Baylor School (2026 Profile)

5.00 (4 reviews)

Tel: (423) 267-5902

171 Baylor School Road
Chattanooga, TN 37405

www.baylorschool.org

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Baylor School Photo #1 - Baylor School is situated on 690 acres along the Tennessee River.

Baylor School Photo #2 - Community, high academic standards, and the development of leadership skills in a coed environment are the hallmarks of a Baylor School education.

Baylor School Photo #3 - Nearly 40 faculty members live on campus, and when the school day ends, they transform into mediators, mentors, counselors, and cooks. Students serve as prefects and proctors to help their fellow students through everything from homesickness to homework.

Baylor School Photo #4 - Baylor has six dormitories, each with its own unique amenities: gorgeous views of the Tennessee River, stone patios, TV and study lounges, faculty families, and dozens of friendly housemates. Overall, Baylor has 200 boarding students from 24 states and 18 countries.

Baylor School Photo #5 - According to Sports Illustrated and MaxPreps, Baylor is one of the top high school athletic programs in the country, with more state championships than any school in Tennessee and over 100 graduates competing at the college level.

Baylor School Photo #6 - The Latin word, "Magnanimitas" is etched on the Baylor gates, which translates to "Greatness of Spirit." This phrase embodies the way Baylor faculty & students care for one another and love the school.

Baylor School Photo #7 - Baylor provides a traditional preparatory school experience - high academic standards, community, and school spirit - all wrapped up in a boarding school environment. Our students learn to think critically, develop independence, and become the best versions of themselves both in and out of the classroom.

Baylor School Photo #8 - The city of Chattanooga allows our students to have access to what Outside magazine refers to as the "Best Town Ever" (twice!) featuring a long list of adventure playgrounds in and around Chattanooga that intertwine with the amenities and social opportunities of a city.

Baylor School Photo #9 - The median SAT score for the class of 2022 was 1370 (96th percentile). Baylor graduates are attending more than 90 colleges and universities across the world, including the University of Chicago, Cornell, Georgetown, Harvard, UNC, Northwestern, NYU, Stanford, and West Point.

Baylor was established in 1893 and has become one of the country's premier college-preparatory schools. Our beautiful 690-acre campus is located on the Tennessee River just five minutes from Chattanooga's vibrant downtown, and an easy two-hour drive from Atlanta, Nashville, and Birmingham. Find more informational videos here.

Baylor's mission is to foster in its students both the ability and the desire to make a positive difference in the world.

Dating back to 1916, Baylor`s Honor Code is the moral compass for our entire community. Students, faculty, and staff commit to acting with honesty and integrity.

Baylor's most recent graduating class has enrolled at 99 different colleges and universities around the world, including Cornell, Duke, Georgia Tech, Johns Hopkins, Oxford, Princeton, Stanford, UCLA, Wake Forest, West Point, and Washington and Lee.

Baylor athletes are nationally recognized for excellence on the field and in the classroom, so it is not surprising that more than 100 Baylor graduates are competing in college programs, many at highly selective schools like Harvard, Penn, UNC-Chapel Hill, and Virginia.

The Cartter Scholars Program awards scholarships ranging from partial to full tuition to new ninth and tenth-grade Baylor boarding students each year. The scholars are automatically enrolled in Baylor's prestigious Harris-Stanford Honors Program, bringing them face-to-face with corporate executives, community leaders, and elected officials in order to hone their leadership and civic engagement skills.

Quick Facts (2026)

Grades: (Boarding Students) 9-12
Grades: (Day Students) 6-12
Enrollment: 1,050 students
Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $59,400
Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $34,875
Acceptance rate: 40%
Average class size: 14 students
Application Deadline: None / Rolling
Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

Baylor School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 307 schools) for:

School Overview

| 2025 School Data

Baylor School

Boarding School Avg.

School Focus

College Preparatory

Grades Offered (Boarding)

9-12

Grades Offered (Day)

6-12

Pre-K-12

School Type

Co-ed

Religious Affiliation

Non-denominational

Year Founded

1893

1909

Campus Size

690 acres

125 acres

School Calendar

View School Calendar

First Day of School

Wed. Aug 19, 2026

Student Body

Enrollment

1050 students

300 students

% Students of Color

25%

% International Students

25%

20%

% Students Boarding

30%

70%

Average SAT Score

1370
(Out of 1600)

