Upper School Daily Schedule
More than a routine.
The Upper School daily schedule is a teacher-led academic exploration. Students are nurtured and empowered through class periods that allow them the time to deep-dive into projects and truly focus on their passions and pursuits.
Intentional by design.
Darlington's Upper School schedule is intentionally designed to prepare students for success in college and beyond. Longer class periods encourage deeper learning, meaningful discussion, hands-on collaboration, and the time to think critically, ask questions, and take ownership of the learning process. Thoughtful transitions throughout the day create a balanced rhythm that supports intellectual curiosity while reinforcing our commitment to being a community of engaged learners.
The schedule also reflects the importance of developing the whole student. Purposeful time for Assemblies, Chapel, student wellness, and other community experiences strengthens relationships, encourages leadership, and helps students stay connected to one another and to the life of the school. Behind the scenes, dedicated collaboration and professional development for faculty ensure that teaching continues to evolve alongside the needs of today's learners. The result is a consistent, intentional school day that fosters academic excellence while bringing Darlington's Portrait of a Graduate to life through meaningful experiences both inside and outside the classroom.
The Rotating Schedule
The schedule follows an eight-day rotation, and the graphic below shows how it flows. A few details to notice:
- The school day after Day 8 is always a Day 1, regardless of the day of the week.
- Community time is at 9:15 a.m., but what happens during that time depends on the day of the week: Assembly on Mondays, Chapel on Thursdays, and Advisory on Tuesdays and Fridays.
- Lunch is split with lunch eaten before or after depending on the class. Students with a free period eat lunch between those times.
- iPeriod happens daily at 1:20 p.m., except on Thursdays, when clubs meet instead.
- After-school programs, like athletics, usually begin at 3:45 p.m.
- An exact day-by-day schedule with assigned classes and exact lunch times is available to current students and parents on their portals.
