The Hockaday School

I have been going to Hockaday since Pre-K. Teachers and fellow classmates provide a supporting academical environment with excellent science and art programs. There is alot of homework but it taught me time management. There is plenty of fun! Send your child here if they are looking for a challenge, but Hockaday is a wonderful school!

So stressful it will make you cry, puke, and pull your hair out. Recent studies reported astonishingly high levels of clinical depression in students. Though the school strives to mold their girls into having "balanced lives," their failure in doing so is striking: social lives are unheard of, and sleeping 4 hours per night year-round is necessity for anyone who wants to make a decent GPA . HOWEVER, if you can handle the workload, stay happy, and be sociable, choosing this school is a no-brainer. You really won't find anything better north of the Mason-Dixon line -- and I'm not just saying that because I'm a student. I have friends who go to private schools all around Texas, and all they seem to talk about is how much they hate their school and how much they wish they could have gotten in to Hockaday. The teachers are incredible, the facilities are beautiful, and the athletics and arts programs never fail to crush competition. Long story short: come here if you can get in. Just buckle up and prepare for a bumpy ride!

Hockaday is a really great school (I'm a student in upper school) and I love it!

Hockaday is amazing!!! The workload isn't heavy, you just have to learn to use your time wisely. In upper school, we are offered many opportunities to do our homework during school so that we wont get as much after. The teachers are also really friendly and are always there for you. They are constantly looking out for each individual student and helping each of them strive in their own way. They want you to go in and work with them outside of class and they WANT to help you reach your potential. I think hockaday is a great school. Hockaday has a supportive environment and everyone is friendly and excepting. Even though there are cliques, its not like others schools dont have them either. And again, the homework we get is a good amount, and you can definitely be finished without staying up past midnight if you learn to manage your time and use your free periods productively. I also love the boarding department, they have very nice rooms and as well as a lounge!!!

challenging programs for young ladies to develop them in the best way possible - great school
—Submitted by a parent

I LOVE Hockaday! i am looking at it for a school to go to and i think it is wonderful. it is college prepratory school and i want hard academics because i want to be smarter. boarding is what i want to do and they have lots of stuff to do if you get bored. they have their own swimming pool just for boarding, a loung for them, a gym to exercise, lovely people, and lots of other stuff. it's an amazing school!

It is too much stress. Really think about whether you want to spend 25,000 dollars a year to go here. Half the buildings are tiny and the kids are just rich and snobby. Desperate for diversity, but there are so many cliques and it is hard to be accepted if you are new. The academics are challenging, and emphasis is placed on english and history. Athletics are good, and the girls are able to participate in many different sports and fine arts. Personally, I found it hard to adjust to because the teachers and girls are so set in their ways. Overall, it's a good school, but it does not foster individual thinking, experimentation, or anything different from what has already been done, and your daughter will be staying up until midnight trying to finish homework, especially if she does athletics.

I attended Hockaday for 5 years as a boarder. I was very involved in the music program at Hockaday. Now that I think about it, my experience at Hockaday was wonderful. I didn't realize it until much later that I am much better at time management and prioritizing than other people. Even though I did not love Hockaday or anything while I was there, I am so grateful I attended there. I learned lots of valuable qualities and most importantly, friends I made at Hockaday are the ones who motivates me and make me want to over achieve in every aspects of life. I love hockaday!

My daughter just entered the school this year. The acadenic requirement is certainly high. However, the teachers are really nice and serious, they are demanding but they are very supportive and are trying to coach their students with skills improvement to challenge themselves for distinctive results. Girls are extremely smart, birght and competitive but are nice, friendly and are willing to help. If you walk aroind the campus, you will feel sunshine and energy. My daughter actually finnishes her homework much faster now than last year as she has better time management now. Workload is heavy but she has been enjoying it as she feels advancement for herself. The school is right for motivated, inspired girls who are willing to take up responsibility and challenges.
—Submitted by a parent

