The Hotchkiss School

Hotchkiss is a prestigious century-old boarding school that emphasizes rigorous academic training, a global perspective, and a sense of social responsibility, fostering students' ability to "lead through service."
School Highlights: Offers over 200 courses, including more than 60 advanced electives (covering STEM, humanities, visual arts, social sciences, etc.), encouraging students to engage in interdisciplinary learning and independent research.
Provides 6 world language courses and features a Global Initiatives Program, allowing students to study abroad, intern, or participate in sustainable development projects.
Leading in Sustainable Development Practices: The campus hosts a farm and environmental projects, where students can participate in agricultural planting, environmental issue discussions, and environmental technology practices, making it one of the first "green boarding schools" in the US.
Strong Arts and Music Programs: Features a professional-grade music building (Ely Hall), a student orchestra, a drama season, and abundant resources for art students.
Excellent University Placement Resources: Hotchkiss consistently sends students to top universities like Harvard, Yale, Columbia, etc. annually. The college counseling team is experienced and dedicated to students' individual growth.
Recommended for:
Excellent students who wish to grow through global issues, academic challenges, and social practices, possessing critical thinking and a spirit of service.

The Hotchkiss School was founded in 1891 in Lakeville, Connecticut. Initially established to prepare students for Yale, it was known as “Yale's backyard.” Hotchkiss is a member of the Eight Schools Association, the Ten Schools Admissions Organization, and a former G20 schools member. To this day, it continues to send around 10 students to Yale each year.

The school offers a rich and diverse curriculum, including STEM programs with specialized equipment labs inspired by MIT, allowing students to develop expertise in scientific research, digital modeling, computer science, and robotics. It also features a Scientific Entrepreneurship program, a rigorous, capstone thesis project where students lead the process from inspiration to a final product. This program also trains students in public speaking, developing original proposals, and analyzing community needs. The school also has a dedicated observatory with four telescopes, where astronomy students can use the Ayer Observatory to observe and study celestial bodies.

Throughout its over one hundred-year history, The Hotchkiss School has maintained an excellent academic tradition. The school's educational philosophy is to cultivate lifelong learners, socially responsible citizens, and individuals with integrity and honesty. Under this educational philosophy, the campus is filled with an atmosphere of mutual trust and respect. Students from various states across the U.S. and 33 countries worldwide make this school a small but highly diverse community.

Dean Zhan's Review: As a top boarding school in the US, Hotchkiss has created a free, diverse, and highly inclusive community, offering abundant opportunities for students. This atmosphere is particularly suitable for Chinese students with open minds and clear goals, enabling them to fully utilize all school resources and receive more support.
Regarding cultural heritage, Hotchkiss students from all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, sexual orientation, religious, philosophical, and political backgrounds live, learn, create, and grow together. Furthermore, Hotchkiss embraces a wide array of religious and spiritual traditions.
In terms of academic development, Hotchkiss maintains rigorous standards, offers a rich selection of courses, and boasts comprehensively equipped research facilities. The school's average TOEFL score is above 110. Students meet weekly with counseling groups to address academic issues and plan their future paths. The school also arranges homeroom teachers to supervise and accompany students throughout their studies.
Regarding community building, Hotchkiss fosters an inclusive and friendly community where alumni support each other; the school also offers over 60 clubs and student-run organizations to help students develop their interests and hobbies. 96% of students live on campus, with at least one year arranged in double rooms for students to expand their social circles. The school is committed to creating a safe and respectful community.
For emotional support, the school has a professional medical team on call 24/7, ready to provide emotional crisis assessment and counseling at any time. The inclusive and warm community culture, friendly classmates, and ever-present mentors and homeroom teachers continuously help and protect the students.

7. Round Square: Round Square is an association of over 160 schools in 39 countries that promotes an ideal curriculum (intercultural understanding, democracy, environmental awareness, adventure, leadership, and service). During the academic year, Hotchkiss hosts students from Round Square member schools for exchange marking periods or semesters, as well as short visits for teachers. Hotchkiss students can choose to participate in marking periods and summer exchanges at Round Square schools around the world and can work at these schools during a gap year. In the summer, Hotchkiss students can contribute to service projects in countries such as Peru, South Africa, and Romania.

