Lamplighter vs Hockaday (Howe, Happy: how much, elementary school, vs.)

[Sarah2023]

Hi everyone, we're considering our little one for both Lamplighter and Hockaday. Given Hockaday's reputation and a K-12 school, it would seem like the obvious choice. However, after visiting both schools, we really loved Lamplighter, especially given its focus on young children's growth and development. Teachers were very passionate/energetic and children were remarkably engaged in the classroom. Hockaday's also really great but we somehow got the feeling that the lower school is not a major priority. We're having a hard time picking between the two schools. Does anyone have thoughts/comments on or experience at LL vs. Hockaday lower school?

[arkroyal2223]

How much do you value a co-educational experience ?

[Nathancanoe]

Hockaday, no comparison there

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by Sarah2023

Hi everyone, we're considering our little one for both Lamplighter and Hockaday. Given Hockaday's reputation and a K-12 school, it would seem like the obvious choice. However, after visiting both schools, we really loved Lamplighter, especially given its focus on young children's growth and development. Teachers were very passionate/energetic and children were remarkably engaged in the classroom. Hockaday's also really great but we somehow got the feeling that the lower school is not a major priority. We're having a hard time picking between the two schools. Does anyone have thoughts/comments on or experience at LL vs. Hockaday lower school?

First, congrats on two amazing acceptances for your daughter! I think you can make your decision one of two ways:

1. Emotional / in a vacuum - which school does your gut say will be the best for your daughter as she is right now and through the elementary school years?

2. Practical / strategic - where would you ideally like to see her go in 5th grade? If it’s Hockaday, then I would be hard-pressed to give up the PK spot, knowing that chances of admission only go down as girls get older. At LL, only 7-8 girls a year are going to Hockaday for 5th grade and you have no guarantee that your DD will be one of the top 7-8 out of a 4th grade class of 25 girls.

[Sarah2023]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

First, congrats on two amazing acceptances for your daughter! I think you can make your decision one of two ways:

1. Emotional / in a vacuum - which school does your gut say will be the best for your daughter as she is right now and through the elementary school years?

2. Practical / strategic - where would you ideally like to see her go in 5th grade? If it’s Hockaday, then I would be hard-pressed to give up the PK spot, knowing that chances of admission only go down as girls get older. At LL, only 7-8 girls a year are going to Hockaday for 5th grade and you have no guarantee that your DD will be one of the top 7-8 out of a 4th grade class of 25 girls.

Thanks.

For 1. We feel LL would be a better fit as from impression we got on the tours LL seems to focus more on play-based and individualized learning. We unfortunately didn't get to see the pre-K class in action during our visit at Hockaday.

For 2. We'd love to her to be at Hockaday for 5th grade and it would probably be our top choice.

Does anyone know the amount of playtime kids get in the lower school at Hockaday? Is it very didactic and academically/competition focused or more play based learning/exploration? The reviews on Niche for Hockaday indicates a lot of socioemotional stress. It really sounds like pressure cooker environment. Some pressure is definitely good for the high schooler but does that happen in the lower school?

[Grlmomdallas]

Originally Posted by TurtleCreek80

First, congrats on two amazing acceptances for your daughter! I think you can make your decision one of two ways:

1. Emotional / in a vacuum - which school does your gut say will be the best for your daughter as she is right now and through the elementary school years?

2. Practical / strategic - where would you ideally like to see her go in 5th grade? If it’s Hockaday, then I would be hard-pressed to give up the PK spot, knowing that chances of admission only go down as girls get older. At LL, only 7-8 girls a year are going to Hockaday for 5th grade and you have no guarantee that your DD will be one of the top 7-8 out of a 4th grade class of 25 girls.

Actually there are 12 girls from LL joining Hockaday’s 5th grade class next year.

[gsoy]

We have been at both LL and Hockaday for lower school. You are right that LL is more play based and Hockaday is more structured and disciplined. And that every year, around 10 girls from LL join the 5th grade class at Hockaday. However, given the huge uncertainty regarding the 5th grade admissions to Hockaday, I would recommend you to take a spot at Hockaday as soon as you are offered one. When fourth grade rolls around, you might face the case that some of the kids in your daughter's grade at LL are legacy candidates (siblings/kids of alumni) or are much brighter than yours.
The lower school at Hockaday is still a very happy place and I wouldn't say it is a pressure cooker environment. There are also advantages to getting to know the kids/families that you will interact with until the end of high school as early as possible.

[Runner2000]

This may no longer be true, but when we went through this process 10+ years ago, we were told that if you decline a spot at a school, that may have a negative impact on your chances at future admission at that school (unless you inform the school that there is a good reason, such as you get in off the waitlist and have already paid tuition at another school, job loss, etc.). For that reason, it may make sense to take Hockaday over LL. If Hockaday is not the right fit, you can leave for another school. Outside of H, GH, and SMS, there is movement in many of the private schools over the years, even in non-entry years.

[TurtleCreek80]

Originally Posted by Grlmomdallas

Actually there are 12 girls from LL joining Hockaday’s 5th grade class next year.

That’s great! Per LL website admissions data, the last few years have been 8, 7, 8, and 10.

https://www.thelamplighterschool.org.../our-graduates

[dkc1719]

Does anyone have insight/experience with Hockaday's afterschool program? The website doesn't really describe much of it but it sounds like there are two - Happy Haps and Daisy Afternoons?