rules in Geometry that show up on the college entrance test. At the end of the course, students take with them a complete, user-friendly Geometry review – assuring they’ll be in good “shape” for the SAT.
This is a Community in every sense – Welcoming, Activ Located on over 400 very scenic acres in Rome, Georgia, our campus is an hour from both Atlanta and Chattanooga. Darlington’s community offers an abundance of service organizations, academic and athletic groups, and spiritual and arts organizations. The school offers a choice of over 60 extracurricular opportunities. There are more than 80 leadership opportunities for day and resident students. The Darlington community abides by its motto: Wisdom more than Knowledge, Service beyond Self, Honor above Everything.
Darlington Central This is a high-energy community where activities are taking place on campus all through the year. From Tigers football games to school concerts, karaoke and Slip ‘n Slides, Darlington offers a campus calendar chock-full of activities and events. It’s why our students are so involved. It’s why our students are so close.
The One and Only Rumpus
“Darlington was a perfect fit for me because of all the opportunities to try new things. I didn’t want to miss out on anything! I was a member of House Senate and Honor Council, I tried diving and cross country, and I was even the Tiger mascot my senior year. But my two most meaningful activities were community service and leadership in the dorm. I’d never done volunteer work before I went to Darlington, but in four years I logged over 400 hours and loved every minute of it. Being a house leader
made me a different person as well. Every year, I got to meet new åfirst days in high school. Helping them have the best possible experience was very important to me. I truly believe that Darlington gave me a new life.”
Mark Huang (’11) of Taipei, Taiwan Emory University Class of 2015
www.darlingtonschool.org/markhuang
Each January, all six houses enter into the much-anticipated, wild-and-crazy competition called RUMPUS. A fun and fierce competition, RUMPUS engages our entire campus, students and faculty, but on a very different student-teacher level. RUMPUS competitions include Fear Factor, where students eat really gross stuff; The Gauntlet, a competition of body and mind; a Lip Sync contest; a “blind” baking contest; and a whole lot more!
g, Active and Serving.
It’s Family Here
“Everyone is so nice.” “There’s not a person on my floor that I’m not friends with.” “Here, you just hang out with everyone.” Those are just some of the comments Darlington students make about the familylike atmosphere and sense of community you find on our campus. It really is about respect – a courtesy and kindness given to everyone who lives and studies here. We are a family – a very close one. And if you come here, you’ll be family, too.
Join the Club
When it comes to extracurricular clubs and activities, the choices are seemingly limitless at Darlington. Our clubs and after-school activities include: Fine Arts
Academic
The Darlingtones
French Club
The Darlington Players
Georgia Junior Academy of Science
Chamber Ensemble Darlington Diamonds (dance team) Drum Line Guitar Ensemble Instrumental Choirs Jazz Combo Orchestra Random Notes Set Crew Stadium Band
The Inkslinger (literary magazine) Jabberwokk (yearbook) Junior State of America Math Team Spanish Club Student Publications Technology Club
String Ensemble Wind Ensemble
Other Organizations Environmental Awareness
Outdoor Club
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
Varsity “D” Club
IMPACT International
S.O.A.R. Young Democrats Young Republicans
Making a Difference
In order for students to be leaders, they have to serve first. At Darlington, our students are learning the value of thinking outside themselves and actively serving others. As a part of our Servant Leadership Program, students volunteer each week with a variety of different community organizations. A few of the organizations with whom we’ve had the privilege to serve include: American Red Cross Blood Assurance Boys & Girls Club of Northwest Georgia Cancer Navigators Habitat for Humanity McHenry Primary School North Broad Community Kitchen Open Door Children’s Home Rally for Research Relay for Life Rome Little Theatre William S. Davies Homeless Shelter
100% of Darlington Graduates go to College. Our goal is to prepare students for a rewarding college experience and to instill in our students a lifelong love of learning. Darlington graduates attend many of the nation’s most prestigious colleges and universities. Our highly individualized College Guidance Program has an unusually low counselor-toadvisee ratio of 1:10.
College Guidance
Darlington’s formal college guidance program begins in ninth grade and continues through all four years of Upper School. Ours is a highly personalized counseling program led by two full-time college counselors and a team of college advisors who are committed to helping students find the best college fit. Each year, more than 100 colleges and universities visit our campus, enabling students to explore a wide array of options both nationally and internationally.
