Grades 1–4

List of 5 items.

• Complete the Online Application

  Apply Online

  
  The online application and the $50 application fee, along with the Parent Statement and a copy of your daughter's birth certificate must be submitted by December 16, 2024. The full application (including testing and teacher evaluation) must be scheduled or completed by January 31, 2025.
  
  *Application fee waivers are available for those who qualify, please contact the Office of Admission at admission@hockaday.org for information.
  

• Schedule Admission Testing

  GRADE 1
  CATS ASSESSMENT:
  This is a cognitive abilities assessment that is administered individually by Collaborative Academic Testing Services (CATS). You may register your child at www.catstexas.com. Test results may be shared with other schools where the student is applying. There is $325* registration fee. 
  
  

  ATS FIRST GRADE ASSESSMENT:
  Register Here
  This is a web-based virtual admission assessment that is being managed by Admission Testing Solutions (ATS). This assessment is approved by the Dallas Area Independent School Consortium. The testing fee is $150* and is due at the time of registration.
  
  

  FIRST GRADE OBSERVATION:
  All first-grade applicants will be asked to visit Hockaday for a First Grade Observation with one of our Lower School teachers on either Saturday, January 11, or January 25, 2025. Once your daughter’s application is submitted, please select the observation date in the parent portal.

  
  GRADES 2-4
  ISEE ADMISSION TEST:
  All applicants will be required to take the Independent School Entrance Examination (ISEE) in person at Hockaday or at another ISAAD school in Dallas. The ISEE will be offered at Hockaday on Saturday, January 11 or 25, 2025. Once your daughter’s application has been submitted, please select the testing date in the parent portal. The test registration code for the ISEE will populate in the parent portal. You will use this code to register online for the ISEE at https://iseeonline.erblearn.org. The testing fee is $125 and is due at the time of registration.*

   

  *Testing fee assistance available for those who qualify.

• Submit School Records Release Form to Current School

  Once you have submitted your daughter's application, please locate the School Records Release Form in the parent portal checklist and click on 'Edit this Request'. You will have the opportunity to enter the email address of the school administrator who is responsible for grades, school records, or progress reports at your daughter’s current school. This will allow the school to upload your daughter‘s school records directly to the student application file. Note: if your child is applying to prekindergarten or kindergarten and the school does not issue school records, the form will allow the official to indicate that. This checklist item will be marked complete once the records have been received by Hockaday. The deadline for the receipt of your child’s school records (Fall 2024, 2023-2024, and 2022-2023), if available, is January 31, 2025.

• Return Teacher Evaluations by January 31, 2025

  Please provide your daughter's current teacher's name and email address on the Teacher Evaluation request form in the checklist in the parent portal. Hockaday will send an online confidential Teacher Evaluation to your daughter's current teacher. You may confirm receipt of the Evaluation in the checklist.

• Admission Decision

  Admission decision notifications will be emailed on March 14, 2025, to all applicants who have completed their applications by January 31, 2025.