HOCKADAY ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION

The Hockaday Alumnae Association exists to support the Hockaday school and its students as well as creating a venue for alumane to remain in touch after graduating.

Founded in 1913, The Hockaday School is an independent college preparatory day and boarding school for girls, Prekindergarten through 12th Grade. Located on an expansive campus, Hockaday is in the residential area of north Dallas, Texas.

Academic Program
Hockaday offers a challenging college preparatory curriculum with Advanced Placement courses, honors courses, interdisciplinary program, and co-curricular classes with St. Mark's School of Texas, a boys' school in Dallas. Hockaday has more national merit finalists than any other girls’ school in the nation, and traditionally, 100 percent of graduating seniors are accepted to prestigious colleges and universities.

The Hockaday School provides a college preparatory education for girls of strong potential and diverse backgrounds who may be expected to assume positions of responsibility and leadership in a rapidly changing world.

The Hockaday School was started by Miss Ela Hockaday. Ten students enrolled in the school in 1913 on Hockaday’s first campus, located in a house on North Haskell Avenue in Dallas. In the next few years, Hockaday increased in size, adding a Lower School and a large boarding department. By the end of the 1920s, Hockaday’s reputation for high academic standards was well-established.

In 1931, undaunted by economic events, Miss Hockaday began a Junior College; and then, in 1938, she opened The Music Institute, which was located on what would become Hockaday’s second campus on Greenville Avenue in Dallas.

After Miss Hockaday's death in 1956, J. Erik Jonsson set in motion a campaign for a new campus. Karl Hoblitzelle donated 100 acres in North Dallas, which became the site of Hockaday's third and present-day campus in 1961. The Dallas Times Herald described the new campus as "eye-catching ... the most unusual, the most attractive, the most advanced learning facility in Dallas."

Despite many changes over the years, Hockaday still remains deeply committed to its founder's vision, revering Miss Hockaday’s four cornerstones of character, courtesy, scholarship, and athletics. In addition, as Miss Hockaday would have wished, the school has a diverse student body. The campus also has grown to accommodate more than 1,000 students; and as a result of the Hockaday Tomorrow Capital Campaign, now features a state-of-the-art Academic Research Center, a new Lower School Addition, and a beautiful Wellness Center.


Through small classes, creative teaching, and an approach which emphasizes the process of learning, Hockaday seeks to discover unique aptitudes and awaken the intellectual curiosity of every girl.


Through a strong physical education program and the challenge of competitive sport, Hockaday seeks to develop in each girl an enthusiastic spirit, a healthy body, and a sense of responsibility for herself and her actions.


Through a continual exposure to the arts, Hockaday seeks to engender an appreciation of beauty and joy in self-expression that will bring added enrichment to each girl’s life.


Through constant emphasis on moral and ethical values, Hockaday seeks to nurture a courteous attitude, a sense of grace, respect for the ideals of human worth and dignity, and a harmonious and mature character well equipped to make responsible choices and withstand the pressures of today’s society.


It is the purpose of The Hockaday School to foster a community of concern and friendship and to instill in every girl a love of learning, an understanding of herself and the ethical principles which guide her life, an appreciation of excellence in all its forms, and a commitment to what is right and good.

Miss Hockaday was the Four Cornerstones and the Four Cornerstones are The Hockaday School. The culture of the School is imbued with them.
CHARACTER
Character is the pursuit of a moral and ethical life; it promotes within us a self-assurance and strength to withstand life’s pressures.

COURTESY
Courtesy is the quality equated with dignity and generosity of spirit; it is our outward expression of respect not only for others, but also for ourselves.

SCHOLARSHIP
Scholarship is the search for knowledge that brings a wise understanding of a complex world; it fosters in us a creative, discerning and resourceful mind.

ATHLETICS
Athletics is the endeavor to lead a healthy, active and balanced life; it embraces challenges and inspires us to be modest winners and courageous losers.

Founder's Day Award
The Founder's Day Award was established in 1959 to honor Hockaday's founder, Miss Ela Hockaday. It is presented on or near March 12, which was the date of Miss Hockaday's birthday in 1875. The award is given to members of the senior class who have been selected by the faculty and their peers for exemplifying the four cornerstones of Hockaday: Courtesy, Scholarship, Character, and Athletics.