New Families

List of 18 items.

• Final Transcript Must be Received by July 1

  Your daughter’s transcript/school records (for the 2025 spring semester) from her current school must be sent to the appropriate Hockaday division by July.
  
  Download the Transcript Release Form here.
  
  

  • Lower School Office Email
  • Middle School Office Email 
  • Upper School Students – upload transcripts here

  
  Students' schedules will not be released if the final transcript/school record has not been received by The Hockaday School by July 1.

• Medical Forms and Information Due July 1

  Each year, Hockaday collects student health and medical information via the the MAGNUS portal. This safe, secure system meets all of the HIPAA requirements and provides critical health information to health care providers in the event of an emergency.
  
  

  A copy of your daughter’s immunization record must be uploaded to the Magnus Health Portal by July 1. A Medical Certificate and immunization records are required for all NEW students. Proof of a Tdap and Meningitis is required for 7th grade. Please print the form and take it to the doctor or any clinic that does back-to-school physicals.
  
  Any questions regarding immunizations may be directed to Erika Herridge, Director of Health Services at eherridge@hockaday.org.
  
  The online Student Medical Record (SMR) and Medical Certificate are due on July 1, 2025.
  
  Click Here for the Medical Certificate Form
  
  1. Log in to www.hockaday.org using your My Blackbaud username and password. 
  2. Click the MAGNUS | Medical Portal on the Parent Resource Board.
  3. Click on MAGNUS HEALTH PORTAL.  
  4. When the MAGNUS PORTAL opens, you will see your daughter’s name with a note that you have requirements to complete.

  5. Click the orange COMPLETE NOW button to open your daughter’s tracker and follow instructions.

   

  If you need any assistance, call the Magnus Health Help Desk at 877-461-6831.
  

   

   

  Read More

• Math and World Language Placement (Grades 9–11)

  For placement into the appropriate level of mathematics and world language, every new student must be assessed.  The results of these assessments are valuable and help place your daughter in the appropriate Upper School courses.

  ALL students who live locally will be assessed for:

  • MATHEMATICS on Tuesday, April 15, from 4:30-6:30 pm.
  • WORLD LANGUAGES on Thursday, April 24, from 4:30-6:30 pm.

  Students will be greeted at the school’s main entrance (Welch Road) beginning at 4:15 pm.  Students need to arrive early enough for their test to begin promptly at 4:30 pm. If a student has not studied a world language, they do not need to be assessed.  Please bring pencils, an eraser, and a four-function calculator for the math placement test.

  Students who currently do not live locally:  We request that students who do not live locally find an English-speaking educator from their current school to proctor placement tests for both mathematics and world language.  Please provide the proctor’s name, school job title, and school email address to Caroline Robb at crobb@hockaday.org and Eric Inboden at einboden@hockaday.org as soon as possible.
  
  ALL PLACEMENT TESTS must be completed by Monday, May 5, 2025. 
  
  Information about the placement tests will be sent to the proctor as soon as contact information is received.

  If you have any questions, please contact Caroline Robb, Mathematics Department Chair, at 214-360-6331 or crobb@hockaday.org or Eric Inboden, World Languages Department Chair, at 214-360-6484 or einboden@hockaday.org.

             

• Summer Math and Writing Opportunities (Grades 9-11)

  Provided below is information on summer programs for new students. Both programs are free but require registration because they are not a part of Hockaday’s summer school program. Please complete THIS FORM to rank your preferred session dates and register for the Transition to Integrated Math Program and New Student Writing Workshop by May 1, 2025.   
  
  

  Transition to Integrated Math Program 

  We want to inspire in your daughter an enthusiasm towards mathematics while building and strengthening her mathematical foundation throughout her years at Hockaday. For a smooth transition into Hockaday’s mathematics program, your daughter is required to learn some Algebra 2 and Geometry objectives she may not have previously studied. Here are this summer’s options:   
  
  

  Our on-campus program is offered two different times during the summer; students sign up for ONE two-week session. However, if your daughter has high school Geometry credit, she will not be required to participate during the geometry unit that is taught during the second week of the session. We recommend the on-campus program because history shows that students involved in the on-campus program have generally been more successful learning the concepts. It also gives students the opportunity to meet other new Hockaday students. 

         

  Session 1: 
  June 2-6 and June 9-13 (Monday – Friday) from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.  

  Session 2: 
  July 21-25 and July 28 – August 1 (Monday – Friday) from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. 

