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Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language
Stages Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, High School
Introduction
Hackley School is a private, coeducational K–12 program with five-day boarding for grades 9–12, located on a 285-acre campus in Tarrytown, New York. The school offers an AP curriculum and a cohesive K–12 experience that ties Lower, Middle and Upper School learning while emphasizing student ownership of education. Lower School centers on collaboration and character through literacy, math, science, Spanish, technology and the library. Middle School adds core English, history, math and science, world languages (Spanish, French, Chinese or Latin), plus enrichment in computer science, health, study skills, arts and athletics. Upper School provides a course catalog featuring independent research, capstone internships, experiences, world languages, and a dedicated College Counseling pathway. A key feature is the Allen Center for the Creative Arts and Technology, opened in 2024, alongside a Science Building and wellness facilities. Signature programs include Independent Research, Global Education and Round Square, with boarding available for qualifying students.
Hackley School has 860 pupils, typical class sizes of 16, instruction in English.
Location
The school is located at 293 Benedict Avenue, Tarrytown, NY 10591. The campus sits on a 285-acre hilltop overlooking the Hudson River. Getting to Hackley provides a transportation network with district buses and Hackley shuttles, plus daily Metro-North shuttles; contract bus service is available from NYC and nearby communities, and more than 25 local districts offer transportation.
Stages
Lower School (Grades K-4); Middle School (Grades 5-8); Upper School (Grades 9-12). The Lower School provides core literacy, math, and social studies with additional subjects such as science and world languages; the Middle and Upper Schools offer a broader range of courses and opportunities across divisions.
Type
An independent co-educational school in Tarrytown, New York.
Additional learning support
Hackley provides social and emotional support through licensed mental health clinicians and a team of learning specialists. A full-time literacy specialist supports Lower School students; dedicated learning specialists serve the Middle and Upper Schools; the school provides accommodations for students with documented disabilities and supports study skills and executive functioning.
Country affiliation
United States
Religious affiliation
Nonsectarian
Bus service
Contract busing from nearby communities and New York City; district transportation from more than 25 local districts; daily shuttles from the Metro-North station in Tarrytown.
Fees
Annual tuition at Hackley School ranges from USD 50,920 to USD 56,100 for 2026/27.
Application fees
- An admissions application fee is required for each applicant; a need-based waiver for the admissions application fee or testing fees (ISEE/SSAT) may be requested. A separate evaluation fee is required for Kindergarten and Grade 1 applicants (USD 90). Families submitting a financial aid application through the school's financial-aid vendor (Clarity) pay a Clarity processing fee (USD 65 per family).
Tuition — academic year (published for 2025–2026)
- Lower School (Kindergarten–Grade 4): USD 50,920 per year. - Middle School (Grades 5–8): USD 56,100 per year. - Upper School (Grades 9–12): USD 59,600 per year.
Boarding fees
- Five-day boarding fee (annual): USD 18,200. When added to Upper School tuition, the combined annual cost for a five-day boarder (Upper School) is USD 77,800 (tuition + boarding fee).
Deposit and enrollment charge
- A non-refundable enrollment deposit equal to 15% of the net tuition is required with each signed enrollment contract for new students. The deposit is applied toward the annual tuition balance.
Billing schedule and common payment plans (how charges are invoiced and due)
- Two-Installment Plan (two equal installments of the tuition-and-fees balance, adjusted for the deposit): - For new students the deposit (15% of tuition) is paid at contract signing; under the two-installment plan half of the tuition and fees less 50% of the deposit is due mid-July and the remainder is due mid-November. Examples (rounded to nearest dollar) for the 2025–2026 published tuitions: - Lower School (USD 50,920): Deposit USD 7,638; two-installment amounts (each due mid-July and mid-November): USD 21,641 and USD 21,641. - Middle School (USD 56,100): Deposit USD 8,415; two-installment amounts (each): USD 23,843 and USD 23,843. - Upper School (USD 59,600): Deposit USD 8,940; two-installment amounts (each): USD 25,330 and USD 25,330. - Upper School boarding example (tuition + boarding = USD 77,800): Deposit (tuition) USD 8,940; two-installment amounts (each): USD 34,430 and USD 34,430.
