Residential Life
Living in a Community
Residential life at Cardigan fosters community and brotherhood among students.
The campus features 16 dormitories, each designed to be a home away from home. Every student shares a room with a roommate, promoting camaraderie and shared experiences. Each dorm has at least one attached faculty apartment, where dorm parents reside, ensuring a supportive and nurturing environment. Additionally, each dorm floor includes a common area equipped with a TV, providing a comfortable space for students to gather, relax, and build friendships outside the classroom. This residential setup encourages a balanced mix of independence, supervision, and social engagement, integral to the Cardigan experience.
decorative-rule tree
Tree
Dorm Families
Dorm families at Cardigan are intentionally designed to create a diverse and inclusive community. Each dorm family comprises 8-16 students from various grade levels and nationalities, fostering connections across age groups and cultures. Multiple dorm parents live in the dorms, offering guidance, support, and a sense of stability, while many dorm families also include at least one friendly dog, adding a warm, homelike touch to daily life. This thoughtfully structured environment helps students build meaningful relationships, learn from different perspectives, and feel at home while growing academically, socially, and personally.
Dorm “Olympics”
Cardigan’s year-long Dorm Olympics provide the opportunity to bond over friendly school-wide competitions. These competitions begin with the traditional Sneaker Game on the first day of school and culminate with the tennyball playoffs the week before commencement. The events are not always physical in nature and often require teamwork and thought. Residential Life components such as dorm cleanliness and service initiatives, as well as academic components such as honor roll achievements, are also included. The dorm that earns the most points is awarded the Dorm Olympics Trophy at the end of the year.
decorative-rule tree
Tree
What we have here at Cardigan is a family that cares about us and our futures. I am proud to be part of this community and proud to call Cardigan my home.”Bryce Terry ’20
2019-20 School Leader