Hamden Hall Country Day School


Hamden Hall Country Day School is a coeducational private day school in Hamden, Connecticut, educating students in preschool through grade 12. Hamden Hall was founded in 1912 as a country day school for boys by John P. Cushing, its first headmaster. It was the nation’s fourth country day school. The school has been coeducational since 1927 and expanded to include classes through grade 12 in 1934. Now split into three separate divisions, Hamden Hall enrolls the majority of its nearly 600 students in the upper and middle schools and the remainder in the lower school.
Tuition ranges from $24,600 in PreSchool to $53,100 in grades 9–12. Hamden Hall awards need-based financial aid to approximately 30 percent of its student body.
Hamden Hall is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is a member of National Association of Independent Schools and the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools.
WWW hamdenhall.org

School

The school year, from early September to early June, is divided into two semesters, with Thanksgiving, winter, and spring recesses and observances of several national and religious holidays.
In upper school, most classes are held four days a week, and extra-help sessions are incorporated into the schedule.

The Lower School (Grades Preschool through 6)

The World Language Program begins in preschool with instruction in Chinese and continues through grade 1. Spanish is taught in grades 2 through 4, followed by Latin in grades 5 and 6. An extended-day program provides after-school enrichment for students with later pickup times.

The Middle School (Grades 7 through 8)

English classes emphasize classical authors while providing students with opportunities to produce their own creative and expository essays. Beginning in grade 7, students work regularly with faculty advisors once a week.

The Upper School (Grades 9 through 12)

The upper school divides these required credits into four types of classes, based on academic proficiency required to succeed in the class: Skills, General, Honors, and Advanced Placement. Typically, math, language, and science courses are offered in General, Honors, and AP levels. Multi-Variable Calculus, Linear Algebra, Organic Chemistry, and Advanced Chinese and Latin are offered at a level beyond the AP curriculum.

Faculty

  • 85 full and part-time teachers
  • Three quarters of the faculty hold advanced degrees
  • Student / faculty ratio: 6 to 1
  • Average class size: 12

Campus

Hamden Hall's main campus is located on in Hamden, Connecticut, overlooking Lake Whitney. Hamden Hall was founded in 1912 by Dr. John P. Cushing and was housed in the hilltop mansion built by music merchant Morris Steinert. The mansion eventually exceeded its practical use and was taken down. The current campus consists of 8 major buildings.

Sports

Most Hamden Hall athletic teams compete under the umbrella of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council, with some competing in specific leagues such as the Fairchester League.
Hamden Hall maintains two off-campus athletic facilities: a small, soccer-sized field directly adjacent to the main campus, and the Skiff Street Athletic Complex from campus. The latter contains fields and facilities for football, baseball, softball, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, tennis, and cross country. The Hadelman Family Multipurpose Stadium, featuring a synthetic field, was dedicated in 2012. Also at this complex exists the Beckerman Athletic Center, dedicated in 2010. It is a US$12.5 million, state-of-the art athletic building featuring 3 collegiate-length basketball courts, a 6 lane by 25-yard swimming pool, a large fitness center, conference rooms, and more. It has seating for up to 800 spectators.

Notable alumni