Academics

Lower School

Starting Your Journey

Lower School is a place where girls are loved and cared for, where they make lifelong friends, and where they develop their identities as learners, creators, collaborators, and leaders.

The Lower School provides a nurturing, supportive, and fun environment for our students. Teachers are flexible, cooperative, collaborative, and passionate about their subject matter, and there is also a strong sense of community between administration, teachers, staff, and parents.

The Lower School meets the needs of each learner, and Lower School teachers have a willingness and desire to be innovative. The curriculum includes the highly anticipated Fourth Grade Create, Collaborate, Innovate (CCI) class, which focuses on the world of STEAM, a coding program that gives a hands-on approach to computer programming, and mindfulness activities that cultivate resilience and perseverance in our girls.

Lower School is a place full of joy, growth, and preparation. Every day is filled with excitement and discovery as each student finds her love of learning. Our open and collaborative community is not only connected by the love of learning but also by empathy and inclusion to help girls thrive.

Lower School Pledge

EACH AND EVERY HOCK-A-DAY, I PLEDGE TO LIVE THE HOCK-A-WAY, WITH: RESPECT, FRIENDSHIP, EMPATHY, HONESTY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND PERSEVERANCE.

Student to Teacher Ratio

List of 3 items.

16:1

First – Fourth Grades
6:1

Pre-Kindergarten
8:1

Kinder and Primer

An Emphasis on Joy

In addition to its strong Lower School academic curriculum, Hockaday emphasizes fun, play, and creative exploration throughout the school day.
Core Values

The Lower School core values of respect, friendship, empathy, honesty, responsibility, and perseverance are integrated into our “Hock-A-Way” pledge, class meetings, Lower School gatherings, and morning meetings.
Giving Garden

The Lower School garden is one of the most beloved locations on campus. Girls learn about the food cycle, and the seasons, plant vegetables, flowers, and herbs, and donate fresh food to food banks. Language teachers also use it as a way to learn new vocabulary!
Language Learning

World Language is part of the core curriculum, with every student taking Spanish and French starting in prekindergarten.
Creative Expression

Students take multiple art classes each week and learn the fundamentals of art in a creative environment. The art program fosters imagination, problem-solving, teamwork, and the development of technique and facility.
Making an Impact

All students in Lower School participate in Hockaday’s Institute for Social Impact. Each grade focuses on a theme, and participation in skills-building service projects and visits from partner organizations are integrated into the curriculum.
Parent Involvement

Parents are very involved in traditional programs and events like Rotunda Rocks, Lunch Bunch, Cut-Ups, Fun Day, Rockin’ Readers, Dictation Daisies, Pre-K Circus, and the Lower School musicals and productions.
Scientific Exploration

Through hands-on projects and real-world experience, Lower School students learn from dedicated Science teachers about how to explore the world around them.
Showstopping Performances

Each grade puts on a special production during the year, and every girl is given the opportunity to shine through speaking roles, singing, and dancing.

Take The Next Step

Just as we encourage our girls to be curious and engage in the process of discovery, we encourage and invite you to visit our campus and experience a day at Hockaday.

The Hockaday School

11600 Welch Road
Dallas, TX 75229
(214) 363-6311

Within the private school community, The Hockaday School is an independent college-preparatory day school for girls from grades PK–12 located in Dallas, Texas. Students realize their limitless potential through challenging academic curricula, arts, athletics, and extracurricular programs so that they are inspired to lead lives of purpose and impact.

Resources

Lower School

Starting Your Journey

Lower School Pledge

Student to Teacher Ratio

List of 3 items.

16:1

6:1

8:1

An Emphasis on Joy

Core Values

Giving Garden

Language Learning

Creative Expression

Making an Impact

Parent Involvement

Scientific Exploration

Showstopping Performances

Take The Next Step

The Hockaday School