Everyone here just cares about themselves. I have one daughter at this school and another daughter at another school. My daughter who attends hockaday has become noticeably more selfish and snobby than my other daughter. The schoolwork has causes her ridiculous amounts of stress. Only send your daughters to this school if you want a selfish daughter with tons of stress.
—Submitted by a parent

WE LOVE HOCKADAY! We continue to be amazed by every aspect of this school. Dynamic and caring teachers/staff, friendly parents, bright and energetic girls, and endless opportunities inside and outside of the classroom. Our daughter looks forward to school everyday! We didn't know anyone from this school when we applied, we are not wealthy (although well educated), and we are not of color --- so in our mind, Hockaday is very fair in the admissions process. They do an excellent job of choosing girls that will thrive in this challenging environment.
—Submitted by a parent

HOCKADAY IS AMAZING excellent facility lots of student diversity genius teachers, who love what they do such a great education
—Submitted by a parent

Some amazing teachers, some that are horrible. It's sad that a school with this reputation and price tag has any sub-standard teachers at all. Many girls accepted are wealthy, yet unqualified. Fantastic curriculum exposes the girls to a wide range of opportunities. Lower school math curriculum is awful. The staff cares deeply for the girls and puts in much time and effort on their behalf. Excellent communication between teachers and parents. Hockaday is desperate for diversity, which causes them to accept (and keep) many girls based simply on skin color that are unqualified. Very little diversity in any area other than ethnicity (socioeconomic, religious, geographical, etc), and not much of that, to be honest. Phenomenal matriculation history. Siblings of current students are no more likely to be accepted than anyone else, which is disappointing. My daughter loves the school and, in my opinion, the good aspects outweigh the bad.
—Submitted by a parent

Please take a visit to the campus if you are interested. You will really see what Hockaday girls ('Hockadaisies') are made of. It is so fascinating to see how strong these girls can grow from the challenge. Undoubtedly there is a load of homework everyday but that is nothing stopping these girls. Their social lives are much different from that of co-ed students but I think it influences them in a positive way. Rarely do you see a girl wear makeup to school--there's just no need. Everyone is there for a drive to learn. It is a pricey tuition but if you take a glance at the matriculation from this school, you will see that the academic rigor pays off. There are many opportunities beyond just 'school'--clubs, fine arts, sports. The huge campus and amenities let students do things that can be done nowhere else.
—Submitted by a student

I am in sevnth grade at Hockaday and have been at Hockaday since fifth grade. I love it! I am constantly challenged, and even with three sports still find time for homework. I recommend Hockaday for all who need a challenge.
—Submitted by a student

My daughter attended high school at Hockaday and it was a fabulous 4 years. She excelled in many areas and attends an excellent university. She left there with amazing confidence and the attitude that she could achieve anything. I was shocked however at the number of girls who had been at the school for many years who were tutored just to maintain a C average. It is a rigorous program and there are many good private schools in Dallas where these young ladies would have been more successful.
—Submitted by a parent

Hockaday is absolutely fantastic. I began there in 5th grade and the girls took me in so easily. Anybody who does not Hockaday is simply a different type of person. There is definitely nothing wrong with it but I love Hockaday so much I can't stand to see somebody put it down. The academics are rigorous but engaging and I would never choose to switch schools. The teacher to student relationship is authoritative yet strong on a social level as well. I highly recommend Hockaday!
—Submitted by a student

Hockaday is an amazing school. I started there in 7th grade, which is apparently where it starts to get hard. It was a big difference from the school I had gone to before, but in a good way. I was actually being challenged. The homework, however, is a cause for complaint. Way too much. Not even free time to read a page of a book. But the girls there are really nice, and are always very friendly and supportive of one another
—Submitted by a student

I've gone to Hockaday since PreK, but, thropugh out reach programs, I've been able to compare it to other curriculums. The resources and opportunities Hockaday provides are outstanding, my only wish is that the language program were stronger. Being an all girl school really allows us to focus on our courses, while still being social with our brother school, St. Marks.
—Submitted by a student

My daughter attends Hockaday in pre-k and so far, we have been very impressed with the teachers and the schools. The girls learn about character and ethics at an early age.
—Submitted by a parent