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Paying the price

Like most private schools in the Dallas area, Hockaday prides itself in its rigorous courses and its graduates who go off to prestigious universities. However, the education comes with a hefty price tag.

According to the school’s website, the tuition for a day student in grades five to 12 is $35,465, which does not include the cost of uniforms, books and optional merchandise.

To attend Hockaday for all of Upper School, the cost of tuition would be $141,860. If a student were to attend from pre-kindergarten all the way to senior year, the family would pay around $463,060, again not including the other necessities to attend the school.

Books, a uniform and a laptop can add up to over $1,000 depending on the student’s grade. New books need to be purchased each year and new uniforms when the student grows out of them.

Senior year comes with expenses of its own. While optional, senior merchandise, a class ring, a white blazer and the graduation hat and dress are heavily encouraged. The famous jade ring can cost up to $1,165 depending on the options a student may choose.

Financial aid can help defray some of the expenses. For the 2022-2023 school year, 13% of students received financial aid, adding up to about $3 million. Factors determining who receives assistance include income, family size and siblings attending independent schools or colleges.