8. CITYTERM: Hotchkiss is a member of CITYTERM, an interdisciplinary, one-semester program organized around an in-depth study of New York City. Students complete a three-credit, honors-level study of New York, including its history, literature, and built environment, bringing classroom instruction to life on field trips throughout New York City. Students can also take math, language, or science courses, ensuring a smooth return to Hotchkiss at the end of the semester. The 30 students participating in the program live on the campus of The Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, New York, and commute to New York City four to five times a week by train.

1. Location: It is situated in the town of Lakeville, in the northwest corner of Connecticut, approximately 150 kilometers from New York City. The school is also part of a national natural scenic area, covering 827 acres, and boasts Connecticut's deepest freshwater lake. In such a beautiful environment, the school places great emphasis on environmental protection.

2. Rich Curriculum: The school offers 220 courses and 23 AP courses for students to choose from.

3. Academic Excellence: Average SAT score 1320-1470/1600; Average ACT score 30-33/36; 67% of students achieve an AP score of 4 or higher, and 88% achieve an AP score of 3 or higher.

4. High Educational Quality: Hotchkiss School offers high educational quality, is one of the top ten renowned high schools in the United States, and is a member of the Ten Schools Admissions Organization, on par with prestigious schools like Phillips Academy and Phillips Exeter Academy.

5. School Activities and Facilities: The school has over 60 student clubs, 64 sports teams, 15 outdoor tennis courts, 3 indoor tennis facilities, two ice hockey rinks, a 10-lane swimming pool, 8 international standard squash courts, a 9-hole golf course, a theater with a capacity of 715 seats, 13 rehearsal halls, and a digital recording studio.

6. School Year Abroad (SYA): Our membership in the School Year Abroad program allows students to experience another language and culture through full immersion in France, Italy, Spain, or the People's Republic of China. Participants live with host families and study in both English and the host country's language under the guidance of experienced SYA faculty.

Arts Activities

In any corner of Hotchkiss School, you can see student artwork of exceptionally high quality. The purpose of the school's art education is to cultivate students' understanding of art history, teach them artistic techniques, and enable them to grasp the profound meaning of artworks. The school aims to shape students into keen and intelligent observers, encouraging them to boldly use their imaginative ideas for limitless exploration in the field of art.

The school provides students with ample opportunities to discover and express themselves through the power of art. Students participate in various art activities to enrich their extracurricular lives, such as musical performances, choir, jazz choir, music technology, jazz history, digital photography, filmmaking, and drama.

Clubs

The school offers a rich and diverse range of club activities, including the Debate Team, Diversity Committee, Economics Club, Environmental Group, EPIIC (Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship), Exeter Club, Exeter Historians, Harold Ryan Society, Indian Society, Hong Kong Student Association, Indian Society, International Society, Jazz Club, Kirtland Society, L.E.A.D, Los Salseros, Martial Arts Club, Middle Eastern Student Alliance, and Public Speaking Society (including Debate, Model UN, Model Congress), among others.

The Hotchkiss School places great emphasis on the holistic development of its students, offering a wide array of extracurricular activities and valuing the cultivation of students' teamwork and creative abilities.

At The Hotchkiss School, athletics are an integral part of the school's identity and spirit. The school takes pride in its 'Bearcats' teams and their award-winning athletic prowess. Most importantly, Hotchkiss is proud to be a private high school in Connecticut with an athletic community that emphasizes perseverance, teamwork, and personal integrity.

Hotchkiss's extensive athletic program runs year-round, allowing students to choose to participate and grow with their teammates. With 94% of students participating in team sports, athletics truly become a part of the Hotchkiss school experience.

