Darlington School

A very traditional and rigorous school.

Do not come to this school. My personal experience here has been extremely poor. The school gets worse every year. Although the AP courses are abundant, the academic quality is very watered down. Good teachers are fewer and fewer each year, having all resigned, and the new teachers are more bizarre than the last. The school cafeteria is the absolute worst; the food is bland and tasteless every day, like chewing wax. Students have tried to make a difference, forming a Dinninghall society, but the effect has been minimal. Not to mention, many of the people who formed this society graduated this year, so it's impossible to know what next year will bring, but it will likely only get worse. The campus environment is decent, backed by mountains and facing water, as it used to be a park. However, the male dormitories are in terrible condition – dirty, messy, and there are even people using drugs, especially in Summerbell. When the norovirus outbreak occurred, the toilets were appalling, yet the school, to evade responsibility, insisted there was no such virus and it wasn't caused by their outsourced catering trucks. There are no cooking facilities provided in the dorms; students have to buy their own induction cookers and the like, and there are no range hoods, which easily triggers fire alarms. Furthermore, the internet is cut off every night after 12 AM, and a strange new rule, implemented in recent years, prohibits returning to dorms between 8 AM and 2 PM. Cliques among students are severe, and relationships among Chinese students are delicate, even chaotic, with frequent instances of isolation and hostility. Sensitive but fragile individuals should truly not come here, as it's easy to become depressed. To all students who have received an offer, please think twice before choosing this school!!!

The school was quite good in 2018, but it has been getting worse year by year recently, with significant teacher turnover. The school cafeteria is outsourced, and the food is not very good. Students have tried to change the situation, but the school pays no attention, stating, 'It's outsourced, so it can't be changed.' The cafeteria's daily routine is to serve bland, tasteless food made with the same ingredients and methods, just under different names. They constantly organize inexplicable activities and force you to participate. It's at least a two-hour drive to the airport; the school provides a round-trip shuttle bus, but the return trip from the airport to school only runs until 6 PM. The girls' dormitories are indeed good, but this only applies to the girls' dorms. Given how things are this year, one dreads to imagine next year. Boys' dormitories, especially the largest one, house nearly fifty people but lack sufficient toilets, leading to daily queues, not to mention the unbearable state of the toilets when norovirus strikes. The school scenery is quite nice, and the AP course selection is relatively rich, but there are grade restrictions; in the first year, you can only choose a maximum of two AP courses. A few teachers indeed have excellent teaching skills, but they are only a minority. The school provides a weekend shuttle bus to a few fixed locations, but this doesn't change the fact that the school's surroundings are desolate, and the school doesn't provide a kitchen. The only place where resident students can cook lacks an induction cooker, pots, and a range hood, making it very easy to trigger fire alarms. The school system sends daily emails to parents' inboxes regarding today's school activities and schedules, and any changes in grades are also communicated to parents, which is indeed a positive, but it's a minor advantage that doesn't outweigh the flaws. The internet is cut off at midnight, and many normal websites are inaccessible. At least three resident students are expelled each year for drug discovery. Please think twice before choosing this school.

Darlington School's campus covers 500 acres, boasts beautiful surroundings, and offers very convenient transportation. The school is fully equipped with modern classrooms and computer centers, practical research laboratories, and an art center featuring drama, painting, and music rooms. The campus also includes numerous sports fields and playgrounds, as well as a hall for music group performances.

It is about a 1-hour drive from Atlanta, with direct flights available from China. There are many well-known universities in the vicinity, creating a strong academic atmosphere.

Nearby Universities:

Berry College, approximately a 13-minute drive

Georgia Institute of Technology, approximately a 1-hour 10-minute drive

Emory University, approximately a 1-hour 15-minute drive

University of Georgia, approximately a 2-hour drive

2. Art Activities

Darlington School offers a rich array of art programs. Students can join the wind ensemble, stadium band, piano, orchestra, string ensemble, guitar ensemble, solo performances, and more, with opportunities to perform both on and off campus throughout the year. Choral opportunities include the women's and men's choirs, concert choir, and the Darlington and Random Notes a cappella groups, among others. Students will not only hone their skills in music, drama, media arts, and visual arts, but also experience freedom of thought, personal expression, and connections with the world around them.

