HOCKADAY
EDUCATING GIRLS SINCE 1913
BELIEVING IN THE LIMITLESS POTENTIAL OF GIRLS, HOCKADAY DEVELOPS RESILIENT, CONFIDENT WOMEN WHO ARE EDUCATED AND INSPIRED TO LEAD LIVES OF PURPOSE AND IMPACT.
WELCOME TO HOCKADAY
We are honored by your interest in our School. The Hockaday experience will come to life in the pages that follow, providing a glimpse into our community, culture, and traditions that have defined the joy and spirit of one of the finest independent girls’ schools in our nation for more than a century.
From her first day of school until she crosses Commencement Terrace eagerly anticipating her future, a Hockaday girl embraces the stimulating learning opportunities that await her each day, both inside and outside of the classroom. She will be empowered to meet challenges and think of the possibilities that exist to solve them. She will be prepared to enter the world with confidence and resolve as a result of her extraordinary Hockaday experience.
A Hockaday girl believes in herself and has the courage to follow her dreams and to make a difference in the world. Hockaday was founded on a transformative academic program, and our girls’ achievements are inspiring. From robust classroom experiences to team competitions to ensemble productions, Hockaday girls are celebrated for their individual and collaborative talents. The community they become a part of and the friendships they make at Hockaday will last a lifetime.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST. ENJOY DISCOVERING HOCKADAY!
THE FOUR CORNERSTONES
The Hockaday School was founded in 1913 by Ela Hockaday to provide a college preparatory education for girls of strong potential and diverse backgrounds so that they could assume positions of responsibility and leadership in a rapidly changing world.
CHARACTER
COURTESY
The pursuit of a moral and ethical life; it promotes within us a self-assurance and strength to withstand life’s pressures.
The quality equated with dignity and generosity of spirit; it is our outward expression of respect not only for others, but also for ourselves.
SCHOLARSHIP
ATHLETICS
The search for knowledge that brings a wise understanding of a complex world; it fosters in us a creative, discerning, and resourceful mind.
The endeavor to lead a healthy, active, and balanced life; it embraces challenges and inspires us to be modest winners and courageous losers.
THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD
Whether it is as president of the student body, captain of the lacrosse team, editor of The Fourcast newspaper, chair of the Social Impact Board, member of the robotics team, or organizer of a student-led club, every Hockaday girl is a leader and is celebrated for her individuality.
WHY ALL GIRLS?
HOCKADAY GIRLS ARE EMPOWERED TO THINK AND INSPIRED TO LEARN.
Hockaday is an all-girls day school for grades PK – 12. The single-sex environment affords each of our girls a unique advantage. Hockaday girls discover their potential and participate in real-world problem-solving initiatives that grow their confidence and expand their perspectives.
In Lower School, girls are excited to try new things and take risks with the support of their teachers and peers. Girls in Middle School find an inclusive environment with friends, teachers, and advisors who are not only focused on academic engagement, but also on their social and emotional development. Once in Upper School, girls continue to trust their abilities and enjoy the freedom to share ideas, express opinions, explore, and take on new challenges. They are encouraged to find their voices and are supported by strong role models and inspired by their peers.
No matter their age, Hockaday girls find confidence and strength, and they acquire and enhance the skills they need to lead lives of purpose and impact.
“When I came to Hockaday in Fifth Grade, I didn’t know what to expect, but I quickly made friends who were as excited about reading and creative writing as I was. Every day I feel encouraged by my friends and teachers, and I am so glad I came to Hockaday.”
SYDNEY G.
Upper School Student
REASONS TO CONSIDER THE ALL - GIRLS ADVANTAGE
PREPARING GIRLS FOR THE REAL WORLD
Nearly 50% of alumnae rate their public speaking as “high” (vs. 39% at coed schools), and 64% rate their writing skills as “high” (vs. 59%). Girls’ schools prepare students to think critically, research deeply, and solve real-world problems.
NURTURING HIGHER ASPIRATIONS
Students at girls’ schools consistently set higher goals. More than two-thirds expect to earn graduate or professional degrees, with aspirations heightened across all achievement levels.
DEDICATION TO HOW GIRLS LEARN
Nearly 96% of students receive frequent feedback on their work (vs. 93% in coed independent and 80% in coed public schools). Teachers tailor strategies to maximize girls’ learning and engagement.
DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS
93% of alumnae say they were offered more leadership opportunities than coed peers, and 80% have held leadership roles since high school. Programs emphasize teamwork, confidence, and resilience.
BUILDING SELF-CONFIDENCE
77% of students report strong self-confidence, resilience, and accomplishment. Girls’ school graduates consistently show greater confidence than their coed peers.
Source: International Coalition of Girls’ Schools
CARING AND ENGAGING COMMUNITY
At Hockaday, you become part of an inclusive and welcoming community that will be with you for the rest of your life—both as students and as parents. We foster a community of support and friendship within the student body, faculty and staff, families, and alumnae. The friendships the girls make will be the common bonds that will stand the test of time as they make their journeys through school and through life.
Throughout the year we come together to strengthen our community, building school pride centered on our long-standing traditions. The entire school participates in spirit rallies and community service initiatives that encourage teamwork, leadership, and mentoring opportunities within a fun and spirited environment.
Hockaday intentionally focuses on character education and cultural competency in all divisions to ensure students value the many cultures and traditions celebrated in our community. Our parents enjoy the Hockaday Parent Information Series, which hosts a variety of speakers who discuss relevant topics to provide parents with information and tools to help their daughters better navigate their school experience and the world around them.
THE HOCKADAY PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION
“My daughters have been Hockadaisies since PreK, and I’ve watched them develop deep empathy and compassion for others— intangible but very real qualities. They have learned these traits through the kindness and care exemplified by the entire Hockaday community— students, faculty, and staff alike.”
HEATHER H. Parent
Hockaday’s parents are very active in the School and are immediately welcomed by The Hockaday Parents’ Association (HPA). This involved group works diligently to keep all parents informed and engaged. Parent participation is boundless and can be seen in all areas of the School from Lunch Bunch and Rockin’ Readers in the Lower School to opportunities on the field and on the stage in the Middle and Upper Schools. The HPA also oversees the New Families program, so you will be welcomed with several social activities to meet Hockaday families before your first day at Hockaday.
LOWER SCHOOL CONNECTIONS
At Hockaday, the Lower School is a place where curiosity, confidence, and joy come alive. From the very first day of Pre-Kindergarten through Fourth Grade Recognition Day, our students are surrounded by opportunities to explore, discover, and grow in a nurturing and supportive environment. A strong sense of community—among teachers, administrators, staff, and parents—creates the foundation for every girl to flourish.
In addition to Hockaday’s Four Cornerstones, our Lower School embraces the core values of respect, friendship, empathy, honesty, responsibility, and perseverance. These values guide daily life, whether in morning meetings, class meetings, all Lower School gatherings, or through our “Hock-A-Way” pledge.
Guiding each girl’s experience are four key outcomes: wonder, agency, collaboration, and resilience. Cultivating wonder in the classroom means valuing curiosity over certainty and encouraging questions more than answers. Through agency, our girls discover that their voices matter and that they have choice and ownership
in their learning and creating. Collaboration teaches them to listen, share responsibilities, and solve problems as a team, fostering a sense of belonging and respect for others. Building resilience helps our students persevere when faced with challenges, grow in confidence, and develop skills to navigate future obstacles both in and out of the classroom. Together, these outcomes prepare our students not only for success at Hockaday but also for life beyond.
All Lower School students also participate in Hockaday’s Institute for Social Impact. Each grade level focuses on a theme, and students engage in service projects, skills-based learning, and visits from community partners. These experiences are carefully integrated into the curriculum, helping our girls connect classroom learning with real-world impact.
The Hockaday Lower School is more than a place to learn—it’s a place where girls are encouraged to ask questions, take risks, and grow into compassionate, confident learners who are ready for all that lies ahead.
HOCKADAY’S LOWER SCHOOL CLASS SIZES ARE SMALL WITH A
6:1 ratio in Prekindergarten
8:1 ratio in Primer and Kindergarten
16:1 ratio in First - Fourth Grades
WHAT MAKES LOWER SCHOOL SUCH A SPECIAL PLACE?
ENGAGING AND INTERACTIVE CLASSES
HOLIDAY PARTIES
LOWER SCHOOL GARDEN
ALL-SCHOOL SPIRIT RALLIES
IMAGINATION PLAYGROUND
DICTATION DAISIES
MINDFULNESS EXERCISES
All Lower School students also participate in Hockaday’s Institute for Social Impact. Each grade level focuses on a theme, and students engage in service projects, skillsbased learning, and visits from community partners. These experiences are carefully integrated into the curriculum, helping our girls connect classroom learning with real-world impact.
