Hotchkiss

The Hotchkiss School is one of America's most respected independent boarding schools, founded in 1891 in Lakeville, Connecticut. Set on a spectacular 827-acre campus in the Litchfield Hills of northwestern Connecticut, the school combines a breathtaking lakeside landscape with facilities that are among the finest of any secondary school in the country. The campus's natural beauty — with its lake, forests, and rolling hills — forms an integral part of life at Hotchkiss, shaping the school's culture of outdoor engagement and reflection alongside academic rigour. Hotchkiss educates approximately 600 students in grades 9 through 12 from across the United States and internationally. Approximately 95 per cent of students are boarders, creating an immersive community in which learning, athletics, the arts, and social development are woven together around the clock. The school draws students from over 30 countries, giving the community a genuinely international character within a quintessentially New England setting. Founded originally to educate boys, Hotchkiss became fully co-educational in 1974. Its alumni include prominent figures across business, government, the arts, and academia. The school is widely recognised for the depth of its curriculum, the quality of its faculty, and the strength of its university placement outcomes.

Academic Excellence

Hotchkiss offers a demanding liberal arts curriculum spanning more than 200 courses in grades 9 through 12. Core disciplines include English, mathematics, science, history, languages (including Mandarin, Spanish, French, Latin, and Greek), music, visual arts, and drama. The breadth of the academic offer ensures that every student has the opportunity to pursue intellectual passions across multiple domains rather than narrowing prematurely. Class sizes are small, enabling close and rigorous engagement between students and an exceptionally qualified faculty, the majority of whom hold advanced degrees from leading universities. Academic support and enrichment are both available, ensuring that students at every level of ability are stretched and supported appropriately. University placement results are outstanding, with graduates regularly gaining admission to Ivy League universities and other highly selective institutions in the United States and internationally. The 95 per cent boarding rate ensures a genuinely residential experience in which students benefit from around-the-clock access to faculty, peers, and the school's extraordinary facilities.

Rich Campus Life

Hotchkiss places considerable emphasis on life beyond the classroom. The school fields over 40 athletic teams competing across three seasons, with particular strength in crew, ice hockey, squash, and lacrosse. The performing and visual arts are equally prominent, supported by a dedicated arts centre with theatre, music practice rooms, and studio spaces. Student publications, community service, outdoor education, and a wide array of clubs and interest groups round out an exceptionally rich co-curricular landscape.