When I talk with families who are trying to choose a school for their child, I encourage them to start with the school's mission. Touring the campus while classes are in session is the best way to experience a school. Tours allow families to get a candid glimpse of what the school is like on any given day. Tour as a family and when you leave, ask yourselves, 'Can we imagine being a part of this community?'
Independent private schools ask students to apply for admission, and the admission process typically begins almost a year before the student wants to enroll. In the fall, families investigate school websites, visit school open houses and narrow down a list of the schools to which they'd like to apply.
Most applications are due in the winter, but deadlines vary from school to school. It's important to check the deadline for each school.
Independent private schools often require:
* A completed application form, available from the school website or by calling the admission office;
* Your child's most up-to-date academic transcript, with grades, from his or her current school;
* Teacher recommendations;
* Results of a standardized admissions test and/or a school-administered entrance exam;
* A formal interview with your child.
Depending on your child's age, some schools may also ask for parent statements describing the child; student essays; and/or student artwork, writing or portfolios.
The admission office is also the best source of information about various options for paying for an independent private school education. Many schools ask families to submit an application for financial aid at the same time as the admission application.
Admission interviews with students and their families take place in the fall and winter. For very young children, schools often conduct group interviews or have the child visit a class to help gauge whether the school is the right fit for the student's needs.
Each school works hard to assemble a student body that will benefit most from the type of education it offers. Independent private schools also look for students whose strengths and personalities will complement those of other admitted students. Some schools weigh academic performance most heavily, but other schools look primarily at a student's potential. Overall, each school aims to admit students who are the right "fit" for the school, just as parents are looking for schools that are the right fit for their children and families.
Independent private schools typically send notifications about admissions decisions in the spring, but some offer rolling admissions, in other words, until the class fills up.
For a student who's accepted into several schools, a new challenge emerges: how to choose which to attend. Many schools allow admitted students to visit on a special day or provide some opportunity for students to visit the campus again. Sometimes, shadowing a current student can give the best sense of what it would be like to attend. For parents of prospective students, talking to current parents may help, too. Many schools provide contact information for parents who've agreed to speak about their experiences at the school. Reading the school's newsletters and following it on social media can also help you get a sense of the school's offerings and culture.
DIRECTORY
Avondale Seventh-day Adventist
Address: 1201 N. Orchard Knob Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37406
Phone: 423-698-5028
Website: avondale22.adventistschoolconnect.org
Grades: pre-K through 8th
Total number of students: 47
Founded: 1919
Average class size: 15
Religious affiliation: Seventh-day Adventist
Annual tuition for grade 6: depends on income level
Students receiving financial aid: 60 percent
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
A.W. Spalding Elementary School
Address: 4820 University Drive, Collegedale, TN 37315
Phone: 423-396-2122
Website: antf45.adventistschoolconnect.org
Grades: pre-K through 5th
Total number of students: 300
Founded: 1958
Average class size: 21.4
Religious affiliation: Seventh-day Adventist
Annual tuition for grade 5: $4,700 (constituent), $7,050 (non-constituent) (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: 35 percent
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
Bachman Academy
Address: 414 Brymer Creek Road, McDonald, TN 37353
Phone: 423-479-4523
Website: bachmanacademy.org
Grades: 6-12
Total number of students: 22
Founded: 1999
Average class size: 5
Religious affiliation: None
Annual tuition for grade 6: depends on whether boarding or day student
Students receiving financial aid: 50 percent
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
Baylor School
Address: 171 Baylor School Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405
Phone: 423-267-8505
Website: baylorschool.org
Grades: 6-12
Total number of students: 1,040
Founded: 1893
Average class size: 15
Religious affiliation: none
Annual tuition for grade 6: $23,282 (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: 34 percent
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: yes - Cleveland and Dalton
Belvoir Christian Academy
Address: 800 Belvoir Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37412
Phone: 423-622-3755
Website: bcalions.org
Grades: pre-K through 8th
Total number of students: 135
Founded: 1887
Average class size: 12
Religious affiliation: Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod
Annual tuition for grade 6: $7,650 (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: not public info
Uniform: no (dress code)
Bus transportation: no
Berean Academy
Address: 441 Berean Lane, Hixson, TN 37343
Phone: 423-877-1288
Website: bereanacademy.net
Grades: pre-K through 12th
Total number of students: 310