   

  The asynchronous online program will open in July, is self-paced, and has a Hockaday instructor to work with. 

   

  Please note that Hockaday Mathematics Placement Testing is scheduled for April 15, from 4:30-7:00 PM. We will email you regarding your daughter’s math placement as soon as the department has had time to evaluate their performance. Since school is still in session, this may take a few weeks.   
  
  New Student Writing Workshop 
  
  

  The Hockaday Writing Center offers a two-week summer writing program that aims to empower new students to build upon their past writing experiences and introduce Hockaday writing standards and expectations. New Student Summer Writing Program Sessions will be filled on a first come, first served basis, with a maximum of nineteen participants in each session. While the Transition to Integrated Math Program is held in the morning from 9-11 am, New Student Writing Workshops are held on the same days from 12-2 pm. Please note that students attending both the morning and afternoon programs should bring their lunches each day. The Writing Center will be open so that new students have a place to eat lunch in between the morning and afternoon sessions. 
  
  

  We will send an email confirming your session assignments by May 7, 2025. If you have any questions about the Transitions to Integrated Math Program, please email Caroline Robb at crobb@hockaday.org, and if you have questions about the New Student Summer Writing Program, please email Lisa Fisher at lfisher@hockaday.org. We look forward to working with your students! 
  
  

  Caroline Robb (Math Department Chair)
  Lisa Fisher (Writing Center Director) 

• Summer Camps

  Summer at Hockaday welcomes girls and boys, ages 4 through 12th Grade, to join a summer of enrichment, play, making memories, trying something new, and good old summertime fun! All camps and classes are taught by the very best educators in the Dallas area. Click here for information about Summer at Hockaday. If you have questions regarding summer programs and registration, please contact the Summer at Hockaday office at 214-360-6534.

• Athletics (Grades 7–12)

  Upper School Sports Try-Out Start Dates:

  • Monday, August 4, 2025 – Cross Country, rowing, and volleyball
  • Monday, August 11, 2025 – Fencing and field hockey

  Middle School sports will start on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Practice times are 3:45 – 5 pm Monday – Thursday.

  
  The sports for each season (fall, winter, spring) are listed below.
  
  Fall: Cross Country, Fencing (Upper School only), Field Hockey, Rowing (Upper School only), Volleyball

  
  Winter:  Basketball, Diving (Upper School only), Soccer, Swimming, Cross Training (Middle School only)
  
  Spring:  Golf (Upper School only), Lacrosse, Rowing (Upper School only), Softball, Tennis, Track and Field
  
  We also have Student Athletic Trainers for the Upper School only during all three seasons.
  
  If you have any questions, please email athletic@hockaday.org

• Cheer Tryouts (Grades 9-11) are April 29 – May 2

  St. Mark's Cheer Tryouts will be held April 29  –  May 2, 4:30– 6:30 pm in Spencer Gym on the St. Mark's campus. Please email Director of Athletics Sean Lissemore at lissemores@smtexas.org if you are interested in trying out for the St. Mark's Cheer Team.

• Upper School Course Registration Process

  1. Start here: First review this presentation for an overview of the Upper School curriculum with a focus on Form I classes and how to sign up for what you would like to take next year. In order to view the notes for the presentation, please download the presentation to your computer and open it as a PDF. Then toggle on the presenter notes in the upper right corner of Adobe Acrobat.
     
     
  2. Then review the following documents:
     • 2025-2026 Upper School Course Catalog 
     • 2025-2026 Fine Arts Options for Form I 
       
       
  3. Once you have reviewed the preceding information and know what you want to take next year, please complete this form by Tuesday, April 22 at 11:59 pm to let us know how you would like to fulfill your Fine Arts and PE requirement next year.

  Course selection is due on Tuesday, April 22, at 11:59 pm.

• Summer Reading for Lower and Middle School

  Please check back here in late April for the Lower and Middle School Summer Reading Hub link.

• Summer Reading For Upper School Students

  Upper School Students (entering Form I, II or III) please check back here in late April. More details will be forthcoming.

• Institute for Social Impact

  The Hockaday Institute for Social Impact represents a distinctive and innovative approach among K-12 schools, using the power of engaged, hands-on learning to prepare students for leadership in their communities, workplaces, and society. Through both new and longstanding partnerships with Dallas-area organizations, the Institute allows students to engage with diverse partners, learn from civic leaders, tackle projects with community impact, and put their creative ideas into action for lasting social benefit.
  