“When I think back to my Darlington experience, some of the courses and outstanding educators that immediately come to mind are freshman English with John Cox, AP English with David Powell, Organic Chemistry with Julia Dodd and AP European History with Craig Schmidt. Having Sam Moss, Darlington’s dean of college guidance, as my college counselor during senior year was a huge help to me and opened many doors. I was blessed to be accepted at and offered scholarships to all of the colleges I applied to, including Duke, Georgetown and Vanderbilt. In the spring, I narrowed my choices down to Emory University, where I had been offered a full academic scholarship, and Harvard University, where I had been offered a Navy ROTC scholarship. It was a very
difficult decision, but after getting nuanced advice from some of my mentors I ultimately decided to attend Emory. I loved my time at Emory, serving in student government and volunteering in the 2008 Presidential Campaign. I know that being able to attend college debt free would not have occurred without the accomplishments I experienced at Darlington. I also know that the success I felt in college would not have been possible without the foundation Darlington laid for me.”
Brett Henson (’07) of Chapel Hill, N.C. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Dentistry Class of 2015
No Time to Waste
College Boot Camp, held the first day of school, allows seniors to hit the ground running with college admissions. Students show up with a completed common application and college essay in hand, ready to delve into the process. They hear from college advisors and choose from workshops about financial aid, portfolio gathering, athletic scholarships and more. It’s just one more way that Darlington takes the guesswork out of applying to college.
Beyond Our Gates No Falling Through the Cracks
Darlington students succeed as a result of a highly individualized learning environment. Here, teachers know their students, care about their students, and will go to whatever lengths necessary to help them become their best. This is a school where it is difficult to fall through the cracks. There are many levels of support – starting with the teachers and continuing with advisors, heads of house, prefects, coaches and learning specialists.
Impressive Performance
Darlington graduates perform remarkably well in college admissions. Over the past five years, our students have been accepted to 446 different colleges and universities, and attended 199 institutions in 34 states and Canada, France, Indonesia, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Thirty-six percent attended college in Georgia; forty-four percent attended institutions in other Southeastern states; and twenty percent ventured to other regions of the U.S. and abroad. What’s more, they were offered more than $27 million in college scholarships (not include HOPE Grants).
Next Chapter
The last evening before boarding students graduate is a bittersweet night. Heads of house move from student to student, saying their good-byes – it is the last night they’ll spend together. It’s a poignant time, as emotions give way for students and families, as well as heads of house and duty staff. It’s a tremendous accomplishment that they celebrate, but each knows that it is the end of an era as well. There are hugs, there are tears, but in the end, there is great joy, as these are relationships and shared stories that will be treasured for a lifetime.
Darlington is committed to helping each student be accepted to the college of their choice. With the consistent support of teachers and staff, together with an outstanding College Guidance Office, 100% of Darlington graduates go on to college at many of the nation’s finest institutions, including: Agnes Scott College Auburn University Baylor University Boston College Boston Conservatory College of William and Mary Davidson College Duke University Eastman School of Music Emory University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Harvard University New York University Northwestern University Oberlin Conservatory Princeton University Rice University Stanford University University of Alabama University of California: Berkeley The University of Florida University of Georgia University of Michigan University of North Carolina University of Notre Dame University of Texas University of Virginia Vanderbilt University Wake Forest University Yale University
Our history of Catalyzing Extraordinary Lives spans ove
100% college acceptance 20 AP classes Honors courses in every discipline 9:1 student-to-faculty ratio 63% of faculty have advanced degrees 87% faculty retention 55% of faculty live on campus Students represent an average of 20 states and 30 countries each year Founded in 1905 500-acre campus located one hour from Atlanta, Ga.
What’s in a Name?
Darlington’s commitment to excellence in teaching dates back to its founding over a century ago. When John Paul and Alice Allgood Cooper founded Darlington back in 1905, they named it in honor of a teacher. Not a donor or a family member, but an educator whose character and commitment to educating young people would forever be remembered. That man was Joseph James Darlington.
