Upper School

Upper School Welcome

Hackley Upper School students may best be described as "engaged" -- working closely with teachers and peers within a challenging and diverse curriculum that balances required courses with elective offerings. Our community’s larger values also contribute to the vibrant and enriching academic experience.
Hackley Upper School students exhibit an enthusiasm for learning, a curiosity about their school work and the wider world, and an eagerness to ask challenging questions of their teachers, their classmates and themselves. Our students learn that asking questions and seeking out assistance in order to gain a deeper understanding of their coursework is a sign of academic strength, not a sign of weakness.

The values of the broader Hackley community are also central to the academic life of the Upper School. We encourage a culture of respect and integrity. The words most frequently chosen by Upper School students when asked to describe Hackley are “Community,” “Friendly,” and “Home.” As one of our recent graduates remarked, “It’s cool to care at Hackley.”

Andy King
Upper School Director

News

List of 12 news stories.

  • Upper School Debate Team

    Upper School Debate Team Dominates HSPDP Championship

    Hackley's Upper School Debate Team achieved an unprecedented accomplishment at the Championship for the East Coast High School Public Debate Program (HSPDP) League for the 2022-2023 season on May 6. Hackley was the top team overall with a 100% winning percentage and tied for the most number of wins despite having just three teams in the event.
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  • Cydnee Copeland '24, Travis Knaggs '24, and Sam Nadol '24

    Upper School ROV Team Takes 2nd Place in Regional Competition

    The Whirlpool Robotics, Hackley's 11th grade ROV team of Cydnee Copeland, Travis Knaggs, and Sam Nadol, had an exceptional performance at the Villanova MATE Regional competition on May 13!
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  • Jenny Leffler, 2023 Rice Award recipient

    US English Teacher, Coach, and 12th Grade Dean Jenny Leffler Wins 2023 Rice Award

    Congratulations to Jenny Leffler, the recipient of this year’s Anton and Lydia Rice Inspirational Teaching Award! The award is presented each year to a member of Hackley’s faculty who, in the estimation of the Senior Class, "has lit and sustained the fire of learning and inspiration, stimulated their intellectual curiosity, and inspired them in positive ways to seize the day and grasp the challenges they will face in the years ahead."
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  • Adjunct Professor and Associate Research Scientist Michelle Levine ’96 with Dr. Andrew Ying and current ISRP students

    Hackley Alumna Shares Lie Detector Research With ISRP Students

    The Independent Science Research Program recently hosted Adjunct Professor and Associate Research Scientist Michelle Levine ’96, as a guest speaker. During her visit, Professor Levine described her current research project focused on the ability to tell a lie from a truth, and her software platform that can train people to become better lie detectors.
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  • Hackley Trustee Dawn Fitzpatrick P ’22, ’24, ’28, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer at Soros Fund Management, speaks to Mr. Sykes' economics classes

    Hackley Trustee Shares Her Path in Finance With Economics Students

    On Friday, April 28, Hackley Trustee Dawn Fitzpatrick P ’22, ’24, ’28, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer at Soros Fund Management, spoke to Mr. Sykes' two economics classes. Ms. Fitzpatrick gave an outstanding talk to the 11th and 12th grade students, sharing a compelling history about her career path.
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  • Charles Franklin, Hackley's 13th Head of School

    Hackley Announces 13th Head of School

    Charles Franklin has been named Hackley's new Head of School, beginning July 1. The Board of Trustees unanimously approved the appointment of Mr. Franklin based on the recommendation of the search committee and the hundreds of survey responses and feedback received from members of the Hackley community, including faculty, staff, families, students, and alumni.
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  • PostAP Spanish Students Deliver Social Media Tips to Neighbors Link Families

    On Thursday, April 27, students in Mrs. Washington’s PostAP Spanish: Language and Culture class carried out the service component of their annual service-learning collaboration with community partner, Neighbors Link.
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  • Justin Roberts '01 speaks with the economics class in the Lindsay Room.

    Hackley Alumnus Shares About Investing With Economics Students

    Hackley alumnus Justin Roberts ’01 returned to the Hilltop as a guest speaker in David Sykes’ economics class on Friday, April 21. A partner at Rubric Capital Management LP, Justin shared his expertise and insights on investing, a topic that has been of particular interest to the class throughout the year.
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  • Hackley ROV Makes a Splash at the New England Robotics Regional

    Hackley Engineers, or Aquabots, from the Upper School Minor Submersible ROV Engineering Team earned recognition for their impressive performance at the New England MATE competition held on Saturday, April 22.
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  • ISRP students with guest speaker Kiegan Lenihan ’15

    Hackley Alumnus Returns to Hilltop as ISRP Guest Speaker

    The Independent Science Research Program (ISRP) recently had the pleasure of hosting Hackley alumnus Kiegan Lenihan ’15 as a guest speaker. Kiegan is currently working at Carbon3D in the San Francisco Bay Area, where he is applying geometry and mathematics to drastically improve 3-D printing technology.
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  • ISRP alumnus Josh Zhang ’19 visited current students virtually to share his research on combination treatments for pancreatic cancer.

    ISRP Alumnus Draws Connection Between Current Research and Research at Hackley

    The Independent Science Research Program (ISRP) was excited to host ISRP alumnus Josh Zhang ’19 as a virtual guest speaker. During his visit, Josh presented his recent research at Notre Dame on combination treatments for pancreatic cancer. What was particularly exciting is that there was a direct connection between his current research with the acute pancreatitis research he completed while in ISRP at Hackley!
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  • ISRP Students Recognized at Science Fairs

    During spring break, ten of our Independent Science Research Program students presented their research at the Westchester Science and Engineering Fair (WESEF) and the NY State Science and Engineering fair (NYSSEF). 

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