When students all across the world began to return to instruction this fall, learning likely didn’t look the same, something that is especially true at Chattanooga-area private schools. Just as there is no one-size-fits-all education model, each school has crafted its own unique plan that takes into account the size and age of its student body, facilities and resources.
And if McCallie and Baylor – two of the area’s largest private schools – are any indication, parents are responding well to the often stringent safety protocols.
While Baylor’s overall enrollment numbers are slightly lower than last year, the school saw an uptick in applicants in July.
“My guess is that has a lot to do with our COVID-19 response plan for the upcoming school year,” says Ryan Armstrong, interim admissions director at Baylor. “We’re very fortunate to have some of the resources that we have on campus. Baylor is likely the only school in the country with the ability to do COVID-19 tests and antibody tests on location, making us extremely well-prepared to test students and employees regularly and adapt as needed.”
When the pandemic first hit, Baylor outfitted its multimillion dollar science lab to perform the tests, and later partnered with Hamilton County to test local hospital staff and patients. The school’s technology and dedication of two staff teachers, Dawn Richards and Elizabeth Forrester, both degreed research scientists, cut the local test result time from around a week to a matter of hours.