In addition to on-campus and off-campus performance opportunities, students can also participate in regional and state events organized by the Georgia Music Educators Association (GMEA), choral events by the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA), and attend university and college art festivals as guest choirs. The Performing Arts School stages two productions annually—a fall play and a winter musical—where students, under the guidance of teachers, are involved in creation, set design, costumes, performance, and learning lighting and sound technology.

3. Clubs

Darlington School fully supports the development of various clubs, offering more than a dozen options for students, including the Chess Club, Coosa International Tennis Academy, Coosa Junior Golf Academy, Dance Team, Darlington Players, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Outdoor Club, Governor's Scholars, Scholars Bowl, Spanish Club, Technology Club, Fitness Club, Honor Instrumental Intramurals, Jazz Club, and more.

Darlington School Academic Features:
1. Senior Leadership Ventures
Senior Leadership Ventures is a one-year, upper-level signature program designed to help students develop leadership, innovative thinking, and community engagement. Darlington School offers over 200 leadership positions, allowing students to find their place and make their mark.

2. Golf Program
Darlington School is the only boarding school in Georgia with a golf academy. The academy has established relationships with the Georgia PGA Junior Golf Tour, Hurricane Golf Tour, and Southeast Junior Golf Tour, giving students the opportunity to participate in these competitions and earn awards.

3. Tennis Program
Darlington School is also the only boarding school in Georgia with a tennis academy. The tennis academy is located at the Rome Tennis Center at Berry College, where students can choose to be day students or live in Darlington School dormitories. Training programs designed by USPTA-certified coaches and performance training specialists at the Rome Tennis Center help each player reach their maximum potential by focusing on performance, strategy, tactics, tennis psychology, footwork, conditioning, and match play training.

4. Advisory Program
College counselors regularly check students' academic performance and disciplinary issues and daily provide advice to their advisory groups on coursework, extracurricular activities, and school life. Furthermore, Darlington School utilizes a grade-level model in its advisory program. This means that each advisory group consists of students from the same grade level.

Darlington Middle School focuses on cultivating students' comprehensive qualities and global perspectives, upholding the philosophy that 'education is about the student.' The school offers a wide range of courses, including Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), humanities, and arts, to meet students' diverse academic needs and interests. Additionally, the school emphasizes developing students' leadership abilities and social skills, preparing them for future success.

Darlington Middle School boasts an experienced and knowledgeable faculty adept at stimulating students' interests and potential, as well as providing personalized tutoring and guidance. The school adopts a small-class teaching model, ensuring that every student receives ample attention and educational resources, thereby improving teaching effectiveness. The school also prioritizes teachers' professional development, continuously enhancing their educational standards and teaching skills.

The school's learning facilities and campus environment are also first-class, including modern teaching buildings, a library, laboratories, and art and sports facilities. These facilities provide students with an excellent environment for learning and development, capable of inspiring their passion and motivation for learning. Furthermore, the school focuses on campus culture construction, creating a positive, safe, and warm campus atmosphere.

Founded in 1905, Darlington School is a day and boarding secondary school with nearly a century of history, offering co-educational instruction. The school's mission is to inspire students to learn with passion, act with integrity, and respect others. The school does more than just help students gain admission to universities; it also helps them integrate well into life. Therefore, Darlington School has created a diverse learning environment for students and encourages them to pursue personal excellence.

Darlington School implements small class education. Unlike traditional educational methods, Darlington School focuses more on developing students' self-confidence and independence, preparing them for entry into higher-level institutions. The school not only provides students with an excellent learning environment and comprehensive educational facilities but also has a dedicated career guidance center. This center designs suitable academic and career blueprints for each student based on their interests and development direction.