Spring Programs

In the spring, students embrace the changing season through an exciting range of outdoor sports. These include baseball, lacrosse, crew, sailing, tennis, track and field, golf, and ultimate frisbee. Every athlete balances rigorous academics with competitive sports to achieve and surpass their personal bests.

Fall Programs

As the academic year begins, students can choose from field hockey, cross-country, mountain biking, football, soccer, and volleyball. Some of these sports offer team opportunities for both boys and girls.

Winter Programs

During the winter, students can participate in basketball, ice hockey, squash, swimming, diving, and wrestling. These indoor sports provide valuable opportunities for students to stay active and healthy during the colder months, keeping the spirit of teamwork and competition alive on campus.

School Feature Projects

Fairfield Farm Project

Hotchkiss School leverages its unique natural resources to offer the novel and engaging Fairfield Farm project. The farm spans approximately 287 acres and is located just one mile from the campus. Students and teachers not only have the opportunity to witness organic farming practices firsthand but can also directly participate in agricultural work, such as planting and harvesting crops, gaining valuable experience in agricultural science and nutrition. The farm also supplies 30% of the produce to the school cafeteria during the autumn semester each year. Furthermore, students can have the opportunity to care for farm animals.

Overseas Year Program

Aimed at cultivating engaged and responsible citizens, Hotchkiss School places great importance on cross-cultural exchange, thus offering the Overseas Year Program. Students can experience another language and culture through immersive study in France, Italy, Spain, or China, living with host families.

Diploma in Classical Studies

Hotchkiss School is the only private high school to offer a Diploma in Classical Studies, with a particular emphasis on developing students' writing skills. The school firmly believes that understanding the origins of language will equip students with higher levels of communication and language proficiency. Teachers across all grades and subjects instill in students the importance of clear and accurate writing. Graduates of Hotchkiss School are all capable of producing clear and comprehensible essays, with senior students' writing skills generally reaching the level of a college sophomore.

Hotchkiss School is a top-tier private boarding high school located in Lakeville, Connecticut. The school focuses on cultivating students' learning abilities, sense of responsibility, and integrity, teaching them correct study methods, developing their intellect and comprehension, and fostering their self-confidence and independence.

Hotchkiss School is renowned for its high educational quality, ranking among the top ten high schools in the United States. It is a member of the Ten Schools Admissions Organization, on par with other leading American high schools such as Phillips Academy Andover and Phillips Exeter Academy.

Academically, Hotchkiss School is known for its rigor. The school encourages students to think clearly, express themselves articulately, be confident, and possess a high aesthetic appreciation, instilling in them a sense of international responsibility and a full understanding of themselves. All courses are designed to prepare students for university studies, helping them develop a comprehensive knowledge structure, rich imagination, the ability to make better decisions, and become lifelong active learners.

Hotchkiss School's independent high school academic program boasts over 200 courses across seven departments, offered in small class sizes, providing a breadth and depth of learning that most students cannot experience before college. Under the guidance of thoughtful and engaged mentors, Hotchkiss students continuously develop intellectually and build strong connections with their peers – whether they are discussing environmental issues, researching global trends, or analyzing literature.

University Admission Data:

Admission data statistics for 2019-2022: 45 admitted to the University of Chicago, 26 to Cornell University, 22 to the University of Pennsylvania, 20 to Columbia University, 14 to Harvard University, 14 to Yale University, 13 to Dartmouth College, 13 to Brown University, 10 to Princeton University, 6 to Duke University, etc.;

Hotchkiss is one of the few independent high schools in the United States that offers a diploma in classical studies. Understanding the origins of language will equip students with enhanced communication and linguistic skills. As a New England boarding school with small class sizes, students have ample opportunities to engage with the ideas and experiences of their peers. 96% of students live in the school's dormitories, and this residential environment provides opportunities for social development, a sense of independence and responsibility, and creative expression within the community.

Through outdoor courses, environmental science, photography classes, and community volunteer work, students interact with the world around them, deepening their understanding that the world can serve as an educational resource.

The school's 287-acre farm is the perfect classroom for students to learn about sustainability, agriculture, and nature. Students can learn sustainable farming, engage in labor, and harvest produce on the farm.