- Ten-Month Payment Plan (monthly payments): - Families may elect a ten-month payment plan. The first of ten equal payments of the tuition-and-fees balance less the deposit is due on May 1; subsequent payments are due the first of each month, with a final payment due Feb. 1. Examples (rounded): - Lower School (USD 50,920): Deposit USD 7,638; ten monthly payments (May–Feb): USD 4,328 each. - Middle School (USD 56,100): Deposit USD 8,415; ten monthly payments: USD 4,769 each. - Upper School (USD 59,600): Deposit USD 8,940; ten monthly payments: USD 5,066 each. - Upper School boarding example (USD 77,800 total): Deposit (tuition) USD 8,940; ten monthly payments: USD 6,886 each.
- Commercial loan options and third‑party scholarships are commonly used by some families as alternatives or supplements to the school's payment plans.
Other charges and routine additional costs
- Items listed as additional expected costs include: textbooks, school supplies, optional travel costs for school trips, yearbooks, bookstore purchases, Hackley‑sponsored bus transportation, extended-day or program fees, and extracurricular program or trip charges. The school's extracurricular support program provides limited additional assistance for eligible financial-aid recipients and includes an annual cap for certain approved EC expenses.
Fee waivers and financial-aid related fees
- Need‑based waivers for the admissions application fee and for the ISEE/SSAT testing fee can be requested. The Clarity financial-aid platform charges a fee (USD 65 per family) for submitting a financial-aid application; Clarity applies fee waivers automatically for those who meet its income-based qualifications.
Refund information
- The enrollment deposit is explicitly non‑refundable. No detailed, publicly posted refund schedule for tuition or other fees (for mid‑year withdrawal or other circumstances) is provided in the school's published fee summaries.
Fee payment options and how payments are accepted (what is stated)
- Application fees may be paid online through the school's admissions portal. Families are offered multiple payment-plan structures (for example, two-installment and ten-month plans) and may pursue commercial loans or third‑party scholarships. Specific payment methods (credit card, ACH/automated bank transfer, wire transfer, check) are not itemized in the school's general fee summary.
Important notes about the figures above and items not fully published
- The tuition and boarding figures above are the published 2025–2026 amounts. The school's public pages list those amounts, the non‑refundable 15% deposit requirement, the common payment‑plan schedules (two‑installment and ten‑month), the Kindergarten/Grade‑1 evaluation fee (USD 90), and the Clarity fee (USD 65). Certain details were not published in the school's fee summary pages, including the school's standard dollar amount for the general admissions application fee, a full, itemized list of all possible optional fees (for example, any uniform costs are not listed), and an explicit, comprehensive refund schedule for tuition beyond the stated non‑refundable deposit.
Academics
Hackley School teaches American Curriculum.
Curriculum
Hackley provides a K-12 curriculum that links Lower, Middle and Upper School learning as students progress toward greater ownership of their education. Lower School emphasizes collaboration and character within a curriculum that includes literacy, math, social studies, science, Spanish, technology, arts and library. Middle School offers core English, history, math, science plus world languages (Spanish, French, Chinese or Latin) and enrichment in computer science, health, study skills, arts and athletics. Upper School features a dynamic course catalog with opportunities for independent research, capstone internships, and cross-divisional experiences, including travel and internships. The program also includes world languages across divisions and a dedicated Independent Research Program for advanced students, with a College Counseling pathway to support college preparation.
Student Teacher Ratio
The average class size is 16 students across all divisions. The student-teacher ratio is approximately 6:1.
Higher Education Progression
Hackley graduates matriculate to a broad range of colleges and universities, including Amherst College, Brown University, Columbia University, Harvard University, Yale University and Stanford University, among others.
Gifted and Talented
Hackley offers an Independent Research Program (IRP) and Independent Science Research Program for advanced students. These programs enable students to pursue high-level, authentic research with mentors during summers and the academic year, spanning science, English and history. The IRP began with four students in 2015 and has grown to 19 students by 2021.
Wellbeing
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Hackley provides social and emotional learning across Lower, Middle, and Upper School. In the Middle and Upper Schools, licensed mental health clinicians work with teachers, advisors, deans, parents and outside professionals to support students' social-emotional health. They offer individual and small-group counseling and share strategies and resources to promote positive mental health and academic success. The team designs social-emotional programming for advisory groups and community time. In the Lower School, social-emotional development is integrated into the program to help students grow as engaged learners and caring individuals.
