The Hotchkiss School, founded in 1891 by Maria Harrison Hotchkiss in memory of her late husband Benjamin Hotchkiss, is one of the most distinguished boarding schools in the United States. Located in Lakeville, Connecticut — in the northwestern corner of the state, in the heart of the Berkshire hills — Hotchkiss occupies one of the most spectacular natural settings of any school in America: 545 acres of forests, meadows, and lakefront on the shores of Lake Wononscopomuc.
Hotchkiss enrolls approximately 600 students from over 35 countries, creating a deliberately intimate community — one of the smaller enrollment figures among major New England boarding schools. This small size is intentional: it ensures that every student knows every teacher, that the community is genuinely close-knit, and that no student falls through the cracks. The student-to-faculty ratio is approximately 5:1, and all students and most faculty live on campus.
The academic program is rigorous and deeply intellectual. Hotchkiss offers over 200 courses, including advanced seminars and independent study opportunities in virtually every discipline. The school has particular strengths in mathematics, science, and the fine arts. The Tremaine Art Building houses exceptional visual arts studios, and Hotchkiss has a long tradition of producing professional artists, writers, and musicians. The school's music program — both vocal and instrumental — is extraordinary, and annual performances draw audiences from across the region.
The Hotchkiss campus is physically magnificent. The Main Building, completed in 1902 in the Beaux-Arts style, anchors the campus with a commanding presence. The library, the chapel, the theater, and the sports facilities are all of the highest quality. The school's boathouse on Lake Wononscopomuc supports rowing, sailing, and kayaking programs. In winter, students skate on the frozen lake — one of those quintessentially New England experiences that make life at Hotchkiss genuinely special.
Athletics are pursued seriously. Hotchkiss fields teams in 26 sports and competes at the highest level of New England prep school athletics. The school has strong traditions in lacrosse, squash, tennis, and crew. The annual Hotchkiss-Salisbury rivalry is one of the great traditions of New England prep school sport.
Notable alumni include Bobby Walker (first African American elected to a Connecticut legislature), Alvin Dewey (the Kansas Bureau of Investigation agent whose work inspired Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood"), and generations of leaders in business, law, medicine, and the arts.
From New York City, Hotchkiss is approximately 2.5 to 3 hours by luxury SUV — a beautiful drive through Westchester County and the Berkshire Hills of Connecticut and Massachusetts. Bradley International Airport (BDL) is approximately 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes from campus. Albany International Airport (ALB) is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours. MyNYSUV provides comfortable, direct luxury SUV service from JFK, Newark, and all New York-area airports to Hotchkiss's Lakeville campus.