From newspaper articles to writing competitions, students have numerous avenues to create and refine their writing. As a result, students graduate with the ability to transform thoughts into words.

At Hotchkiss, learning doesn't end in the summer. As a private college preparatory high school, many students continue to prepare for university through various summer programs. These include credit-bearing courses that offer students further preparation for college studies.

The Hotchkiss School is an independent boarding school located in Lakeville, Connecticut. It boasts academic strengths in foreign languages, science, and history, with a notable focus on humanities (history, religion, and social sciences beyond English). With its 287-acre Fairfield Farm, the school fully utilizes its rural environment as part of its educational resources, offering distinctive science electives such as ecology and limnology.

Data for Hotchkiss School: student-to-teacher ratio of 4:1; 70% of teachers live on campus; faculty average over 23 years of teaching experience; approximately 11 students per class; known for rigorous academic integrity and high-quality instruction; total student enrollment is approximately 624; international student ratio is 15%; boarding tuition is $69,820 per year.

Hotchkiss School offers a wide array of sports programs and maintains an excellent relationship with another top American high school, Taft School. Each year, there are designated Taft Day and Hotchkiss Day, during which students from both schools are excused from classes. Students wear spirit wear supporting their respective schools, paint their faces with their school colors, and participate in sports competitions organized jointly by both sides. It's a lot of fun, and the two schools serve as friendly rivals fostering mutual progress. On these days, students also experience a very strong sense of unity and cohesion!

The Hotchkiss academic program is challenging, with over 245 subjects and 21 AP courses. It employs a small class system, with approximately 12 students per class, ensuring that each student receives careful instruction and help from their advisors. The school's arts program is outstanding, boasting excellent music facilities and practice rooms. Hotchkiss prefers to admit students with special talents in music and art, and also highly values students' social and humanistic concerns and their ability to bring about positive change in society.

The Hotchkiss School boasts exceptionally high educational quality, ranking among the top ten renowned high schools in the United States. It is a member of the Eight Schools Association, the Ten Schools Admissions Organization, and the G20 Schools, often referred to as Yale University's backyard. Located in Lakeville, Connecticut, the school features a large and beautiful campus, including the 287-acre Fairfield Farm. Its commitment to environmental management is integrated into many aspects of school life, evidenced by its award-winning biomass central heating facilities and practices in food, land, and energy management. It has been designated by the Nature Conservancy as one of the 'Global 200 Most Important Places'. Studying and living in such a school is truly a wonderful experience!

The Hotchkiss School emphasizes fostering a lifelong love of learning, responsibility, and character in its students. It also cultivates their learning abilities, curiosity, and creativity across various subjects, while also valuing active participation in sports and school activities. Most graduates go on to attend world-class universities.

Hotchkiss provides an innovative and collaborative environment to assist students in their learning. The school employs state-of-the-art technology in classrooms, labs, dormitories, and across the entire campus. Labs are equipped with specialized equipment for students to explore topics such as DNA testing, physics, robotics, and environmental and atmospheric research. The Hotchkiss Observatory is a powerful tool for studying and observing nocturnal stellar activities. Additionally, Hotchkiss offers computer science courses, experiential learning opportunities, and relevant clubs for students interested in computer programming and application development. In the arts, students can learn the art of set and lighting design in dance and theatrical productions, and have access to digital recording studios and dedicated music rehearsal rooms. The Catherine Elfers Hall provides professional-grade acoustics, digital recording equipment, and facilities. Students studying media technology can use laser cutters, 3D printers, an online student radio station, and other equipment to learn creative media, digital photography, and video production. For sports, the school's Forrest E. Mars Jr. Athletic Center spans 212,000 square feet and includes sports fields, a multi-lane swimming pool, an ice hockey rink, squash courts, basketball courts, a wrestling room, and more. The school's athletic facilities also include an award-winning golf course, indoor and outdoor tennis courts, a track and field area, a climbing wall, and more. Students on the sailing team also sail on a nearby lake.

