Summer School 2025

June 24 – July 26, 2024

Middle School

for students entering grades 7–8
The Middle School provides a balanced array of academic and enrichment courses for students, both Hopkins and non-Hopkins, who will enter grades 7–8 in the fall.

Five weeks in length, the summer session runs from June 23 through July 25, and is held on the tranquil 104-acre Hopkins School campus overlooking the city of New Haven.

Two core courses are offered to the Middle School: Pre-Algebra in the morning which can be paired with Expository & Creative Writing in the afternoon. In addition, Squash programs are also available. Classes are kept small, typically averaging between 8 and 10 students. The Summer School reserves the right to cancel a class that does not reach the minimum enrollment of four students. The academic day begins at 8:00 am and ends at 1:15 pm. In honor of July 4th, we will not have school on that Friday.

Middle School Courses

List of 7 items.

  • Pre-Algebra

    Open to students entering grades 7–9.
    Class meets 8:30–10:45 AM, June 23 through July 25.
    The pre-algebra review course is designed to offer students an introduction to elementary algebra, while at the same time broadening their understanding of the inter-relationships among different mathematical disciplines. Three content themes—applied arithmetic, basic algebra, geometry and measurement—are interwoven in this course. An emphasis is given to real world applications and operations. This class caps at 10 students. 
    This class serves as a preview of the full-year Prealgebra course.
     
    Cost: $1,250 (code #130)

    If taken in combination with a second course: Cost: $2,000 Total.

    Financial aid is not offered for Pre-algebra class.
     

  • Expository & Creative Writing

    Open to students entering grades 7–8.
    Class meets 11:00 AM–1:15 PM, June 23 through July 25.  



    This course builds upon fundamental skills and seeks to improve the quality of writing through the composition and revision of essays and other short pieces of written work. Based upon our belief that clear writing comes from clear thinking, the writing course emphasizes various approaches to the logical development of ideas and to methods of organizing ideas. Sentence structure, paragraph coherence, and common writing errors will be examined and discussed. Assignments will cover various types of expository writing, allowing as much latitude for creativity and originality as possible. This class caps at 10 students.
     
    Cost: $1,250 (code #102)
    If taken in combination with a second course: Cost: $2,000 Total.

    Financial aid is not offered for Expository & Creative Writing class.
     
     

  • Bacteria, Bugs, & Biotechnology - A Fun Look at the Cool Things Biologists Do!

    Open to students entering grades 7–8.
    Class meets 8:30–10:45 am or 11:00 am–1:15 pm, June 23 through July 11.  
    Join us for a summer of Biology exploration! Students will study the invisible microbial world that surrounds us, exploring biodiversity in the Hopkins forest, and delve into the mysterious workings of cells. Members of class will engage in activities and hands-on investigations, such as: 
    • Creating homemade pH indicators
    • Researching their favorite pathogen
    • Collecting and studying invertebrates (respiration rate and behavior investigations)
    • Solving epidemiological mysteries 
    • Turning E. coli blue with the magic of molecular genetics
    No prior experience with Biology needed (but a curiosity about the world around you encouraged!)

    Cost: $1,250 (code #120)
    If taken in combination with a second course: Cost: $2,000 Total.

  • Summer Model UN Explo

    Open to students entering grades 6–8.
    Class meets 8:30-10:45 am, June 23 through July 25.
    Get ready to step into the shoes of a diplomat! Our Model UN camp is designed for rising 6-8 graders who love to debate, solve problems, and have fun. You'll learn about international relations, public speaking, and critical thinking skills. You'll also have the chance to represent a country, negotiate with other delegates, and write resolutions to global issues in a MUN Conference. It's a great way to make new friends, develop leadership skills, and have a blast!

    Cost: $1,250 (code #401)
    If taken in combination with a second course: Cost: $2,000 Total.

  • Summer Adventurers Guild: Dungeons & Dragons

    Open to students entering grades 6–8.
    Class meets 11:00 am–1:15 pm, June 23 through July 25.  
    The Junior School Adventurers Guild is an activity where students new to the game can come together to play Dungeons and Dragons, one of the most famous tabletop roleplaying games.  Players will go on adventures, fight monsters, discover treasure, and explore a mystical world.  D&D also promotes teamwork, creativity, memory building, and even math skills! The party works together as a team towards a common goal.  Other details influence the game, but at its core, it is about going on an adventure with friends and having fun! 

    Cost: $1,250 (code #402)
    If taken in combination with a second course: Cost: $2,000 Total.

  • Summer Chess Camp

    Open to students entering grades 6–8.
    Class meets 8:30-10:45 am or 11:00 am–1:15 pm, June 23 through July 25.  
    Do you like to play chess? Do you want to learn? Then the chess club is for you! Whether you are advanced, play occasionally, or have never played at all, you will develop skills and refine your strategic thinking.  Major Chess tournament to end the session! Join the club and see what it’s all about!

    Cost: $1,250
    Session 1: 8:30-10:45 am (code #403)
    Session 2: 11:00 am–1:15 pm (code #404)

    If taken in combination with a second course: Cost: $2,000 Total.