“The summer before my freshman year, my two oldest sisters told me their own stories about when they attended Darlington as boarding students. They would tell me how Darlington taught them how to be independent, manage their time responsibly, how it prepared them for college and made them who they are today. But there is one story that stands out. I remember them telling me that one day, I would get this overwhelming feeling when I drove through the front gates, passed the Home-on-the-Hill, walked around the lake and to the chapel lawn. That feeling, the feeling I had hoped for all summer, hit me on move-in day. For more than 100 years, Darlington has been touching
lives with what can only be described by a feeling – a feeling that I will forever honor. Even though my time as a student ended in 2004, the empowerment Darlington gave to me to learn something in everything, serve any and all with everything you stand for, and to be thankful for the journey and the people you meet along the way, stays with me to this day. I am, and will forever be, honored to be a Darlington Tiger.”
Alex Wysocki (’04) of Savannah, Ga. Marketing and Event Manager, Ronald McDonald House Charities
ans over 100 Years.
Ringing of the Bell
Honor Above Everything
The Honor System was incorporated by Darlington students in 1915, and for over 90 years, it has been governed by a studentrun council. Each year, new teachers and students sign a pledge to follow and uphold the Honor Code. A spirit of fair play and truth is encouraged in everything we do here, while dishonorable conduct is not tolerated. We value this school-wide approach of instilling integrity and respect.
We kick off each school year with the symbolic ringing of the bell by the senior class president. This bell is the same one that Shem Thomas rang to start each school day when he was hired as Darlington’s second employee in 1905. Shem’s job description was that of janitor – but he was much more than that during his 40-year tenure at the school. He was an advisor, mentor, disciplinarian, friend and confidant to generations of students, and upon his retirement was presented with an honorary summa cum laude diploma.
Serving With Respect
J.J. Darlington epitomized our school’s mission of empowering students to learn with passion, act with integrity and serve with respect. He pushed for academic excellence; he insisted upon honesty and integrity in the preparation of daily assignments; but his most vital concern was always character, service and the development of responsible human beings. This is still true at Darlington today.
A Home in Rome
In 1834, five men met to discuss plans to build a town that would become a trade center for riverboats. This meeting took place at Alhambra, a historic home built in 1832 by Maj. Philip Hemphill. To decide upon a name for the town, they placed four names in a hat and drew out the name Rome. Their historic meeting place, later renamed the Home-on-theHill, is located on what is now Darlington’s campus and serves as the home of our headmaster.
In a world that expects you to fit in... Our Fine Arts pro
5 vocal ensembles 9 instrumental ensembles Instrumental Music Conservatory Private lessons Performance opportunities on and off campus Three drama productions per year Student artwork showcased in various campus and community exhibits, including the Fall for the Arts Festival each October Competitive experiences for drama, choral, instrumental and visual art students
Making a Musical “I owe my career to Darlington’s fine arts department. I had teachers who nurtured me, gave me room to soar and, most importantly, made it okay to fall. And I definitely fell, but the support of the Darlington Community always dusted me off and got me right back on my feet. Darlington prepared me to take on New York University, where I graduated with my B.F.A. Now, I have the honor of being a writer/ performer in one of the city’s best musical sketch comedy groups, Political Subversities.
We play to sold-out crowds and have earned recognition from some of comedy’s finest. My ability to thrive and prevail time and time again in my career and life has been thanks to Darlington’s willingness to challenge me and hold me to nothing less than my greatest.”
Brandon Goodman (’05) of New York City, N.Y. Actor
The most anticipated production of the year is the winter musical, which is often compared to a college-level performance with its incredible talent, scenery and costumes. Recent shows have included classics like “Beauty and the Beast,” “Hello, Dolly!” “The Music Man” and “Bye Bye Birdie.” But perhaps most notable – it brings a large cross-section of our student body together for one common goal. From the cast and crew, to the set design team, to the orchestra pit and ensemble groups, there is a place for everyone to get involved.
rts program teaches you to Stand Out! College Prep
Each year, the Instrumental Music Conservatory enrolls highly motivated young musicians from around the world. By focusing on solo repertoire, they are able to advance their skills at an accelerated rate as they prepare for recitals, youth ensemble auditions and – eventually – the competitive scholarship process at the collegiate level.