Hotchkiss, known as a "Little Ivy," was founded with the initial aim of preparing students for Yale, earning it the nickname "Yale's backyard." The school is located in Lakeville, in the northwest corner of Connecticut, just a 2-hour drive from downtown New York City and 3 hours from Boston. Hotchkiss School's goal has always been to provide a vibrant environment for teaching and learning, and to offer special preparation for future studies and a fulfilling adult life. Hotchkiss is also known as "America's most beautiful campus," with natural ecological lakes nearby. The school not only offers high academic standards, but also a rich variety of sports programs, where sailing and rowing teams can freely navigate the lakes. The school's art and music programs are also very strong. The film club also hosts the Hotchkiss Film Festival every spring. The school has an observatory, providing favorable conditions for children who love astronomy. The school has a unique farm that supplies 30% of the produce to its dining halls, and also provides students with opportunities to care for farm animals, enjoy the scenery, hike, garden, and participate in other activities. Students can also directly participate in farm work, being taught valuable skills and knowledge about agriculture and nutrition.

The Hotchkiss School is located in the scenic suburb of Lakeville, Connecticut, and is an independent co-educational boarding high school. It is next to the top American junior school, Indian Mountain School, and is also known as the 'back garden of Yale'. The student-to-teacher ratio is 5:1. Currently, there are 624 enrolled students.

Hotchkiss's academic program offers over 200 courses across seven departments, with rigorous academics, and humanities courses being a strong subject area. The learning environment is interactive and inclusive. In particular, music and art courses are very distinctive, so the school also favors students with musical or artistic talents during admissions.

18 sports activities are offered, including: Baseball, Cross Country, Field Hockey, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Softball, Squash, Swimming, etc.; the school offers 15 art courses, including: Ceramics, Portfolio, Architecture, Dance, Chorus, Jazz, Music Technology, Photography, etc.

University admissions results are impressive, with many graduates admitted to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and MIT.

The Hotchkiss School, founded in 1891, is located in Lakeville, Connecticut. Covering 545 hectares, it is an independent, full-time boarding school, co-educational. It offers courses for grades 9 to 12, as well as post-graduate education. Students come from various states across the United States and over thirty countries. Graduates are admitted to many top-tier universities. The school's arts program is very strong and a highlight, especially music; the humanities curriculum for 9th/10th graders is also a major highlight, integrating history, English, art, etc., thus requiring relatively high reading and writing skills from students.
The school includes a main academic building with 30 classrooms, a network center, a black box theater, the Esther Eastman Music Center, the Edsel Ford Memorial Library, a modern language lab, the Tremaine Art Gallery, the Watson Computer Center, the Walker Auditorium (a 615-seat theater stage), an art history lecture hall, 5 visual arts studios (painting, sculpture, printmaking), two kiln ceramic studios, a dance studio, a digital media center, photography classrooms and studios, video editing rooms, a 9-hole golf course, 15 outdoor tennis courts, a climbing wall, an athletic track, a soccer field, a field hockey field, a rowing lake, a swimming pool, and more.

Hotchkiss School places too much emphasis on humanities (history, religion, social sciences, excluding English) and too little on STEM, with excessively long required humanities coursework. This is evident from the school's curriculum design and graduation requirements. Assuming one full-year course counts as one credit (typically 6 credits per year), most boarding high schools require 4 credits of English, 2 credits of history, 0.5 or 1 credit of religion/philosophy, and some flexible social sciences for graduation. However, Hotchkiss requires 4 credits of humanities courses (excluding English) to be completed in 9th and 10th grades, which significantly reduces the time and options available for STEM courses. Students hoping to pursue careers in STEM fields are advised to consider this carefully.
https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1604953021/hotchkiss/osixjiijfswhnkgk8lkc/2020-21_School_Profile_201109.pdf
https://www.hotchkiss.org/academics/the-academic-experience

