The Truth, The Whole Truth...

In honor of our first president’s birthday, I want to share with you some absolute truths. I hope you will feel compelled to spread them around the ball fields, ballet classes and your offices. 

It’s an absolute fact that students who begin their Darlington journey at the Lower School, have more foundational opportunities for solid building at a higher level. Geographical lessons learned in pre-K are expanded in AP U.S. History in 11th grade. Biographies read, studied and portrayed in second grade lead into AP English Literature in 10th. Dissecting owl pellets in fourth grade is preparation for AP Biology in 12th grade.  Community building and balancing finances in third grade lay the groundwork for AP Macro and Microeconomics at the Upper School. 

The truth is that these examples show how education at the Lower School absolutely, without question, prepares children for unbelievable opportunities later in school, as well as in life. It is a fact that not only academic, but organizational, time management, character and independence skills learned at an early stage result in young adults being better equipped to face challenges. Students might be exposed to some of these areas elsewhere, but I challenge anyone to find the variety, depth and frequency of our offerings. 

There are more than 20 Advanced Placement courses at the Upper School. Opportunities abound in the arts at Darlington. Information technology is taught and practiced regularly throughout our school.

The truth, and the whole truth, is that from the first day of pre-K until the last day at graduation on the chapel lawn, our children are being surrounded by a sequential, integrated, consistent curriculum in character, honor and academics. To quote a great American, “I cannot tell a lie.” I can’t wait for you to share these truths with your friends!