Technology FAQs

Students in Pre-K through 4th grade use school-provided Apple iPads and MacBook Pro laptops as part of their daily learning, with classrooms equipped with interactive displays to enhance engagement. Students in grades 7 and older are required to have a family-owned laptop running Mac or Windows. The school offers access to Microsoft Office licenses and cloud storage, and a limited number of laptops are available for daily checkout on campus. For more details, visit our Devices and Technology page.

At St. David’s, we use a variety of online learning tools and educational apps tailored to each age group to support collaboration, creativity, and research skills.

Preschool & Kindergarten: Students use Apple® iPads® and laptops with education-specific apps as part of the STEAM enrichment program.

Elementary (Lower School): Students access school-owned iPads, laptops, and 70-inch interactive displays. They use Microsoft Office, coding apps, and engage in digital research with databases like BrainPOP and Britannica Image Quest.

Middle School: Students use iPads and laptops for multimedia projects, coding, robotics, and film editing. They also utilize digital research tools and databases such as JSTOR and NoodleTools.

Upper School: Technology supports advanced learning with laptops required for all students. They use college-level digital research tools and software for engineering, innovation, and programming electives.

We provide all students with up to five free Microsoft Office licenses and school email/cloud storage accounts to enhance learning. Learn more about our technology in the classroom and library resources.

For students interested in exploring topics outside of our curriculum, St. David's offers students in grades 10-12 an independent study program. Working with a faculty advisor, students can propose a personalized study on a topic of their choosing. Previous topics have included film-making, linguistics, coding, and environmental engineering projects such as solar energy usage and water conservation.

Teachers at St. David’s use technology like videos and interactive tools to create engaging, hands-on learning experiences tailored to each age group:

• Preschool to Lower School: Students use Apple iPads, laptops, and 70-inch interactive displays to explore lessons, research, and creative projects. Coding and problem-solving apps, along with 3D printers, enrich their STEAM learning.
• Middle School: Technology supports multimedia projects, coding, robotics, and film editing. Students use laptops and interactive displays for collaboration and innovation.
• Upper School: Technology is a tool for advanced learning, digital research, and electives in engineering, design, and computer programming.

This approach helps students become confident, creative learners fluent in technology and problem solving. Learn more about our technology in the classroom.

St. David’s School prioritizes student safety online and in digital spaces by requiring all Middle and Upper School students to read, sign, and follow a Responsible Use Policy. This policy emphasizes respecting intellectual property, following copyright laws, and responsible use of technology. We educate students about the risks and responsibilities of social networking and digital publishing, monitoring content connected to the school to uphold community standards. Students are encouraged to report any privacy or security concerns to faculty. Our goal is to help students build good digital habits while harnessing technology’s educational power.

At every level, we teach and encourage responsible technology use as a vital part of learning and character development.

In Lower School, students use school-owned iPads and laptops integrated throughout the curriculum, building early digital literacy and good habits.

In Middle School and Upper School, students must read and sign a Responsible Use Policy, committing to respect intellectual property and online safety. We emphasize awareness of social networking risks and appropriate behavior online.

Across all grades, technology supports creativity and problem-solving while we set clear expectations: cell phones are limited, non-educational screen time is discouraged, and violations can lead to consequences.

Families can learn more about our technology program.

Students at St. David’s use technology thoughtfully as a learning tool across all grades.

Lower School: Students use school-owned Apple iPads and laptops with interactive displays integrated into the curriculum, focusing on problem-solving, coding, and creativity through STEAM activities.

Middle and Upper School: Students have family-owned laptops beginning in the 7th grade, and access to digital research tools and licensed software. Technology supports multimedia projects, coding, and innovation electives.

We encourage minimizing non-educational screen time during free moments to promote focus, reflection, and face-to-face interaction. Games and non-educational videos are not allowed during the school day, and cell phones are restricted to reduce distractions.

Learn more about our approach in the Technology in the Classroom and Lower School Academic Highlights.

Each year, St. David's partners with local and national parenting experts to present parents with helpful information on raising responsible young adults. Previous guests have included podcasters and authors David Thomas and Sissy Goff (Raising Boys and Girls), Julie Lythcott-Haims (How to Raise an Adult), local speakers from the Poe Center, and our own highly-trained faculty and school counselors.