The Hotchkiss School, founded in 1891, spans 827 acres and has a total of 604 students, with a boarding ratio of 98%. It is located in Lakeville, Connecticut, and is known as "Yale's backyard." Although the school is quite remote, surrounded by forests with no houses and no cell phone signal for half an hour in any direction, it now has its own network. Despite the rain today, the admission office welcomed applicants from all over the world. This is by far the largest and most impressive office I've seen. Besides its strong academics, it's worth noting that they place great importance on music and art, especially pianos and musical instruments. As soon as I entered the arts center, I heard the sound of music drifting, and almost every music classroom has a grand piano. In addition, the school has a professional recording studio, a darkroom, a black box theater, and a professional student radio station. Painting is also excellent, with student artwork displayed in various corners of the school. The school's gym, located across a road, has truly fantastic facilities, including a 10-lane swimming pool, 3 indoor tennis courts, 8 international standard squash courts, and a 9-hole golf course. Even the common areas in student dormitories are well-equipped. The school places great emphasis on environmental protection and has its own farm.

One of the top ten elite boarding high schools in the U.S. It was initially established to prepare students for Yale, but in reality, it sends many students to every Ivy League university. The school environment is excellent, boasting a superb ecosystem with mountains, forests, and lakes, much like a utopia. Overall, the school leans towards humanities and arts, emphasizing academic achievement while also providing students with excellent resources for developing various skills. One of its unique features is its own farm, which supplies 30% of the school's food. Students also participate in farm work through various activities.
The school's music program is exceptionally strong, offering some of the best music resources in the U.S. and one-on-one professional coaching. The Head of Music is a renowned piano master. Its fine arts program is also very strong. The school particularly favors admitting students with a strong background in humanities, excellent independent thinking skills, and strong reading and writing abilities.

### Overall Situation:
- Academically very strong.
- Grades 9 and 10 feature a broad humanities course, integrating English, history, religion, and art, among other aspects. Therefore, students must select courses according to the school's requirements.
- In 2020, a significant number of AP courses were canceled, especially history, but students can still take the AP exam after completing equivalent-level courses.
- The school highly respects students' wishes and abilities. Thus, starting from Grade 10, if students meet the prerequisites and actively communicate with the school, they may be able to choose some advanced-level courses, such as AP science.

### Academic Strengths/Features:
- Art, especially music.
- Every subject offers independent research. Teachers provide guidance for students in Grades 11 and 12 who have already taken relevant advanced courses and wish to delve deeper into a specific area of study.

### Shangxue Mingde Student Feedback:
- Both humanities and sciences are strong, but humanities feel more robust and have higher demands.
- Most Chinese students opted for a second foreign language.

The former headmaster was a leader at Yale. It's a top-tier US high school, an excellent institution!
The school was founded in 1891 and currently includes five grades, from 9th to PG (Postgraduate). Over 500 students at The Hotchkiss School come from all over the United States and 32 countries worldwide.
The Hotchkiss School boasts high educational quality, ranking among the top ten prestigious high schools in the United States, and is a member of the Ten Schools Admissions Organization. In recent years, the school's admission rate has been only 21%, at its lowest point once reaching 18%, comparable to renowned schools like Phillips Academy and Phillips Exeter Academy.
The school was founded in 1891 by Maria Hotchkiss in Lakeville. Its initial purpose was to help children from impoverished farming families get into Yale University. For over a century, the school has continuously nurtured various talents. Notable alumni include Dickinson W. Richards, a Nobel laureate; John Hersey, a Pulitzer Prize winner; and Alfred Whitney Griswold, former president of Yale University.

Hotchkiss, located in Lakeville, Connecticut, was founded in 1891. It was initially established to prepare students for Yale, earning it the reputation as 'Yale's backyard.'
The Hotchkiss School is a member of the Eight Schools Association, the Ten Schools Admission Organization, and a former member of the G20 Schools. The school has an observatory.

School Highlights

1. **Specialty Farm:** 50% of the school's vegetables come from its own farm, which also serves as an essential place for students to develop hands-on skills and conduct experimental operations.

