DAR Supported Schools
Since 1903, the Society has been helping children in remote mountain areas receive an education. The DAR supports one school in the Appalachian region- Kate Duncan Smith DAR School, Alabama.
Kate Duncan Smith (KDS), founded on Gunter Mountain by the Alabama DAR in 1924, is a day school, kindergarten through 12th grade, serving an area of 100 square miles. Enrollment averages 1,300 students yearly. Special emphasis is placed on responsible citizenship, academic achievement, and horticultural and computer skills. Preparation for college and vocational training are important parts of the curriculum.
The following schools are on the Approved Schools list:
Berry College, Georgia, was founded in 1902 to provide high school education to rural youth and became the first approved DAR school in 1904. It was developed into a college in 1926, and today, it is one of the outstanding comprehensive colleges in the South, with fully accredited art, science and professional programs as well as specialized graduate programs in education and business administration.
Crossnore School & Children's Home, Crossnore Communities for Children is a recognized leader in helping children who have experienced trauma reclaim, rebuild, and reimagine the essential belief in a safe, dependable home. For more than 100 years, Crossnore has grown healthy futures for children and families by providing a Christian sanctuary of hope and healing. With three locations serving North Carolina. Crossnore offers a full continuum of services including therapy services for children and families, foster care in campus cottages, community foster homes, and in the Bridging Families program, educational services through a public charter school, and independent living services for youth aging out of foster care. Crossnore created and is in partnership with the Center for Trauma Resilient Communities which supports individuals, organizations, and communities embed and embody the science of trauma resilience.
Hillside School, Inc., Massachusetts, was founded in 1901 as a rural home for boys who were orphaned or otherwise without a home or family. It now provides a structural and supportive environment for students with learning problems. Its program stresses reading, writing, math, science, literature, social studies, fine arts, and industrial arts.
Hindman Settlement School, Kentucky, was founded in 1902 to provide an educational opportunity for the youth of the mountains. Its major educational emphasis today is its work with students with dyslexic characteristics. This is the only program of its type within 200 miles.It also offers an Adult Basic Education/GED Program.
Each of these schools is given financial assistance by DAR members, including scholarships, material donations, and genuine personal interest. Over $1 million is given annually by the DAR to support these schools.
Help support these schools through the
Friends of DAR Schools Fund
The DAR, through its American Indians Committee, assists in the education of Indian youth through scholarships and support of Bacone College, Muskogee, Oklahoma, the oldest continuing institution of higher learning in Oklahoma, and Chemawa Indian School in Salem, Oregon.
Good citizenship and love of country are taught at all of these schools.