Darrow School

42°27′10.94″N 73°22′58.49″W

The Darrow School
Location
110 Darrow Road New Lebanon , New York 12125 United States
Information
Type	Private, day, boarding, college preparatory
Religious affiliation(s)	Nonsectarian
Founded	1932
Status	Open
Chairperson	Edwin Selden
Head of school	Andrew J. Vadnais
Staff	52
Teaching staff	31
Grades	9-12, PG
Gender	Co-educational
Enrollment	110
Average class size	8-9
Student to teacher ratio	4:1
Hours in school day	7
Campus size	365 acres (1.48 km2)
Campus type	Rural
Houses	Ann Lee, Brethrens', Hinckley, Neale, Meacham
Color(s)	Maroon & White
Song	"Simple Gifts"
Athletics	Basketball, cross-country, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, ultimate frisbee, outdoor education, alpine skiing, fitness
Athletics conference	HVAL, NEPSAC
Mascot	Duck
Nickname	Ducks
Team name	Darrow Ducks
Accreditation	MSACS
Publication	Peg Board
Endowment	$3 million
School fees	Boarding fee: $365 Day fee: $50[1]
Tuition	Boarding: $67,950 Day: $42,800[1]
Affiliation	NAIS, TABS, NYSAIS, NYBSA
Website	www.darrowschool.org

Darrow School is a private, co-educational, college-preparatory school located in New Lebanon, New York. The school serves boarding and day students in grades 9-12 and PG (post-graduate).

History

Darrow opened in the fall of 1932 as the Lebanon School for Boys. In 1938 president Charles S. Haight died and C. Lambert Heyniger purchased the school, becoming its headmaster and treasurer. Heyniger was a Princeton alumnus who had taught as a missionary in China and then pursued graduate study at Columbia University before joining General Motors. He renamed the school in the Shaker tradition, after a family prominent among the religious colony.^[2]

In 1963, three Darrow students set a fire and destroyed the century-old dining hall and fire leveled the 156-year-old gymnasium. Both fires threatened dormitories housing 175 pupils. The boys had hoped school officials would send all the pupils home until repairs were made.^[3]

In late 2023, the school's precarious financial situation almost led to closure.^[4]

Campus

The campus is situated on the original site of the Mount Lebanon Shaker Village, a National Historic Landmark.^[5] It spans over 365 acres of land, with 26 buildings, tennis courts, playing fields, ponds, orchards, pastures, marshlands, and a vast forest.

Student body

The school currently enrolls 110 students from across the United States and beyond.

Athletics

Student participate in a number of competitive and non-competitive sports:^[6]

• Fall
  • Cross-country
  • Soccer
  • Outdoor education
  • Mixed martial arts
• Winter
  • Girls varsity basketball
  • Boys varsity basketball
  • Boys prep basketball
  • Alpine
• Spring
  • Lacrosse
  • Softball
  • Outdoor education
  • Esports

Notable alumni

• Gerald A Cann, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Class of 1949
• Charles "Pete" Conrad, Jr., Apollo 12 commander and third man to walk on the Moon, Class of 1949
• Michael Flomen, artist, attended 1969-1971
• August François von Finck, German businessman
• Sam Harper, screenwriter of Cheaper by the Dozen and Cheaper by the Dozen 2. Class of 1974^[7]
• William H. Hudnut III, mayor of Indianapolis
• Christopher Lloyd, actor^[8]
• Donald Cushing McGraw, Jr., businessman, Class of 1943
• Chris "Mad Dog" Russo, radio personality, Class of 1978
• David Henry Sterry, writer

Notable faculty/staff

• Antonio Anderson
• Frederic M. Wheelock
• Leah Penniman