School Name
The Hotchkiss School
Category
North America Schools
Types
Senior school
Pupil type
Co-ed
Boarding-Day
Boarding
Day
Curriculums
US curriculum
Pupil age range
14-18
Location
Connecticut
The Hotchkiss School
Focus
Educating leaders and change-makers
Day fees 2025/26
$64,400
Boarding fees 2025/26
$75,800
Term dates
- Term 1: 5 September to 16 December 2025
- Term 2: 6 January to 3 June 2026
Ages
14-18
Pupil count
627
Spear’s Review
A top Connecticut prep school founded in 1891, Hotchkiss challenges pupils beyond their comfort zone. Pupils from across the globe are encouraged to try new things and build bonds. The school has excellent green credentials and this ‘internationally diverse, inclusive learning community’ has educated Olympians, bankers, entrepreneurs, poets and producers.
Hotchkiss follows the US curriculum and offers more than 200 subjects for study, including classic languages, human development and performing arts. The sciences department is particularly well known for its 3D printing facility and observatory.
Sustainability has become a big focus for the school. In recent years, the school took over part of a 287-acre farm where students can take lessons in farming, nutrition and agriculture – the farm even supplies 30 per cent of the produce in the dining hall during the fall semester.
Academics
In 2025:
- Average SAT score was 1424
- Average ACT score was 31
Head teacher
Craig W. Bradley was appointed head of school in 2016. In early 2025, he announced his retirement, effective at the end of the 2025/26 academic year. Dr Anne Bruder, who currently serves as dean of academic affairs at Deerfield Academy, is set to take over in July 2026.
University and college destinations
Between 2022 and 2025, Hotchkiss has sent 10 or more students to Ivy League universities Brown, Cornell, Columbia, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton and Yale.
Admissions
Students hoping to attend Hotchkiss should submit an inquiry form. Following this, they will attend an interview, sit standardised tests and submit documentation including a personal statement, academic records and teacher recommendations.
Notable alumni
- Allison Janney (Oscar-winning actor)
- Harold Stanley (founder of Morgan Stanley)
- MacKenzie Scott (philanthropist)
Accessibility
JFK Airport: 2 hours
Location
Click for more information about the research process and expert insight behind the Spear’s Schools Index.
Rank: Top Recommended
Top Recommended Spear’s Schools Index 2026, North America Schools