Special Educational Needs (SEN)
Hackley's Support Services department comprises specialists attuned to the developmental needs of students to ensure they grow socially, emotionally, and academically. The Middle and Upper Schools share a full-time learning specialist who helps with executive functioning, time management, organization, and study skills. The Lower School has a full-time literacy specialist and math specialist. Support Services oversees accommodations for students with documented disabilities in accordance with applicable law. The team provides individualized support across divisions to help students navigate coursework and develop self-advocacy.
Mental Wellbeing
Hackley employs licensed mental health clinicians in the Middle and Upper Schools to support students' social-emotional health. They work with teachers, advisors, deans, parents and outside professionals. The clinicians provide individual and small-group counseling. They devise social-emotional programming for advisory groups and community time. A cross-division approach provides ongoing wellbeing resources to promote positive mental health and academic success.
Admissions
Admissions
1. Set up the Admissions Portal. The admissions portal is an online, password-protected Hackley admissions account used to begin the application, schedule interview appointments, RSVP for events, request recommendations, and monitor the application. The online application for the 2026-2027 academic year is now available. 2. Sign up for Hackley admissions events. Families can attend Lower/Middle/Upper School open houses, campus tours, or virtual Thursdays on the Hilltop. 3. Submit the preliminary family portion by December 1, 2025. The family portion includes the family and student information forms, parent/guardian and student questionnaires, the interests and accomplishments form, and the application fee; supporting documents are due by January 8, 2026. 4. Schedule interviews and on-campus visits by December 5, 2025. Interviews and visits must be scheduled in the Admissions Portal; virtual interview options are available if needed. 5. Request official transcripts from the current school. Transcripts for the current and prior two school years are required; transcripts are due by January 8, 2026. 6. Request recommendations in November. Teacher and principal/counselor recommendations are required (different requirements by grade level); electronic requests can be sent from the Admissions Portal and all recommendations are due by January 8, 2026. 7. Sign up to take the ISEE or SSAT by January 8, 2026. Applicants to Grades 5–11 must submit a test score; ISEE code is 335540 and SSAT code is 3640. 8. Await admissions decisions in February and March. Decisions are released according to ISAAGNY dates, with specific notification and enrollment deadlines by grade: Kindergarten by February 12, 2026 (acceptance by February 12, 2026 noon), Grades 1–8 by February 27, 2026 (noon), and Grades 9–11 by March 12, 2026 (noon).
Scholarships
Hackley does not offer merit-based scholarships. It offers need-based financial aid determined by a comprehensive assessment of family finances, with applications submitted through Clarity by December 15, 2025. Financial aid is awarded at the school's discretion and must be renewed annually; grants do not cover all tuition. Financial aid covers a portion of tuition and may be supplemented by Hackley Extracurricular Support, which provides reduced rates on certain costs and up to $800 per student per year for approved Extracurricular Fund expenses. Families may also consider loans and payment plans to manage tuition.
FAQs
Where is Hackley School located and what is the campus like?
Hackley sits on a 285‑acre hilltop campus at 293 Benedict Avenue, Tarrytown, NY 10591, with all three divisions on one site overlooking the Hudson River. The school provides district buses, Hackley shuttles, daily Metro‑North shuttles, and contract bus service from NYC and local districts for easy commuting.
What grades does Hackley serve and is there boarding?
Hackley is a private, co‑educational K–12 independent school with day options for all divisions and five‑day boarding available for Upper School students (grades 9–12). Lower School covers K–4, Middle School covers 5–8, and Upper School covers 9–12.
How is the Hackley curriculum structured across the divisions?
The K–12 program links Lower, Middle and Upper School learning to build ownership of education. Lower School focuses on literacy, math, science, social studies, Spanish, technology, arts and library; Middle School adds English, history, math, science plus world languages and enrichment; Upper School offers a dynamic catalog with independent research, capstone internships, cross‑divisional experiences and a College Counseling pathway.
What are the current tuition levels by division for 2025–2026?
Lower School tuition is $50,920 per year, Middle School is $56,100, and Upper School is $59,600. Five‑day boarding for Upper School adds $18,200, bringing a boarder's total to $77,800 in that scenario.
