The Boarding School Advantage According to Survey Data

Darlington is a valuable opportunity for students in Northwest Georgia, and here’s why: A school with day and boarding students produces better results than private day schools and public schools. The data tells us so. 

Last year, Darlington School participated in the School Life in Focus survey, a joint initiative of TABS (The Association of Boarding Schools) and CAIS (Canadian Accredited Independent Schools). Our Upper School students and alumni were among the over 11,000 students and alumni from over 100 boarding, day, and public schools across North America who participated.

Highlights of the report include the following:

• Boarding school students receive more personalized instruction and support; as a result, they also show an increased engagement.
• Boarding school students have strong teacher relationships.
• Boarding school students are more likely to feel that they have choice in their education.
• Boarding schools foster a strong sense of belonging and connection. 
• Boarding schools contribute significantly to developing interpersonal skills like conflict resolution, empathy, and open-mindedness.
• Boarding school students feel prepared for college and life. 

Thankfully, Darlington’s results match those of the broader survey. Our Summary of Findings states:

“Students at Darlington School report being actively engaged in their school community, contributing to a student body that is happy, healthy, confident, and motivated to do their best. The school’s rich traditions and celebrations foster a sense of belonging. Additionally, students frequently engage in hands-on and enjoyable activities that keep them interested and invested in their daily routines.” 

Interestingly and perhaps most validating, researchers discovered that the answers of boarding students and day students who attend boarding schools are almost identical. And, like boarding students, the survey answers of day students who attend a boarding school were significantly stronger than students who attended a private, non-boarding day school and students who attend public school. 

The School Life in Focus research provides compelling evidence that Darlington offers a transformative educational experience and fosters academic excellence, personal growth, and future success for all of its students, regardless of whether they live on campus or off. We are proud that our current students and alumni feel this way about Darlington, and knowing that they do will inspire us to continue providing the best possible educational opportunities and advantages for every student for years to come. 

I marvel often about the remarkable diligence and vision of our school’s founders, John Paul and Alice Allgood Cooper. The wisdom to hire as the first two school employees men who would do anything for the benefit of students; the wisdom to see the need to create the first high school of any kind in Rome, Georgia; and the wisdom to almost immediately begin working on the creation of a boarding program, knowing that it would benefit all students. It also fills me with pride when I think about how hard the people at Darlington work to emulate the Coopers’ vision of providing the best possible educational opportunities and advantages at the least possible cost. 

I understand that Darlington is a choice and as we kick off re-enrollment season, I want to sincerely thank you for continuing to choose Darlington for your child. I hope you will continue to do so by completing your re-enrollment by Feb. 21, 2025.  

Click here to read more about the School Life in Focus survey and here to access the comprehensive report.