Founding Year: 1905
School Type: Co-educational
Grades: 9-12
Location: Georgia
Boarding Rate: 49%
International Student Rate: 18%
Student-Teacher Ratio: 1:9
2024 FS Ranking: 78
2024 Niche State Ranking: 1
School Website: http://www.darlingtonschool.org

Darlington School data: 450 students, student-teacher ratio 1:9, international students 18%, boarding rate 49%, teachers with advanced degrees 76%. Founded in 1905, Darlington School is a co-educational boarding and day school, with the tiger as its mascot. At Darlington School, students are at the core of everything the school does. All members work together to encourage students to learn enthusiastically, act with integrity, respect each other, and serve others. The school's mission is: to empower students to learn with passion, act with integrity, and respect others. The school does more than just help students get into college; it helps students integrate well into life. Therefore, a diverse learning environment has been created for students, and they are encouraged to pursue personal excellence. The school has many student-centered teaching programs, such as the Teaching Center, Character Education and Leadership Programs, and the $90 million "Second Century Strategic Plan." The school practices small class education. Unlike traditional educational methods, Darlington School focuses more on developing students' self-confidence and independence, helping them prepare for applying to quality universities. The school provides students with an excellent learning environment and good educational facilities. The school also has a dedicated career guidance center, which designs a suitable learning and career blueprint for each student based on their interests and development direction.

The career prospects for Chinese students graduating from this school are also very good. According to current students who communicated with senior students, the feedback is that Chinese students admitted in recent years have predominantly been accepted into top 30 universities. Dormitories have a public kitchen, so students can cook their favorite foods on weekends. The school has many activities, and the course difficulty is manageable. International students are not required to take a second foreign language. However, the school does not regulate mobile phone usage. During the COVID-19 pandemic, students had to self-isolate in their dorms for 5 days.

Darlington School features the Darlington Arts Center, which offers private instruction in piano, woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings, guitar, and voice. Private lessons run for 12 weeks each semester. In addition, the Darlington Arts Center provides a 10-month extracurricular Conservatory program for high school students. The school believes that studying in this program helps students become future CEOs of philharmonic orchestras. The Conservatory program primarily recruits motivated student musicians who often share a common goal: to receive a first-class college preparatory education and elite music training within a comprehensive, integrated program. The program offers students extracurricular experiences, supports practical application, and includes studying music theory, conducting historical research in music, and gaining additional performance opportunities. The Conservatory program runs from Monday to Thursday afternoons, with each class session lasting one and a half hours.

【Location】Near Atlanta, with direct flights available from China; surrounded by many renowned universities, fostering a strong academic atmosphere.
【School Rating】Overall rating A+, the best private boarding school in Georgia.
【Curriculum】The school offers a rich array of foundational courses, AP courses, and honors courses.
【Academic Support】The school has a Teaching and Learning Center to provide academic support to students, helping them set goals, plan learning steps, clarify learning responsibilities, and simultaneously teaching students how to learn.
【Sports】The school offers a wide range of sports programs, especially golf, soccer, and tennis, with dedicated academies providing professional, top-tier training courses.
【Arts Program】Rich arts program, offering many types of musical instruments, choir, and other courses.
【University Admissions】The school provides comprehensive university admissions guidance, and graduates have excellent outcomes. Recent university acceptances for Chinese graduates include: New York University, UNC Chapel Hill, etc.

After careful consideration, the school experience is truly lacking. The boarding rate is extremely low; it's essentially a day school with dormitories. They boast a lot of fancy things, highlighting strengths and downplaying weaknesses. Academics are mediocre, or even subpar, and relationships among students are complex, with a noticeable prevalence of cliques between Chinese and foreign students. There are instances of isolation among Chinese students, and more than just one or two have taken leave, transferred, or dropped out because of it.

[Academic Aspects]
Generally, many good teachers have resigned, but there are one or two decent ones. Robotics is strong. Recommended for students who are good at programming and wish to develop in STEM fields.
[Living Aspects]
Above average. Students primarily handle things themselves, but the campus and dormitory environments are quite good. There are opportunities to go to supermarkets on weekends, and a Chinese supermarket trip usually happens once a semester. There aren't many Chinese people, and the atmosphere among them isn't great; there's severe polarization – the good ones are genuinely good, and the bad ones are truly bad. They are easily influenced by external factors.
[Communication Aspects]
Average. The advisor is like a figurehead, basically useless. However, communication between the school and parents is quite timely; basically, if a student gets sick and visits the health center, parents will receive an email.

