he two main educational institutions in Hadley are the Hadley Elementary School, for children in kindergarten through sixth grade, and Hopkins Academy Junior-Senior High School, with grades seven through twelve. Because of the small size and relatively small population, individual classes of students in all grades are, likewise, small in size. However, this small size may be somewhat of a virtue, as the public schools of Hadley produce many bright individuals. This is certainly a reflection on the town, which has shown a great deal of support for Hadley schools over the years.

The Hadley Elementary School

A private school, the Hartsbrook Waldorf School, is located at the site of the old Ben Smith Tavern at the corner of bay Road and Middle Street with additional facilities on Bay Road. Hadley is also home to the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts School, one of the very few charter schools in the state, which continues to grow in enrollment for students seeking a more in-depth training in the arts and humanities. It occupies the building once belonging to Russell Elementary School, which, along with the Hooker Elementary School across the street, became the Hadley Elementary School when the new school building was built on Middle Street in 1996. As Hooker and Russell Schools were both prominent historical buildings in the center of town, Hopkins Academy, though now in a building built in 1965, has a rich history that is deeply rooted in the town. In 1657, Edward Hopkins of England, formerly a governor of Connecticut, left part of his estate for the education of children in "foreign plantations." Hopkins Academy, a beneficiary of the Hopkins Trust, the oldest continuous charitable trust in the U.S., was established in 1664.

Though once a private school, Hopkins Academy is Hadley’s outstanding public high school. The school has notable soccer, basketball and baseball teams with a number of talented locally known athletes, and also excels in academics compared to the majority of public schools in Massachusetts. Hopkins is also home to an award winning concert/marching band.

It is obvious that the town of Hadley has always placed great importance on education. The quality of education and the successful graduates, nearly all of which are college bound in each graduating class, reflect this fact. Organizations such as the Band Booster Club, Hadley Mother’s Club and the Hopkins Academy Trustees have continued to generously donate time and resources to the Hadley public schools.

Add your name to the Hopkins Academy Alumni Association Database to keep in touch with classmates!

You can register in two ways:

Send a letter or postcard to:
Hopkins Alumni Directory
P.O. Box 386
Hadley, MA 01035

Send an e-mail to : HopkinsAlumniAssociation@yahoo.com

Please send the following information:
Name (and maiden)
Address
Phone number (optional)
E-Mail Address (optional)
Year of graduation

Below are some interesting links for kids/ students.  If you would like to suggest a link, please email us at suggestions@ecommunityguide.com.  Thank you, and enjoy.

• Mr. Wailgum's Homepage - Welcome Hadley Elementary School students and parents to my web page. This site is designed to keep parents and students informed about assignments, tests, and activities planned for all my classes
• Diary Project - a chronicle of kids growing up at the turn of the 21st century.
• New York Times Learning Network - free news and education resource for teachers, their students and parents. Includes lesson plans, vocabulary and geography builders, News Quiz, On this Day in History, and forums.
• College Board Online - national association of schools and colleges offering services and programs in the areas of assessment, guidance, admission, placement, financial aid, curriculum, and research.
• CollegeEdge - including college search tool and expert advice and guidance. Online applications including the Common Application.
• Yahooligans!- by Yahoo!, a great site for kids of all ages
•  Colleges, College Scholarships and Financial Aid- the Colleges, College Scholarships and Financial Aid Page is designed to offer college bound students, parents, and counselors easy access to information on colleges and universities throughout the United States, free college scholarship and financial aid searches, SAT and ACT test preparation tips, and more.
• Massachusetts Department of Education - "information that can be used in conjunction with firsthand observations and discussions by parents, educators, policy-makers, and any other interested parties to inform decision-making and ultimately improve the education of all Massachusetts students."