* National Avg. »View

Offers Post-Grad Year

Academic Profile

Saturday Classes

Classroom Dress Code

Formal
Formal on Monday, Polos and Khakis for the rest of the week

Casual

Average Class Size

14 students

* National Avg. »18

Student-Teacher Ratio

9:1

7:1

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered

ESL Courses Offered

Yes

% Faculty with Advanced Degree

70%

Summer Program Offered

Yes

Summer Program Details

View Summer Program Details

# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered

Courses

Algebra II w/Trig HonorsAP 3D Art

AP BiologyAP Calculus AB

AP Calculus BCAP Chemistry

AP Chinese AP Computer Science

AP English LanguageAP English Literature

AP Environmental ScienceAP European History

AP FrenchAP German

AP Human GeographyAP Latin

AP Physics CAP Spanish Language

AP Spanish LiteratureAP Statistics

AP Studio ArtAP US History

AP World HistoryBiology Honors

Chemistry HonorsEnglish I Honors

Geometry HonorsHonors Abstract Math

Physics HonorsPost-AP Chinese

Post-AP GermanPost-AP Latin

Precalculus Honors

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Tuition & Financial Aid

Endowment Size

$150 million

$25 million

Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)

$59,400

$59,900

Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)

$34,875

$33,500

Tuition international students

$64,100

$53,975

% Students on Financial Aid

40%

Avg. Financial Aid Grant

$33,000
(Percent & average grant for boarding students only)

$25,000

Merit Scholarships Offered

Yes

Admissions

Application Deadline

None / Rolling

Jan. 15

SSAT Required

Yes

Acceptance Rate

40%

58%

Director of Admissions

Ryan Armstrong

Associate Director of Admissions

Brian Burrage

Application URL

Online Application

Sports

# Interscholastic Sports Offered

Sports

TennisTrack and Field

VolleyballWinter Track

Wrestling

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Colors

Red and Black

School Mascot

Red Raider

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations

Extracurriculars

Club or Organization:

ASL ClubBusiness Club

Chinese ClubCommunity Service

Cum Laude SocietyDebate Club

Dorm PrefectsEconomics Club

Fellowship of Christian AthletesFishing Club

French ClubGender Committee

German ClubHarris-Stanford Honors Program

Harvard Model CongressHonor Council

Inner CircleKnitting Club

Latin ClubMechanics Club

Model UNMu Alpha Theta

National Honor SocietyOrganic Gardening

Peer Support NetworkPeer Tutoring

Photography ClubPolitics Club

Quiz BowlRAP (Raiders Against Prejudice)

Red CircleRESPECT Board (Community Service leadership board)

Robotics TeamRound Table

Spanish ClubSpirit Committee

STAT (Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow)Student Book Club

Student CouncilStudent Newspaper

Sustainability ClubTech Crew

Weekend Warriors Community ServiceWyldlife

Young Life

Show More (29)Hide

Arts and Music Programs:

A Cappella ClubBand

ChoirDance

DramaLiterary Journal

OrchestraTheater

Yearbook

Recreational Athletic Programs:

Mountain Bike ClubSquash Club

Ultimate FrisbeeWalkabout Outdoors Program

College Matriculation

View Matriculation Data

School Notes

Few schools can match Baylor's boarding life. The beauty of the 690-acre riverfront campus, renovated dorm rooms and dining facilities, an extensive extracurricular program, expansive green spaces, a dedicated student activities staff, and a network of involved and caring dorm parents create a nurturing environment.
Baylor is a coeducational school, reflecting the school's belief that teenage students benefit from a coed learning environment. At Baylor, as in the world, young men and women occupy leadership positions and participate fully in the life of the school.
The school's mission, to foster in its students both the ability and the desire to make a positive difference in the world, is the thread that weaves through all of our academic experiences, starting with our leading programs. Global Scholars focuses on learning through an international lens, while in Civic Scholars, the emphasis is on civic engagement. Students in our Scientific Analysis and Research Program work directly with top research scientists to tackle global health issues.
Baylor's exchange program includes 12 schools in seven countries, giving students the opportunity to study abroad.
Attending classes and living in dorms with peers who represent 26 states and 19 countries adds even more global perspectives.
Training students to think like scientists is the mission of Baylor's Scientific Analysis and Research Program, where students do college-level work in a molecular biology research lab and engineering research lab. Presented by the science department's advanced research program, the annual Science & Engineering Symposium features student abstracts and collegiate-level work.
Baylor has led the way in experiential learning through the Walkabout outdoor program for more than 40 years, offering students backpacking trips on the Appalachian Trail, surfing in Panama, kayaking on the coast of South Carolina, and trekking through India.
Our afternoon curriculum includes athletics, robotics, engineering, community service, theater, dance, and Walkabout outdoor experiences,
Whether tutoring underserved children in Chattanooga, working in an Asheville homeless shelter, raising money for children in Jamaica to attend school, or traveling to Jamaica to serve impoverished families and the elderly, students involved in the after-school community service program volunteer roughly 12,000 hours collectively per year.
Built in 2018, the Scotty Probasco Academic Center is a $14 million, 33,852 square-foot space with flexible, tech-enhanced classrooms and multi-use collaboration spaces. It's home to most of Baylor`s Upper School English and history classes as well as a sunlit atrium that`s a favorite campus gathering spot.
The Weeks Science Building is supported with a $15 million endowment to ensure the most advanced program possible. In the words of one teacher, "It allows us to have all the best tools" for bringing scientific and engineering theories to life: robots, apps, scoping devices, wind tunnels, computer programs, and much more.
Baylor's campus is home to the Southeast's only freshwater research center: the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute.
In the Learning Center, located in the Scotty Probasco Academic Center, a student can work one-on-one with a trained tutor on math, English, history, foreign language, science, arts, organizational skills, effective study habits, and interpreting assignments.
"Extra Help" is a block of time offered three or four times a week to all students. Faculty meet with students during this time for individualized help according to the student's needs.
Every student is part of an academic adviser group that meets weekly. The adviser has three official roles: academic monitor, student advocate, and facilitator.
Baylor welcomes and respects all faiths. We believe that faith is central to every person`s life and that the study of religion is an essential part of a complete education. While the majority of Baylor's students and faculty are Christian, all major world religions are represented in the school. Students have opportunities both on campus and off to practice their faith.
Baylor's alumni office connects graduating seniors and college-age alumni with alumni for industry experiences through the Baylor Works intern program. Recent placements have included internships in education, finance, sports marketing, and non-profit management. Read about some of our notable alumni here.
Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
- Keith Mitchell '10 - One of four Baylor alumni on the PGA Tour, winner of the 2019 Honda Classic
- Natalie Bracket '09 - Coordinator, Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE)
- Tiffany Williams '07 - Founder, TILA Studios, a visual arts incubator for black women
- Michelle Songy '04 - Tech entrepreneur, Director of Global Dining with Amex
- Laurie Speed-Dalton '92 - Trial attorney and founder of The Speed Firm, PC
- Tene Hamilton Franklin '91 - Facilitator with the Human Genome Project
- Geoff Gaberino '84 - U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist in swimming
- Jamey Wheless '82 - Designer and Animator for George Lucas Entertainment
- Bill Dedman '78 - Pulitzer Prize winning journalist; NYT bestselling author of Hidden Mansions
- Arthur Golden '74 - Author of the New York Times bestselling novel, Memoirs of a Geisha

Source: Verified school update

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Baylor School cost?

Baylor School's tuition is approximately $59,400 for boarding students and $34,875 for day students.

What is the acceptance rate of Baylor School?

The acceptance rate of Baylor School is 40%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 58%.

Who are famous alumni from Baylor School?

Baylor School famous alumni include: Keith Mitchell '10, Natalie Bracket '09, Tiffany Williams '07, Michelle Songy '04, Laurie Speed-Dalton '92, Tene Hamilton Franklin '91, Geoff Gaberino '84, Jamey Wheless '82, Bill Dedman '78 and Arthur Golden '74.

What sports does Baylor School offer?

Baylor School offers 19 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cheering, Crew, Cross Country, Diving, Fencing, Football, Golf, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball, Winter Track and Wrestling.

Does Baylor School offer a summer program?

Yes, Baylor School offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.

What is Baylor School's ranking?

Baylor School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for Large student body (number of students), High percent faculty with advanced degrees and Most extracurriculars offered.

When is the application deadline for Baylor School?

The application deadline for Baylor School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).

Alumni Reviews Review School

Review

Description

Baylor School Alumni #1
Class of 2017
5.004/30/2019
Cornell University

All seniors have to develop and complete a capstone project that provides service for the community. Apart from that because of a strict honor code you can leave you most valuable possessions out in the. . .

Baylor School Alumni #2
Class of 1995
5.003/23/2019
Trinity College (CT)

Walkabout is an experiential outdoors learning program open to all students that offers day, weekend, and break trips. It introduced me to things like kayaking, backpacking, and rock climbing without having to invest in gear. . .

Baylor School Alumni #3
Class of 2012
5.001/16/2018
Yale University

Baylor has a unique camaraderie among its students. I have witnessed family relationships between faculty and friends that will last forever. These people keep in touch with me, and I feel like my connections opened. . .

Show more reviews (1 review)

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