The Hockaday Lower School is more than a place to learn—it’s a place where girls are encouraged to ask questions, take risks, and grow into compassionate, confident learners who are ready for all that lies ahead.
“I like that Hockaday is all girls, and we are a diverse group. We have different backgrounds, but we come together as a community.”
KEZA M. Lower School Student
STEAM PROGRAM
SPANISH AND FRENCH CLASSES
CODING
GRADE-LEVEL PERFORMANCES
ROTUNDA ROCKS
MATH EXPLORATIONS FUN DAY
LOWER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
Create, Collaborate, Innovate (CCI) Class
Pre-K Circus
Grade Level Musicals
Service Learning Projects
Grandparents’ Day
100th Day of School
Hockaday Parent Speaker Series
Lower School Orchestra
Cooking Classes
Fourth Grade Book Sale
Field Trips
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration
Visual Art Exhibitions
Lower School Holiday Program
World Languages Cultural Celebrations
Second Grade Entrepreneurship Unit and Sale
Fourth Grade Recognition Day
First Grade May Day Tea
Science and Social Impact (SSI) Class
Lower School Gatherings
Mind Matters Class
3D Printing
FIELD STUDIES
THE COLOR RUN
MIDDLE SCHOOL CURIOSITY
Middle School is a time when Hockaday girls thrive. During these years of growth and change, they are nurtured academically and socially as they discover their unique talents. Guided by passionate, student-centered faculty who understand the developmental needs of Middle School girls, our program challenges curiosity, strengthens healthy learning habits, and fosters resilience.
Classes are designed to develop analytical thinking and problem-solving skills; to encourage active engagement with teachers; to provide opportunities for both collaboration and independence; and to give students time for thoughtful reflection. Each course is intentionally crafted to be developmentally appropriate for the cognitive and emotional stage of our students
Beyond the classroom, girls build meaningful relationships with advisors who support their academic journey, extracurricular choices, and personal growth. A block schedule allows for individual attention when needed. Social-emotional learning is woven into daily life through our Cornerstones Studies program, which encourages students to reflect on character and courtesy.
Hockaday Middle School also comes alive with hallmark experiences: the Fifth Grade Olympics, Eighth Grade Musical, all-school spirit rallies, and class trips to Camp Balcones Springs, Little Rock, Arkansas, Williamsburg and Washington, D.C. Together, these experiences ensure that girls not only think critically but also develop confidence, friendships, and memories that will last a lifetime.
“Character is the foundation of all of the cornerstones, and I believe it is the most important thing we can learn during our time at Hockaday.”
MINA K. Middle School Student
MIDDLE SCHOOL
PROVIDES OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPLORE, DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS, FIND JOY, AND TRY NEW THINGS.
Cornerstones Studies Program
Balcones Springs Fifth Grade Trip
Six-Day Rotation for Academic Classes
Social Impact Programs
Fine Arts Rotations
Seventh and Eighth Grade After-School Athletics
Student Council
Seventh Grade Trip
Spelling Bees
Williamsburg Sixth Grade Trip
Eighth Grade Musical Advisory Program
“Working on real-world projects like the Small World Initiative means we are both enacting relevant change and empowering young women in the field of science today.”
LONDON
R. Upper School Student
UPPER SCHOOL EXPLORATIONS
In our all-girls environment, Upper School Hockaday students enjoy the opportunity to be leaders in all facets of the School. They are diligent, conscientious students who are curious learners, preparing for college and beyond. Each girl engages in a demanding curriculum, continues to grow her talents, gains confidence, and imagines the possibilities that await her after her time in Upper School.
At Hockaday, girls form lifelong friendships that will carry them through their lives. During their time in Upper School, our girls also cultivate meaningful, individualized relationships with teachers and advisors. Character education programs, student forums, and discussions around issues of cultural competency and social impact are abundant in Upper School. Retreats, Form Days, clubs, athletics, and arts performances provide class-building opportunities throughout the year.
