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 Stats (2024-25)
- Grades: (Boarding Students) 9-12
- Grades: (Day Students) 6-12
- Enrollment: 1,050 students
- Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $59,400
- Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $29,330
- 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 280 schools) for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Offering Breadth
Offering Breadth
Offering Breadth
Student Test Scores
School Overview
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered (Boarding)
9-12
9-12
Grades Offered (Day)
6-12
9-12
School Type
Co-ed
Co-ed
Year Founded
1893
1907
Campus Size
690 acres
125 acres
Student Body
Enrollment
1050 students
314 students
% Students of Color
25%
27%
% International Students
25%
20%
% Students Boarding
30%
70%
Offers Post-Grad Year
No
No
Academics and Faculty
Saturday Classes
No
No
Student : Teacher Ratio
9:1
7:1
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
26
18
ESL Courses Offered
No
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
70%
71%
Summer Program Details
Tuition Cost
Endowment Size
$150 million
$28 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
(Boarding Students)
$59,400
$66,200
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
(Day Students)
$29,330
$35,600
Tuition international students
$64,100
$57,500
% Students on Financial Aid
40%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$33,000
(Percent & average grant for boarding students only)
(Percent & average grant for boarding students only)
$25,000
Acceptance Rate
SSAT Required
Yes
Yes
Acceptance Rate
40%
60%
Director of Admissions
Ryan Armstrong
Associate Director of Admissions
Brian Burrage
AP / Advanced Courses
# of AP / Advanced Courses Offered
26
18
Courses
Algebra II w/Trig Honors, Advanced Scientific Research, AP 3D Art, AP Art History, AP Biology, AP Calculus AB, AP Calculus BC, AP Chemistry, AP Chinese , AP Computer Science, AP English Language, AP English Literature, AP Environmental Science, AP European History, AP French, AP German, AP Human Geography, AP Latin , AP Physics C, AP Spanish Language, AP Spanish Literature, AP Statistics, AP Studio Art, AP US History, AP World History, Biology Honors, Chemistry Honors, English I Honors, Geometry Honors, Honors Abstract Math, Physics Honors, Precalculus Honors
Sports
# Interscholastic Sports Offered
29
16
Sports
Ballet, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cheering, Climbing, Crew, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Dance, Diving, Fencing, Football, Golf, Kayaking, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track, Track and Field, Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, Winter Track, Wrestling
Extracurriculars
Total Extracurricular Organizations
58
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
ASL Club, Business Club, Chinese Club, Community Service, Cum Laude Society, Debate Club, Dorm Prefects, Economics Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Fishing Club, French Club, Gender Committee, German Club, Harris-Stanford Honors Program, Harvard Model Congress, Honor Council, Inner Circle, Knitting Club, Latin Club, Mechanics Club, Model UN, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, Organic Gardening, Peer Support Network, Peer Tutoring, Photography Club, Politics Club, Quiz Bowl, RAP (Raiders Against Prejudice), Red Circle, RESPECT Board (Community Service leadership board), Robotics Team, Round Table, Spanish Club, Spirit Committee, STAT (Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow), Student Book Club, Student Council, Student Newspaper, Sustainability Club, Tech Crew, Weekend Warriors Community Service, Wyldlife, Young Life
Arts and Music Programs:
A Cappella Club, Band, Choir, Dance, Drama, Literary Journal, Orchestra, Theater, Yearbook
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Mountain Bike Club, Squash Club, Ultimate Frisbee, Walkabout Outdoors Program
ASL Club, Business Club, Chinese Club, Community Service, Cum Laude Society, Debate Club, Dorm Prefects, Economics Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Fishing Club, French Club, Gender Committee, German Club, Harris-Stanford Honors Program, Harvard Model Congress, Honor Council, Inner Circle, Knitting Club, Latin Club, Mechanics Club, Model UN, Mu Alpha Theta, National Honor Society, Organic Gardening, Peer Support Network, Peer Tutoring, Photography Club, Politics Club, Quiz Bowl, RAP (Raiders Against Prejudice), Red Circle, RESPECT Board (Community Service leadership board), Robotics Team, Round Table, Spanish Club, Spirit Committee, STAT (Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow), Student Book Club, Student Council, Student Newspaper, Sustainability Club, Tech Crew, Weekend Warriors Community Service, Wyldlife, Young Life
Arts and Music Programs:
A Cappella Club, Band, Choir, Dance, Drama, Literary Journal, Orchestra, Theater, Yearbook
Recreational Athletic Programs:
Mountain Bike Club, Squash Club, Ultimate Frisbee, Walkabout Outdoors Program
College Matriculation
Year:
10 Most Popular College Choices (# Enrolled)
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.
- Baylor School accreditations: SAIS-SACS, NAIS, TAIS
- 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
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Baylor School cost?
Baylor School's tuition is approximately $59,400 for boarding students and $29,330 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 60%.
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 29 interscholastic sports: Ballet, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cheering, Climbing, Crew, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Dance, Diving, Fencing, Football, Golf, Kayaking, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track, Track and Field, Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball, Winter Track and Wrestling. Baylor School is ranked as one of the top boarding schools for most sports offered.
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), Most sports offered, Most extracurriculars offered, High # of AP/advanced courses offered and High average SAT scores.
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
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. . .
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 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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