Founded: 1972
Average class size: 18-20
Religious affiliation: Baptist
Annual tuition for grade 6: $5,300 (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: not public info
Uniform: no (dress code)
Bus transportation: no
Bethel Christian Academy
Address: 3001 Hamill Road, Hixson, TN 37343
Phone: 423-842-5757
Website: bethelbiblevillage.org
Grades: 6-12
Total number of students: 20
Founded: 2007
Average class size: 3-12
Religious affiliation: non-denominational Christian
Annual tuition for grade 6: $7,650 (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: N/A
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
Boyd-Buchanan School
Address: 4650 Buccaneer Trail, Chattanooga, TN 37411
Phone: 423-629-7610
Website: bbschool.org
Grades: pre-K through 12th
Total number of students: 900+
Founded: 1952
Average class size: 18 (elementary), 20 (middle), high school varies
Religious affiliation: Christian
Annual tuition for grade 6: $8,910 (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: 16 percent
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
Brainerd Baptist School
Address: 300 Brookfield Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37411
Phone: 423-622-3873
Website: brainerdbaptistschool.org
Grades: pre-K through 5th
Total number of students: 300
Founded: 1953
Average class size: 14
Religious affiliation: non-denominational Christian
Annual tuition for grade 5: $8,998 (2016-2017)
Students receiving financial aid: varies
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
Bright School
Address: 1950 McDade Lane, Chattanooga, TN 37405
Phone: 423-267-8546
Website: brightschool.com
Grades: junior pre-K through 5th
Total number of students: 304
Founded: 1913
Average class size: 15.5
Religious affiliation: none
Annual tuition for grade 5: $14,862 (2016-2017)
Students receiving financial aid: 15 percent
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: yes - Dalton and Ringgold
Calvary Christian School
Address: 4601 North Terrace, Chattanooga, TN 37411
Phone: 423-622-2181
Website: ccseagles.org
Grades: K3 through 12th
Total number of students: 130
Founded: 1976
Average class size: 16-20
Religious affiliation: Independent Baptist
Annual tuition for grade 6: $4,000 (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: N/A
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
Chattanooga Christian School
Address: 3354 Charger Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37409
Phone: 423-265-6411
Website: ccsk12.com
Grades: K-12
Total number of students: 1,182
Founded: 1970
Average class size: 19
Religious affiliation: Christian
Annual tuition for grade 6: $10,150 (2017-18)
Students receiving financial aid: 20-25 percent
Uniform: no
Bus transportation: yes - Hixson
Christian Heritage School
Address: 1600 MLK Jr. Drive, Dalton, GA 30720
Phone: 706-277-1198
Website: chslions.com
Grades: K-12
Total number of students: 426
Founded: 1986
Average class size: 20-25 (max. size)
Religious affiliation: Christian
Annual tuition for grade 6: $11,190 (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: varies
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
Collegedale Academy
Address: 4855 College Drive East, Collegedale, TN 37363
Phone: 423-396-2124
Website: collegedaleacademy.com
Grades: 9-12
Total number of students: 322
Founded: 1892
Average class size: 21
Religious affiliation: Seventh-day Adventist
Annual tuition for grade 9: $8,300 (constituent), $10,600 (non-constituent) (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: 27 percent
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
Girls Preparatory School
Address: 205 Island Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37405
Phone: 423-634-7600
Website: gps.edu
Grades: 6-12
Total number of students: 585
Founded: 1906
Average class size: 15
Religious affiliation: none
Annual tuition for grade 6: $23,450 (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: 40.5 percent
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: yes - East Brainerd, Cleveland and Dalton
Grace Baptist Academy
Address: 7815 Shallowford Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: 423-892-8224
Website: gracechatt.org
Grades: pre-K through 12th
Total number of students: 600
Founded: 1985
Average class size: 18
Religious affiliation: Independent Baptist
Annual tuition for grade 6: $8,450 (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: varies
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
Hamilton Heights Christian Academy
Address: 2201 Hickory Valley Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: 423-521-0892
Website: hamiltonheights.net
Grades: 9-12
Total number of students: 70
Founded: 1997
Average class size: 13
Religious affiliation: non-denominational Christian
Annual tuition for grade 9: $5,760 (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: N/A
Uniform: no
Bus transportation: no
Hickory Valley Christian School
Address: 6605 Shallowford Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: 423-894-3200
Website: hvcs.org
Grades: K3 through 5th
Total number of students: 130
Founded: 1980
Average class size: 10-12
Religious affiliation: Christian
Annual tuition for grade 5: $7,750
Students receiving financial aid: 18 percent
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
Learning Tree Elementary School
Address: 300 S. Tibbs Road, Dalton, GA 30720
Phone: 706-278-2736
Website: learningtreeschool.org
Grades: pre-K through 8th
Total number of students: 40
Founded: 1968
Average class size: 10-11
Religious affiliation: Seventh-day Adventist
Annual tuition for grade 6: $3,650 (constituent), $4,400 (non-constituent) (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: available; percentage varies