How does the admissions process work and what are key deadlines?
Prospective families use the online Admissions Portal, attend events, and submit a preliminary family portion by December 1, 2025, with supporting documents due by January 8, 2026. Transcripts, recommendations, and test registrations (ISEE/SSAT for Grades 5–11) are due by January 8, 2026, and interviews/visits should be scheduled by December 5, 2025. Admissions decisions are released February–March, following grade‑specific ISAAGNY dates.
Is there financial aid or scholarships, and how is it awarded?
Hackley does not offer merit scholarships. Need‑based financial aid is available through Clarity, with applications due by December 15, 2025, and awards renewed annually. Clarity charges a $65 processing fee per family, and Hackley Extracurricular Support may help with approved costs, up to $800 per student per year.
What academic opportunities exist for high‑achieving students?
High‑achieving students can pursue an Independent Research Program (IRP) and Independent Science Research with mentors from universities or research facilities, plus summer research and an annual Research Symposium. There are also independent research options in English and History for juniors and seniors.
What colleges do Hackley graduates typically attend?
Hackley graduates matriculate to a broad range of colleges and universities, including Amherst, Brown, Columbia, Harvard, Yale and Stanford, among others.
What are Hackley's key on‑campus facilities for academics and arts?
The Allen Center for the Creative Arts and Technology (opened in 2024) anchors arts and technology learning. The campus also includes a dedicated Science Building and the Walter C. Johnson Center for Health and Wellness, plus three libraries supporting K–12 research.
What athletic facilities does Hackley offer?
Hackley has extensive indoor and outdoor facilities: a competition‑grade gym, an eight‑lane 25‑yard pool, eight squash courts, a wrestling room, an indoor track, a fitness center and more. Outdoor fields include six soccer fields, a turf/grass stadium, six tennis courts, a 6‑lane track, baseball and softball fields, lacrosse and field hockey fields, and running trails.
What facilities support arts and other programs beyond classes?
In addition to performing arts spaces and productions, Hackley houses the Allen Center for arts and technology and provides libraries—the Santomero Lower School Library, the Middle School Library and the Sternberg Upper School Library—to support research and study across divisions.
What kinds of clubs and activities exist beyond the classroom?
Hackley offers more than 25 performance‑based arts groups and a wide range of clubs and service initiatives, plus Student Government (Community Council), peer mentoring (Hudson Scholars) and leadership opportunities through faculty‑advised clubs and events.
What leadership and service opportunities are available for students?
Leadership is fostered through the Community Council and a broad array of mission‑oriented clubs. Students organize fundraisers, host campus events and participate in service‑learning and peer mentoring, building empathy and civic values.
Are there travel or exchange opportunities for students?
Yes. Hackley's Global Education program, language immersion trips and Round Square connections enable exchanges and conferences with schools in over 50 countries, with travel to places like Cape Town, Beijing, Kigali, Delhi, Japan and Rwanda.
What wellbeing and SEL supports does Hackley provide?
Middle and Upper School students have access to licensed mental health clinicians who offer individual and small‑group counseling and wellbeing programming. A cross‑division approach ensures ongoing SEL resources and collaboration with families.
What learning support services are available for students who need extra help?
Hackley provides a team of learning specialists: a full‑time literacy specialist in the Lower School, a math specialist, plus dedicated learning specialists for Middle and Upper Schools. They support accommodations for documented disabilities and executive functioning, study skills and organization.
How is social‑emotional learning integrated into daily life at Hackley?
SEL is embedded across all divisions, with counselors and teachers collaborating in advisory groups and community time to promote mental health, resilience and academic success.
Is boarding available at Hackley, and what is the boarding experience like?
Five‑day boarding is available for students in grades 9–12. Boarders live on campus with about 30 peers, supervised by boarding faculty in a dorm located on the Main Building, with meals in the Dining Hall.
What about food and meals on campus?
Lunch is included in tuition, and meals are served on site in the Dining Hall within the Main Building.
How is Hackley governed and what is its governance structure?
Hackley is an independent K–12 day and boarding school governed by a Board of Trustees, which works with the Senior Administrative Team to sustain the school's mission.
