History

History of Hickory Day School

Hickory Day School is an independent, non-sectarian, college preparatory, co-educational school in the Greater Hickory area offering instruction to students in Transitional Kindergarten through Eighth Grade. The founders of the Green River Preserve, a nature camp for academically gifted students first proposed the idea for Hickory Day School in 1991. A steering committee was formed to guide the establishment of a school that combined a nurturing environment with a curriculum enriched by hands-on learning experiences. The school, called Hickory Day School, opened in the fall of 1993.

In its tenth year, Hickory Day School applied for candidate status with the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). Having successfully completed the candidate phase, the school hosted the visiting IBO authorization team in April 2005. In July, the school received notification of the committee's decision, and Hickory Day School became the fourth school in the state to become an authorized International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.

In December 2006, Hickory Day School became a candidate for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme. The candidacy is progressing and final authorization is anticipated in 2009. Upon authorization, Hickory Day School will be the only school in North Carolina to be authorized on two levels.

The school's small, multi-age classes are integral to our students' success. A myriad of opportunities exist for individualized instruction, ensuring that students remain engaged in our academically rigorous interdisciplinary program. The student-teacher ratio at Hickory Day School is approximately 7 to 1.