2. **Strong Music Program:** Includes the Philharmonic Orchestra, Jazz Band, private music lessons, Hotchkiss Choir, Gospel Choir, and A Cappella; there are three music classes per week, one of which is a unified music history class, and the other two vary by individual. Some choose orchestra and jazz band, so these two classes are rehearsals. Others take music theory classes. Music has a strict requirement: two one-on-one instrument lessons per week.

3. **High College Placement Rate:** It's no exaggeration to call it 'Yale's backyard.' The school's original purpose was to prepare children from less privileged families for Yale. More than 100 years later, it still maintains 10 Yale acceptances annually.

4. **Rich School Programs and Clubs:** It is well-known for its diverse and numerous club activities, with over ninety. School programs span globally and nationally, including partnerships with Round Square, Overseas Academic Year, Chewonki Semester School, High Mountain Institute, and Island School, as well as Hotchkiss trips and exchanges.

5. **Strong Faculty:** 72% of faculty hold advanced degrees, with an average of over 23 years of professional educational experience, and an average class size of 12 students.

Hotchkiss, known as a “Little Ivy,” is located in the suburbs and is reputed for nurturing future Yale students. It offers top-tier high school learning resources, an idyllic environment away from the hustle and bustle, making it an excellent place for quiet immersion in academic pursuits. Beyond its robust academics, the school possesses sufficiently powerful resources to establish its own systems and facilities for talent development. In addition to an 18-hole golf course, 18 tennis courts, 2 ice hockey rinks, a swimming pool, and a squash court, its unique natural environment of mountains, forests, and lakes creates every possible opportunity for children's sports and outdoor activities. Hotchkiss also has its own organic fuel heating center and the Fairfield Farm, where participation in farm activities cultivates children's sense of value creation and responsibility. Notably, Hotchkiss is a haven for musically talented and gifted children. Its campus, with a rich artistic atmosphere and palatial-style decor, provides some of the best music resources and one-on-one professional instruction in the United States. This is rare among Top 10 schools, few of which place such extreme emphasis on music. Hotchkiss is equipped with professional recording studios, a Black Box theater, a professional student radio station, and more, all of which are strong supports for students' artistic endeavors and personal growth. Renowned Hotchkiss alumni are found throughout the art and business worlds. Hotchkiss Admissions Focus: As a medium-sized school of around 600 students, spots are relatively few, and competition is fierce. It is very selective; in addition to excellent academic backgrounds, international students must possess impressive and representative experiences to stand out.

The Hotchkiss School offers a rich music curriculum, including music theory and performance, where students, regardless of their musical talent, receive professional and outstanding one-on-one guidance from music instructors. The school's music director, Fabio, is an exceptionally kind person and a piano virtuoso who frequently tours China and the world. Students can also join Hotchkiss student ensembles to showcase their musical talents, such as the Hotchkiss Choir, Hotchkiss Orchestra, or Jazz Ensemble. The private music instruction provided by the school offers academic credit to students without any additional fees. The school also frequently invites renowned musicians to visit, hold workshops, masterclasses, and perform concerts.
The school's sports facilities are comprehensive, and the indoor gymnasium features two very professional swimming pools. I also think their 8-hole golf course is excellent and a rare educational resource, undoubtedly a great choice for students who love golf.
Fairfield Farm is another unique aspect of the school, covering 280 acres. 30% of the school's food is supplied by its own farm, and students regularly participate in farm labor through various activities. I have personally taken students to the farm, and it felt very special to be able to engage in hands-on practice – a fantastic opportunity.
The school has very strong overall capabilities and maintains excellent resource connections with Yale, making it a great choice for students aspiring to attend Yale.