Throughout the four years in Upper School, the focus centers on a challenging academic program that includes English, science, mathematics, history, fine arts, and language. Girls take advantage of unique classes and opportunities including Social Impact courses, a field research experience at Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratories in Crested Butte, Colorado, Model UN, debate tournaments, science immersion at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts, and math competitions, among others. Commencing in her junior year, each girl will begin the college preparation process of identifying her best college options based on her academic priorities and talents. When graduation day arrives, each senior eagerly participates in the time-honored tradition of crossing Commencement Terrace with confidence, ready to start her life after Hockaday.
UPPER SCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES
Student Council
The Fourcast Student Newspaper Debate Competitions
Drama: Hockaday Theater Company
Approximately 70 Student-Organized School Sponsored Clubs Visual Arts Exhibitions
Dance Workshop and Dance Lab
Social Impact Community Outreach
Vibrato Literary Magazine
Choir: The Meadow Voices
Mixers with Peer Schools
Student Diversity Board and Forums
ARTISTIC EXPRESSION
The Hockaday Fine Arts program cultivates a learning environment where creativity, perseverance, and risk-taking are at the heart of the artistic process. Fostering artistic growth, the Fine Arts program supports student leadership and collaboration and embraces all creative expressions and practices.
We offer developmentally appropriate interdisciplinary arts programs across all divisions and provide opportunities for multi-cultural experiences and global awareness. Our hands-on, process-oriented projects encourage intellectual discovery and exploration of each student’s artistic voice. Our educators are practicing artists and performers, model creative processes and provide mentorship as students pursue their artistic interests.
Hockaday Arts include offerings in Ceramics, Choir, Dance, Debate, Drama, Film, Journalism, General Music, History of Art and Music, Orchestra, Photography, Private Music Lessons, Studio Art, and Technical Theater.
Highlights include:
• Middle and Upper School film programs
• Musicals in each division
• Orchestra in each division
• A proscenium theater, two black box theaters, an amphitheater, and an art gallery, all designed as student learning and exhibition spaces
• A technical scene shop for student set design and construction
• Student produced yearbook, print, and online newspapers
• Traditional and experimental processes photography lab
• Two dedicated dance studios
“As a part of Hockadance for four years of high school, I gained so much experience and participated in projects that I could not get anywhere else. Through my own choreography and learning pieces from others, Hockadance allowed me to experiment with my personal dance style while gaining new knowledge, helping me grow as a dancer and a person.”
ELLIE NERENBERG ’25
HOCKADAY SPORTS
UPPER SCHOOL
Basketball
Cross Country
Diving
Fencing
Field Hockey
Golf
Lacrosse
Rowing
Soccer
Softball
Student Athletic Trainers
Swimming
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Basketball
Cross Country
Cross Training
Field Hockey
Lacrosse
Soccer
Softball
Swimming
Tennis
Track and Field
Volleyball
PERSEVERANCE
As one of Hockaday’s Four Cornerstones, Athletics plays an integral role in the lives of Hockaday students. Our sports activities, as well as our physical education classes, teach us to enjoy the mental, physical, and ethical balance that stems from teamwork, self-sacrifice, and perseverance. At Hockaday, we are committed to providing numerous opportunities that enable students to develop and nurture the knowledge and skills necessary to live healthy, active lives.
PHYSICAL EDUCATION, HEALTH, AND WELLNESS
Our school culture actively recognizes health and wellness as paramount to the success of our students. We embrace and promote healthy, active lifestyles through a continued commitment to health and physical education at all grade levels.
Personal fitness is a priority at Hockaday, and girls are empowered with the knowledge and skills to maintain a healthy lifestyle. As a student grows, she can easily follow her progress and see the positive impact she is making on her health.
Athletics provide a powerful learning environment that mirrors many aspects of society. For young women, sports offer opportunities to face challenges such as handling failure, working with diverse groups, and recognizing personal strengths and weaknesses, while also building teamwork, humility, self-discipline, and focus.
INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL IMPACT
The William B. Dean Institute for Social Impact connects students with opportunities to apply their learning to local and global issues, fostering empathy, civic engagement, and a commitment to making a difference in our world. Our goal is to equip students with the skills, agency, and curiosity they need to lead with purpose, not just to navigate the future, but also to shape it.
The Institute is built on core values that serve as its principles and beliefs, guiding every decision and action. Designed as an expansion of the School’s service learning program, the Institute allows students to engage with diverse partners, learn from civic leaders, and make a direct impact on the community around them. The key differences between a traditional community service model and the Institute for Social Impact are found in both the focus of the program and the ways in which programming and core values are integrated throughout a student’s experience.