Darlington School, founded in 1905, is a co-educational boarding and day school, and its mascot is the tiger. At Darlington School, students are at the heart of everything the school does, and all members work together to encourage students to learn enthusiastically, act with integrity, respect each other, and serve others.
The school's mission is: to enable students to learn with passion, act with integrity, and respect others. The school does more than just help students get into college; it also helps them integrate well into life. Therefore, the school creates a diverse learning environment for students and encourages them to pursue personal excellence.
The school has many student-centered educational programs, such as the Teaching Center, character education and leadership programs, and the $90 million "Second Century Strategic Plan."

Founded in 1905, Darlington School is a co-educational boarding school with a tiger as its mascot. At Darlington School, students are at the core of everything the school does. All members work together to encourage students to learn enthusiastically, act with integrity, respect each other, and serve others. The school offers many student-centered programs, such as the Teaching and Learning Center, Character Education and Leadership Programs, and the $90 million "Second Century Strategic Plan."

School Advantages:

1. Close to Atlanta, with direct flights from China. Surrounded by many renowned universities, fostering a strong academic atmosphere.

2. Darlington School has a Teaching and Learning Center that provides academic support to help students set goals, plan learning steps, clarify learning responsibilities, and learn how to learn.

3. The school offers rich sports programs, especially golf, soccer, and tennis, with dedicated academies providing professional, top-tier training courses.

4. Extensive arts programs, offering a wide variety of musical instruments, choir, and other courses.

5. The school provides comprehensive college counseling. Graduates have excellent outcomes; 2019 Chinese graduates received admissions from universities such as New York University and UNC Chapel Hill.

One major feature of Darlington School's academic program is its Academic Center, established in 2006. It provides personalized academic support for students, with each student having their own academic mentor to help set learning goals and plans, and to empower them to become better self-advocates, thus easily tackling academic challenges. The school's McCallie-Kennedy Library, built specifically for 9th-12th grade students, offers over 11,000 books, as well as online and audiovisual resources, periodicals, and computers for student use. Library facilities include study teachers, quiet study rooms, and a multimedia area.

Darlington School places great emphasis on sports, offering specialized programs in soccer, golf, and tennis. The school's soccer team has participated in the U.S. Soccer National Championship, and the campus provides an all-weather soccer training field. Darlington School's Golf Academy is the only golf academy in Georgia with boarding facilities. Students have the opportunity to participate in events organized by the American Junior Golf Association, and they train at a course located 5 minutes from the school. The Darlington Tennis Academy trains at the Rome Tennis Center, providing students with high-quality tennis training programs.

The school is Georgia's top-ranked school and is very famous locally. There are still late admission slots available for Fall 2020. School starts on August 17th, and students are allowed to arrive within three weeks after the start date.

The school lacked experience in its initial response measures at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, and its subsequent handling was overly simplistic.

Location:
The school is located in Rome, a small town in Georgia, USA. Georgia is a stylish tourist destination in the southeastern United States, and Atlanta is also known as the "Garden City."
Georgia has a humid subtropical climate. Due to its latitude and proximity to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, the climate is pleasant all year round. Well-known universities in Georgia include Georgia Institute of Technology, Emory University, and the University of Georgia, among others. The University of Georgia's K-12 teacher education, technical and vocational education, and special education programs have consistently ranked among the top 3 in the nation.
Rome is the largest city in Floyd County, Georgia, USA. It is located at the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and is the principal city of the Rome, Georgia Metropolitan Statistical Area, encompassing all of Floyd County. In the 2010 census, the city's population was 36,303. It is the largest city in Northwest Georgia and the 19th largest city in the state.
Rome is the second largest city after Gadsden, Alabama, located near the center of the triangular area defined by the interstate highways between Atlanta, Birmingham, and Chattanooga. It has developed into a regional center for fields such as healthcare and education. In addition to the public school system, there are several private schools. Higher education institutions include the private Berry College and Shorter University, as well as the public Georgia Northwestern Technical College and Georgia Highlands College.