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
McCallie School
Address: 500 Dodds Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37404
Phone: 423-624-8300
Website: mccallie.org
Grades: 6-12
Total number of students: 930
Founded: 1905
Average class size: 14
Religious affiliation: Christian
Annual tuition for grade 6: $24,975 (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: 40.7 percent
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: yes - Ooltewah/Cleveland, Ringgold/Dalton, Lookout Mountain and Signal Mountain
The Montessori School
Address: 300 Montessori Way, Chattanooga, TN 37404
Phone: 423-622-6366
Website: themontessorischool.net
Grades: toddler through 8th
Total number of students: 235
Founded: 2004
Average class size: 13; 1:12 teacher/student ratio for preschoolers, 1:6 for toddlers
Religious affiliation: none
Annual tuition for grade 6: $7,811 (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: 10 percent
Uniform: no
Bus transportation: no
Notre Dame High School
Address: 2701 Vermont Ave., Chattanooga, TN 37404
Phone: 423-624-4618
Website: myndhs.com
Grades: 9-12
Total number of students: 420
Founded: 1976
Average class size: 17
Religious affiliation: Catholic
Annual tuition for grade 9: $10,332 (Catholics), $14,011 (non-Catholics) (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: varies
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
Ooltewah Adventist Kindergarten and School
Address: 9209 Amos Road, Ooltewah, TN 37363
Phone: 423-238-4449
Website: oaksonline.net
Grades: K-8
Total number of students: 100
Founded: 1974
Average class size: 14:1 teacher/student ratio
Religious affiliation: Seventh-day Adventist
Annual tuition for grade 6: $4,300 (constituent), $5,400 (non-constituent) (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: about 23 percent
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
Our Lady of Perpetual Help School
Address: 505 S. Moore Road, Chattanooga, TN 37412
Phone: 423-622-1481
Website: school.myolph.com
Grades: pre-K through 8th
Total number of students: 338
Founded: 1937
Average class size: 19
Religious affiliation: Catholic
Annual tuition for grade 6: $6,160 (Catholics), $8,810 (non-Catholics) (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: varies
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
Signal Mountain Christian School
Address: 808 Key Hulse Road, Signal Mountain, TN 37377
Phone: 423-886-1115
Website: smcstn.org
Grades: K-5
Total number of students: 89
Founded: 1998
Average class size: no more than 12
Religious affiliation: Christian
Annual tuition for grade 5: $5,600 (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: N/A
Uniform: no - just school T-shirt or polo
Bus transportation: no
Silverdale Baptist Academy
Address: 7236 Bonny Oaks Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: 423-892-2319
Website: silverdaleba.org
Grades: pre-K through 12th
Total number of students: 1,000+
Founded: 1999
Average class size: 1:17 teacher/student ratio
Religious affiliation: non-denominational Christian
Annual tuition for grade 6: $9,275 (2016-17)
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
Skyuka Hall
Address: 1200 Mountain Creek Road, Chattanooga, TN 37405
Phone: 423-877-9711
Website: skyukahall.org
Grades: K-8
Total number of students: 30
Founded: 1966
Average class size: 5 (lower level), 6-8 (upper level)
Religious affiliation: none
Annual tuition for grade 6: $14,200
Students receiving financial aid: varies
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
St. Jude School
Address: 930 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN 37415
Phone: 423-877-6022
Website: mysjs.com
Grades: pre-K through 8th
Total number of students: 400
Founded: 1960
Religious affiliation: Catholic
Annual tuition for grade 6: $3,600 (parishioners), $5,660 (non-parishioners) (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: varies
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
St. Nicholas School
Address: 7525 Min Tom Drive, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: 423-899-1999
Website: stns.org
Grades: pre-K through 5th
Total number of students: 200
Founded: 1958
Average class size: 11 (lower level), 18 (upper level)
Religious affiliation: Episcopal
Annual tuition for grade 6: inquire for details
Students receiving financial aid: varies
Uniform: no
Bus transportation: yes - Dalton
St. Peter's Episcopal School
Address: 848 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN 37415
Phone: 423-870-1794
Website: saintpetersschool.net
Grades: pre-K through 5th
Total number of students: 204
Founded: 1964
Average class size: 12-14
Religious affiliation: Episcopal
Annual tuition for grade 5: $10,925 (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: varies
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
Standifer Gap Seventh-day Adventist School
Address: 8255 Standifer Gap Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421
Phone: 423-892-6013
Website: standifergap22.adventistschoolconnect.org
Grades: pre-K through 8th
Total number of students: 73
Founded: 1948
Average class size: 13
Religious affiliation: Seventh-day Adventist
Annual tuition for grade 6: $4,100 (constituent), $5,100 (non-constituent) (2016-17)
Students receiving financial aid: not public info
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no
Tennessee Christian Preparatory School
Address: 4995 N. Lee Hwy., Cleveland, TN 37312
Phone: 423-559-8939
Website: tcpsk12.org
Grades: pre-K through 12
Total number of students: 250
Founded: 1997
Average class size: 17 (K-5), 12 (grades 6-12)
Religious affiliation: Christian
Annual tuition for grade 6: $8,460
Students receiving financial aid: around 50 percent
Uniform: yes
Bus transportation: no