Guest Gurus
Who better to inspire our students than those who have made a career out of their own passions? Guest artists representing instrumental and choral music, drama and musical theater, and the visual arts visit each year to educate our students in a very real way. Some of our high-achieving young instrumentalists have even performed with professionals like the Northwest Georgia Winds and the Rome Symphony Orchestra – the oldest symphony in the South.
For All the World to See
Whether you are a member of the Concert Choir performing at a district festival, the lead actor in the annual One Act Play competition, a painter whose work is featured in a local gallery, or a pianist who is asked to play during an alumni gathering, there is no shortage of opportunities to perform and compete at Darlington. The talent of our student-artists is our program’s best feature and one that is always on display.
Art Appreciation
We recognize and appreciate that fine arts education is a catalyst for increasing motivation and achievement across the curriculum. In addition to encouraging higher-order thinking skills, promoting creativity and sharpening observation skills, our fine arts programs are high quality and just plain fun.
Our student-athletes know the importance of Teamwo
12 varsity sports for boys 14 varsity sports for girls Sports academies in golf, soccer and tennis 96,000-square-foot athletic facility Programs promote teamwork, sportsmanship, competition and the importance of lifelong fitness
Best of Both Worlds
“At Darlington, I was a three-sport athlete, so I never really had off time. The staff of the Teaching and Learning Center taught me time management, which really helped me through college. I went to Florida State University and got my undergraduate degree in international relations in two-and-a-half years. I still had a year-and-a-half left of football, so I decided to go ahead and get my master’s in geographic information systems. Darlington is such a close-knit family and the people here have done so much for me. Coach Atha is a great
football coach who really helped me get to FSU. Without him pushing recruiters and sending tape out, I probably wouldn’t have made it. Mr. Van Es is still my favorite teacher. There are so many people from Darlington who made an impact on my life and helped me become the person I am now.”
Shawn Powell (’07) of Rome, Ga. FSU Punter 2008-2011
www.darlingtonschool.org/shawnpowell
Photograph courtesy of Florida State University
Our sports academics for golf, soccer and tennis offer a unique opportunity for young athletes who want to play at the next level. Imagine receiving elite athletic training from world-class coaches while getting an excellent college-prep education – at Darlington, you can do both!
amwork, Service and Sportsmanship. Practice Makes Perfect
From cross country to basketball, our student-athletes consistently bring home area and region titles, assuring their bid to state. This keeps Darlington ranked among the top schools in the Georgia Athletic Directors Association Directors Cup, which recognizes athletic departments that have shown superior performance.
Training in Style
Student-athletes train and compete in our 96,000-square-foot athletic facility, complete with a swimming pool, indoor track, weight room, wrestling room, aerobics room, four multi-purpose courts and performance gym. Surrounded by a stadium, baseball complex, tennis courts, playing fields and six miles of wooded trails, the Huffman Center is a collegegrade facility on a high school campus.
Varsity Variety
With 12 varsity teams for boys, 14 for girls and JV teams in most sports, variety and opportunity are cornerstones of Darlington’s athletic program. Whether you are a tri-sport athlete who has been playing baseball since age 4 or an international student who is rowing for the first time, you are sure to find your niche.
On to the Next Level Life Coaches
Our coaches are just as invested in what you are doing off the field as what you are doing on it. They serve double (and sometimes triple!) duty as teachers, advisors, dorm duty staff and more so that coaching doesn’t end when you walk off the field. Your coach will become one of your biggest fans – in life!
Our student-athletes have gone on to compete at the collegiate and professional levels in many sports, including baseball, football, soccer, softball and tennis, to name a few. Our coaches are committed to nurturing a student-athlete’s desire to compete at the next level – and from the recruiting process to scholarship signing day, they are there every step of the way.
Let your Story Begin. How do you portray all that is Darlington? We can try to describe it, but to truly understand it, you must come see for yourself. Visit our campus. Talk with our teachers. Meet our heads of house. Tour our houses. Witness the wonderful stories that are taking place here. Let us help arrange your visit. Simply contact our Admission Office at (706) 235-6051, or email admission@ darlingtonschool.org. We also invite you to visit us online at www.darlingtonschool.org. Experience life at Darlington. Let your story begin.