Boarding FAQ

Our English-style House System is the backbone of the family-like atmosphere at Darlington. Boarding students live in one of six houses, three for boys and three for girls, each managed by a full-time head of house, duty staff members, and student leaders. With nearly 40% of Darlington’s faculty and staff living on campus, there is never a shortage of helping hands when a student needs extra guidance on a homework assignment, advice about a friend, a shoulder to lean on, or someone to share in his or her successes. Click here to read more about the House System.

There is never a dull moment. Between after-school activities, athletic practices, community service opportunities, dinner with friends, house birthday parties and nightly study hall, a boarding student stays busy. Weekends may include movie nights, house socials, dinner shuttles downtown, specialty trips to Atlanta, and more. The school has very clear policies regarding afternoon and weekend leave, and students must check out with the faculty member on duty if they plan to leave campus. There are six closed weekends each year where overnight leaves are not permitted. More information about these policies can be found in our Student Handbook.

Domestic boarding students transferring to Darlington are immediately eligible for varsity play; however, international students must wait one year to play on a varsity team (they can play junior varsity). There are no eligibility restrictions for our year-round sports academies; therefore any student, domestic or international, who plans to be part of our soccer, tennis or golf academies is immediately eligible.

The safety of the students and faculty who live and learn at Darlington is our top priority. Two security officers are on duty 24 hours a day. The houses, which have alarm systems, are only accessible via swipe card. All boarding students are issued a key to their dorm room and swipe card that gives them access to their dorm only.

Darlington employs three full-time nurses in our Student Health Center. The nurses dispense all over-the-counter and prescription medications and schedule appointments and transportation for boarding students to see physicians and dentists in town as needed.

Dorm rooms are double occupancy and include desks, dressers and extra-long twin beds. Students should bring bedding, towels, clothing and laundry supplies, toiletries, and school supplies. All students are given a school-issued MacBook upon arrival, so it is not necessary to bring a computer. We encourage families to travel light and purchase larger items at our local shopping centers. More detailed information can be found in our Student Handbook.

Students should be in uniform from their first school-day commitment until the end of the school day. Uniforms can be ordered before the start of school from Lands’ End (LINK) or Uniform Source (LINK). Additionally, there are opportunities to purchase new and used uniform items during orientation. More detailed information can be found in our Student Handbook. Questions? Contact Lindsay Woods in the DarShop.

Boarding students in good standing with the school may have cars on campus. Each student is responsible for registering his or her vehicle with the Student Life Office each year, providing valid proof of insurance, and clearly displaying a Darlington parking sticker on the vehicle. Student drivers must abide by the licensing laws of the state in which they reside and must obey the driving laws of the State of Georgia. During registration, parents have the option to allow their student driver to operate the vehicle with other students in it. Parents of non-drivers also have the option to allow their student to ride in vehicles with other student drivers.

Darlington’s Student Life Office arranges all student and parent travel to and from the airport when transportation as needed. Either Airport Star Shuttle or a school representative will meet you at the airport.

Yes! Each student is assigned a P.O. box in Darlington’s post office, which is located in the Business Office.

Most parents authorize a weekly allowance to be drawn from their Parent Account, but Darlington recommends that students also have their own bank account, whether that is a personal checking account or a Student Call Account (a bank account maintained by the school). Students who wish to set up a bank account in Rome can do so during orientation. There is also an ATM in the Student Life Office.