  • Summer Soccer Skills

    Open to students entering grades 6–8.
    Class meets 8:45-10:45 am or 11:00 am–1:15 pm, June 23 through July 25. 
     

    Our summer soccer camp provides a fun and engaging environment for kids to improve their skills. We'll cover dribbling, passing, shooting, and teamwork while fostering a love for the beautiful game. 

    Cost: $1,250 
    Session 1: 8:45-10:45 am (code #405)
    Session 2: 11:00 am–1:15 pm (code #406)

    If taken in combination with a second course: Cost: $2,000 Total.

Squash Program

Join the Hopkins Squash Camp for an unforgettable summer experience. Whether you're a budding squash star or looking to refine your skills, our expert coaches will guide you towards your full potential. Learn in a supportive and fun atmosphere that fosters both age-appropriate skill development and a love for the game. Hone your technique, power, and precision through focused drills and match play. 

Participants are grouped according to their age and ability and enrollment is limited to ensure that individual and small group instruction provide a superior experience. Expert coaching, always a hallmark of Hopkins athletics, focuses on honing existing skills and individual strengths. In addition, concepts and tactics are taught through game or match situations.

Financial aid is not offered for Squash Camp.

List of 2 items.

  • Squash: Beginner and Intermediate, Levels I and II

    Forbes magazine named squash as the world’s healthiest game for its excellent physical and mental demands, low risk of injury, and lifetime availability. US Squash Level II coach, Brad Czepiel, and his staff of trained coaches and advanced players teach proper stroke mechanics, graceful court movement, and effective match strategy for new and intermediate players. Individual and group coaching, and a variety of on- and off-court activities inspire the budding squash player. A mid-practice video break allows campers a time to refresh for the final hour’s action.

    Equipment: Players are welcome to borrow Hopkins’ racquets, glasses, and shoes.

    Week 1: June 23–27, Cost: $300 (code #307) 
    Week 2: June 30–July 3, Cost: $240 (code #308)
    Week 3: July 7–11, Cost: $300 (code #309)

    Some court space is open to players and supervised by coaches 11:00 am – 1:30 pm for extra play.
     

  • Squash: Advanced, Level III

    Squash Level III builds experienced players’ fundamentals to help them get even more power, finesse, and success from their game. Each week focuses on central, critical skills, though other related on- and off-court elements will be addressed. Throughout, the camp makes an asset of Hopkins’ hot courts; the pace is high, and outright winners are very difficult, a combination that acclimatizes players to the long, creative points of advanced junior squash. Camp limited to 12 players.

    Squash Level III Coaches - TBA
     
    We select coaches based on their ability to communicate with and inspire junior players. We have had coaches from Trinity College, Yale College, and the PSA tour. We have found great success with coaches from A-level prep schools and private clubs.

    We maintain a 3:1 (or better) player:coach ratio, which is extraordinarily low.

    Week 1: Building points 
    - Shot placements and sequences; accuracy work
    - Drills working on technical constructs of the game
    June 23–27
    Cost: $395 (code #310)

    Week 2: Combining and Adjusting Strategies
    - Setting up points
    - Understanding and deploying tactics
    June 30–July 3
    Cost: $320 (code #311)

    Week 3: Matchplay 
    - Implementing tactics across a match
    - Assessing and adapting
    July 7–11
    Cost: $395 (code #312)

    All squash camps meet in Hopkins’ six-court Kneisel Squash Center located at the top of the quad and most easily accessed via the 94 Knollwood Drive entrance.

Registration for Summer School  2025 will open on January 10, 2025. 

Inspirit AI Returns for Summer 2024

Artificial Intelligence Program by Stanford Graduates


Hopkins School is offering an in-person, pre-college, project-based artificial intelligence program through Inspirit AI, an AI education program developed and taught by Stanford and MIT graduates this summer. The program will run for 10 sessions of 3 hours each in summer 2024. Inspirit’s team of Stanford alumni visited our campus to lead an immersive AI project-building program in summer 2023, and we are excited for them to return. 
Students from grades 8-12 will learn the fundamental concepts of AI and gain a deeper understanding of how AI is used to build ChatGPT and generative AI, fight the COVID-19 pandemic, power self-driving cars, and more. Students will learn to program AI using Python, discuss ethics and bias within AI, and complete a group project applying AI to a discipline like healthcare, astronomy, finance, among others. No prior computer science experience is required to participate. 

Inspirit’s curriculum features the most cutting-edge applications of AI and new projects to address pressing social concerns, from ethical chatbot engineering to mass layoffs analysis and more. A more advanced program will be available for students who participated in 2023, and we will contact last year’s families about that opportunity separately.

The program will include 30 hours of hands-on learning with AI practitioners and graduate students from Stanford and MIT who will travel to New Haven to teach this pre-college program. Feel free to peruse last year's program brochure for more information about curriculum, schedule, projects, teaching team, and more!

If you are interested in participating in this unique opportunity, an interest form will be available shortly.
986 Forest Road
New Haven, Connecticut 06515
(203) 397-1001