Admissions Requirements

K - 5 Applicants

Admissions

Welcome to Admissions

Thank you for your interest in Hackley School! We hope the information on these pages will inspire you to visit us and allow us to show you in person what makes Hackley so special.

You will see that Hackley’s unsurpassed academic excellence stems from our brilliant faculty, whose passion for their subjects knows no bounds – certainly it doesn’t stop at the classroom door. Our students see their teachers at breakfast, lunch and dinner, in the many study areas scattered across the campus, at after-school study sessions and during free periods on the Quad or in the courtyard.

And you will experience the sense of community that exists alongside the rigor of the classroom. At Hackley, Upper School students line up and cheer for Lower Schoolers parading in Halloween costumes; student council members attend the girls’ soccer playoffs; football players watch their quarterback play sax in the jazz concert; the senior boarder opens his room to underclassmen looking for a quiet place to study.

But don’t take our word for it. Come visit our beautiful campus and meet our students, whose enthusiasm for the Hackley experience is irrepressible. We actively seek students who understand that just as a bit of hard work at one’s studies yields exponential intellectual growth, so too taking the time to be a friend whenever you can will bring friendship back to you dozens of times over.

We look forward to meeting you.

Admissions Policy

Hackley School adheres to a long-standing policy of admitting students of any race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and national origin to all the rights, privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school.

It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or national origin in administration of its educational policies, employment, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, or athletic, and other school-administered programs.

Admissions FAQs

List of 12 frequently asked questions.

What are the typical entry points for Hackley School?

The Lower School typically admits students into Kindergarten and Grade 2.
There are occasional openings in Grades 1, 3 and 4 in Lower School.

The usual entry point for Middle School students is Grade 6.
There are occasional openings in Grades 5, 7 and 8.

In the Upper School, most new students are admitted into Grade 9.
We also admit students to Grade 10, though typically fewer than five each year. There are occasional openings in Grade 11.
Do you offer scholarships?

Hackley does not offer merit-based scholarships. Instead, we offer financial aid based on need with the assumption that all students admitted to Hackley have great merit.
When are your tours and information session? How can I visit the school?

Please visit our Visiting Hackley page for a list of Open Houses. Try our Directions page to create a Google map.
When is the application deadline?

The family portion of the application and the application fee must be submitted by Monday, December 2, 2019. Supporting paperwork must be completed and received by Monday, January 13, 2020 in order for an application to be considered.
When are teacher recommendations due?

We recommend that you submit the release of information form (preferably on paper) and the teacher recommendation forms (preferably electronically) to your child’s current school no earlier than the first of November. It is best if a teacher has written your child’s first report card or you have had your first parent/teacher conference before you ask the teacher to write a recommendation.

Please ask the teacher to print a copy of the recommendation for his/her records. The electronic recommendation should be submitted to Hackley no later than Monday, January 13, 2020.
Do you accept additional recommendations?

Yes, we do, but they are not required. It does not put a student at a disadvantage to have only the required recommendations in his/her file.
What is the last test date I can take the ISSE or SSAT and be considered for the current admission season?

Your child should take either the ISEE or the SSAT before Sunday, January 12, 2020. The optimum months for the exam are November, December and early January.
Which test do you prefer – the ISEE or the SSAT? Why do you accept two tests?

We find both tests equally helpful and do not have a preference. We accept two different tests because some applicants to Upper School may take only the SSAT at other schools to which they plan to apply.
How many places do you fill in each grade each year?

We generally have spaces in our typical entry grades as follows:

Kindergarten:    30 - 32
Grade 2:           10 - 15
Grade 6:           15 - 20
Grade 9:           35 - 40
Grade 10:           3 - 6
What is the tuition?

Hackley’s tuition varies by division. It is important to note that Hackley’s tuition does not cover all of our annual costs: we are immensely grateful to the innumerable parents, alumni, and parents of alumni whose generosity provides necessary additional support for all our programs and for maintenance of our wonderful facilities. For further details, please visit our Tuition & Financial Aid page.
What is the class size and the student-teacher ratio?

Average class size is 16 across the divisions. Student-teacher ratio is approximately 7 to 1.
Does Hackley provide transportation?

Please visit our Daily Transportation page for all the information.

Sibling and Legacy Applicants

Hackley seeks students of high character who demonstrate intellect, resourcefulness in problem solving, creativity, empathy, and a love of learning. Hackley families respect those of different backgrounds and perspectives, and value intellectual integrity.

In keeping with our community values, Hackley gives strong consideration to applications from students and families who share our values of service and achievement rather than entitlement and privilege. Families whose commitment to Hackley and our community’s values has been demonstrated, where parents are alumni or who have other children who have enrolled at Hackley, and whose children meet Hackley’s criteria for admission, receive our most careful consideration.

List of 3 members.

Sheila Hicks-Rotella

Meghan O'Callaghan