Darrow School: A Unique Sense of Place

 Darrow is the only school in the United States located on the site of an historic Shaker village. This setting of unparalleled beauty and historical significance has helped define the character of the School and touches the lives of everyone who lives and learns here.  To take a virtual tour of our historic buildings, click here. 

Darrow School opened in the fall of 1932 as the Lebanon School for Boys. Founded by a group of Shaker, educational, and community leaders, the School occupies the central site of the Mt. Lebanon Shaker Village, a National Historic Landmark. It was renamed "Darrow School" in 1939 in honor of the Darrow family who had first settled the land and had provided support and leadership in the early years of the Shaker community.

Since its inception, students and teachers have taken the role of stewards for this special place very seriously. The Shakers came to Mt. Lebanon in 1781 and established a self-sufficient farming community that is remembered for its seed enterprise, for the quality and simplicity of its hand-crafted furniture, and for its unique approach to living and learning.

Today, the campus is much more than a valued collection of landmark buildings. The atmosphere of integrity, industry, and simplicity permeates life on campus. Darrow students and teachers are part of a continued involvement in community living, enriched by the history and values of the Shaker men and women who once lived here.