  Click Here to Learn More.

• Division-Specific Back to School Forms

  In late July, you will receive back-to-school information and notification of online forms to be completed.  After logging in to the Hockaday website, you will see a yellow banner at the top of the Resource Board indicating you have school forms to complete. 
  
  If you are looking for your daughter's Student ID number, please login to www.hockaday.org, click on your daughter’s name in the top left, and select her Contact Card to see her 5 digit Student ID under General Information.
  
  Please be sure to visit your daughter's Class Page  as it will have important details about your daughter's orientation schedule.

• Enrollment and Tuition Payments

  1. Click here to login to the parent portal (Please use the Chrome Browser (not Safari or Internet Explorer) for online enrollment).
  2. Log-in, or, if you have not established a School Admin account, please create one.
  3. Once you log-in, you will be able to select 'Continue Enrollment Process'.
  4. Please complete the online Enrollment Contract and submit your non-refundable deposit by March 28, 2025.
  5. Once the Enrollment Contract and deposit have been submitted, please return to the checklist and click on FACTS Tuition Management to set up a billing account for the 2025-2026 Academic Year. This account will be used for tuition and fees, as well as incidental billing. 
     

• Hockaday Parents' Association (HPA)

  The Hockaday Parents’ Association (HPA) looks forward to contacting new families in June to share details of welcome events during the summer months and helpful insight on staying informed on news, dates, and information during the school year.
  
  The entire parent community, including new parents, will be able to view and sign up for parent volunteer opportunities on August 1. If you have specific questions regarding the HPA, how to volunteer, or get involved, please email HPA President Laurie Sudbury or VP-Elect Andrea Epstein.

  
    

• Laptop Information (Grades 5–12)

  The Technology Department at Hockaday will automatically order laptops for new Middle School (Fifth – Eighth Grade) students. 

   

  The Upper School has a “bring your own device” program. Below are the minimum recommended specifications we suggest for families when looking for a PC or Apple laptop. You can read more details here. 

  • i5 processor or greater
  • 16Gb of RAM
  • 256GB of hard drive space

  Please do NOT purchase a Chromebook or iPad in lieu of a laptop.

   

  If you have questions in regards to the suggested specifications when you are shopping for a laptop for your student, please contact the Director of Technology, David Yancey at dyancey@hockaday.org.
  
  

   You can read more details here.

   

  i

• Orchestra (Grades 7-12)

  Students requesting orchestra in the Upper School will need to submit a video audition for placement. Ms. Charlsie Griffiths will reach out to families directly with requirements once students have selected their courses for the 2025–2026 School Year.  All levels of instrumentalists are welcome to join the Upper School Orchestra program.  Please direct any questions to Cgriffiths@hockaday.org.
  
  If you have questions about the Middle School orchestra program, please contact Yung Fang Ludford.

• Uniforms

  Risse Brothers School Uniforms is Hockaday’s official uniform provider. Many standard items, including ladies' polos, cardigan sweaters, turtlenecks, crew socks, knee-high socks, and green blazers (except youth sizes), are now available both in-store and online. Additional uniform items will continue arriving in the coming months. The green blazer (all sizes), short-sleeved oxford shirts, and the Peter Pan blouse (with green trim) will arrive in May, and plaid skirts, green skirts, and green jumpers are anticipated by June 1.

   

  Gently used uniforms are for sale on campus at Hockaday’s Uniform Resale Boutique. The Boutique is located in Tarry House (accessible through the Welch Road entrance). The Hockaday Parents' Association manages the Boutique. Contact Laura and Aaron Navarro at hpa.resaleboutique@gmail.com with any questions. We will have a few uniforms available for purchase on the following dates: 
  Saturday, June 14, 9 am – 1 pm
  Saturday, July 26, 9 am – 1 pm

• Dance Auditions (Grades 9-11)

  Dance Placement Auditions for new Upper School students will take place at the following times:
  
  

  Monday, April 28 (4:15 - 6:30 PM)
  Beth Wortley Dance Studio in Penson
  (for US students and new students)
  
  

  Monday, May 4 (2:05 – 3:24 PM)
  Beth Wortley Dance Studio in Penson
  (for rising Form I students and new students)

   

  For new students who are not able to attend one of these auditions, a video with instructions will be provided and an audition scheduled for a later day. Please contact Christie Sullivan, Director of Dance at csullivan@hockaday.org if you have any questions.