“Through the Institute, we try to integrate the values and goals of Social Impact through every aspect of our students’ day and build on skills as they get older,“ says Laura Day, Director of Innovation and Collaboration.
EXPLORING PURPOSE
L EADERSHIP
We recognize that today’s students have the potential to be leaders, not just in the future, but now.
EMPATHY
We seek to understand others and do so by working to abandon our assumptions and participating in honest, open dialogue.
COMMUNITY
We are committed to supporting all members of our community in reaching their greatest potential.
INNOVATION
We keep a pulse on emerging practices and trends and believe in pursuing creative ideas that have the potential to change the world.
“Social impact at Hockaday has brought purpose to my passions. Serving my community has become a vital part of my life, enabling a deeper sense of empathy and connection with all those around me.”
SARA G. Upper School Student
INNOVATION & COLLABORATION
At Hockaday, we prepare students to thrive in a rapidly changing world by integrating innovation and collaboration into every division. Innovation at Hockaday is a mindset that encourages students to think creatively, solve complex problems, and collaborate across disciplines. From hands-on activities in the Lower School Dream Lab to robotics challenges in Middle School and real-world partnerships in Upper School, students are empowered to take risks, think independently, and engage deeply with meaningful ideas.
Hockaday’s Innovation and Collaboration programming prepares students to thrive as future-ready leaders by engaging them in critical disciplines with real-world impact. Through coursework and experiential opportunities, every student develops essential skills that transcend the classroom. These programs are intentionally designed to foster self-advocacy, the ability to synthesize complex ideas, comfort with solving imperfect problems, and leadership through social influence. All students should experience this learning, as these competencies will empower them to lead with confidence, creativity, and clarity in a rapidly changing, increasingly complex, and interconnected world.
SISTERHOOD
As partners in your daughter’s journey at Hockaday, the faculty and staff embrace our families wholeheartedly to ensure that even after the school day is over, together families can enjoy and reinforce what has been learned in the classrooms. Through ongoing communications, face-to-face conferences, school events, and more, Hockaday celebrates its students and their families throughout their journey here.
For many families, attending Hockaday has become a generational affair. Women who have thrived as a result of their experience will send their own daughters and granddaughters to Hockaday, and are energized by the robust Alumnae community of which they are a part.
Hockaday’s network of more than 9,000 Alumnae is a thriving, worldwide network which supports new Alumnae long after they walk across Commencement Terrace. Recent Hockaday graduates can always contact fellow Alumnae with questions about colleges and careers to ensure they have good advice and guidance when they are in a new city or are exploring a new field or industry. Through ongoing updates, events like the Fall Alumnae Cocktail Party and Alumnae Weekend, the Hockaday Alumnae in the Arts (HAARTS) program, and an active Alumnae Association Board, the School stays connected to its Alumnae, who know the friendships they’ve forged during their years at Hockaday will last a lifetime.
ALUMNAE PROGRAMS
Alumnae Weekend
Alumnae Family Picnic
Fall Alumnae Cocktail Party
Daisy Connect Alumnae Platform
Daisy Chain Newsletter
Alumnae Association Board
Hockaday Magazine with Class Notes
“Hockaday taught me the importance of education, finding one’s passion, true friendships, and allowed me to find my profound love of learning.”
EMMA SIEGEL ’17
Hockaday Alumnae in the Arts (HAARTS)
Sweetheart Tea
Alumnae Association Affinity and Special Interest Groups
Social Media Connections
Class Agents
Board of Visitors
The Hockaday School admits qualified students of any race, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The Hockaday School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its educational, admissions, financial aid, athletic, and other policies and programs.
AT HOCKADAY, GIRLS CAN BE
THEMSELVES, DISCOVER
WHO THEY ARE, AND WHO THEY WILL BECOME.
OUR PHILOSOPHY AND PURPOSE
The Hockaday School provides a college preparatory education for girls of strong potential and diverse backgrounds who may be expected to assume positions of responsibility and leadership in a rapidly changing world. It is the purpose of The Hockaday School to foster a community of concern and friendship and to instill in every girl a love of learning, an understanding of herself and the ethical principles that guide her life, an appreciation of excellence in all its forms, and a commitment to what is right and good.
The difference at Hockaday exists not just in the classroom. It’s the combination of the community, the culture, and the climate girls’ schools offer that makes an all-girls education such a powerful and transformative experience.