1 A liberal arts school that highly values students' writing skills. Writing assignments for upperclassmen are even at a college level. AP courses are available.
2 Thanks to the school's large campus, its educational facilities are excellent, and consequently, its teaching resources are abundant.
3 The school also allocates different academic resources to students based on their individual characteristics.
4 The school offers a wide variety of sports activities. Every student participates in activities that suit them, and the school does not force students to join any particular sport.
5 The school boasts excellent sports facilities and regularly competes with other Top 10 schools in the U.S.
6 Ice hockey, tennis, swimming, squash, and tennis are strong sports at the school.
7 A strong school in traditional arts, it can even be considered one of the best private boarding high schools in the U.S. for the arts.
8 Fine arts are the school's strongest artistic discipline, and it is also nationally renowned.
9 The school emphasizes dramatic performance, and its theater can accommodate over 700 people, making it quite luxurious.

Hotchkiss fosters an innovative and collaborative environment that supports the learning of all students. The school provides state-of-the-art technology in classrooms, labs, dormitories, and throughout the campus. Labs feature dedicated equipment for students to explore topics such as DNA testing, physics, robotics, and environmental and atmospheric studies. The campus has made a concerted effort to reduce light pollution, enhancing the unique clarity of stargazing in the area. The Hotchkiss Observatory is a powerful tool for studying and observing nocturnal stellar activity. Additionally, Hotchkiss offers computer science courses, experiential learning opportunities, and clubs for students interested in computer programming and application development. Students learn the art of set and lighting design in dance and theater productions, and have access to a digital recording studio as well as dedicated music practice and rehearsal rooms. The Catherine Elfers Hall is designed to provide professional-grade acoustics and digital recording. Students studying media technology can use equipment like laser cutters, 3D printers, and an online student radio station to learn creative media, digital photography, and video production.

Hotchkiss spans 827 acres, and its campus hardware facilities are fully equipped, including a golf course, 15 outdoor and 3 indoor tennis courts, two ice hockey rinks, a swimming pool, a squash court, a theater, a rehearsal hall, a digital recording studio, and more. Additionally, the school has a total of 13 dormitory buildings. The school has its own observatory, equipped with a 20-inch reflecting telescope, capable of observing information from hundreds of millions of light-years away. There are also a robotics lab, a weather station, a DNA lab, and an augmented reality sandbox to help students understand topography.

The school is a member of the Ten Schools Admissions Organization and is known as "Yale's backyard." The school was established to help children from less privileged backgrounds gain admission to Yale. Hotchkiss boasts abundant campus resources; compared to larger schools with 1000 students, the per capita resources and attention students receive here are more advantageous.

Situated within a national natural scenic area, the school's 827-acre campus offers beautiful scenery and advanced facilities, providing an excellent learning and living environment for students. The school places great emphasis on environmental protection, offering multiple environment-related courses. Students can also gain practical experience at the school farm and learn about the complexities of sustainable agriculture. The school has its own farm, supplying organic meat and vegetables, so students can feel very confident about the food quality.

The international student ratio is 16%. In 2019, the average SAT score reached 1416, and the average ACT score was 31. In the school's applied research courses, students can collaborate with mentors to design and conduct research, covering topics such as molecular biology and biochemistry. A unique course offered is observational astronomy. The school also has strong humanities programs and is one of the few institutions nationwide that awards degrees in classical literature. The school is actively developing honors courses to gradually replace AP courses. Current honors courses include Economics, which is a challenging course primarily introducing economic theories and how to use them to interpret real-world issues like income inequality and sustainable development.

The Hotchkiss School offers a rich array of music courses and resources, including music theory and performance. Regardless of students' musical talent or professional experience, they can receive one-on-one tutoring from professional and outstanding music instructors. Students can also join Hotchkiss student ensembles to showcase their musical talents, such as the Hotchkiss Choir, Hotchkiss Orchestra, or Jazz Ensemble. The private music instruction provided by the school offers academic credit to students and incurs no additional fees. The school also frequently invites renowned musicians to visit, conduct workshops, masterclasses, and hold concerts. It's worth noting Fairfield Farm, which spans 280 acres and supplies 30% of the school's food. Through various activities, students are regularly involved in farm work, encouraging them to believe they can create value, gain a sense of self-identity, and start from the ground up.