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Baylor SchoolProfile + Admission Guide Talented teachers, high academic standards, and the development of leadership skills in a coed environment are the hallmarks of a Baylor School education.

Baylor School, founded in 1893, is an independent, coed- number grades (with letter equivalents) on the student’s tran- ucational boarding and day school in Chattanooga, script. The grading scale conversion is as follows: A = 90-100; enrolling 1,040 students in grades six through twelve. B = 80-89; C = 70-79; D = 65-69; F = 64 or below. The mini- mum college recommending grade is 70. Middle School (grades 6-8): 324 students (158 boys/166 girls) Upper School (grades 9-12): 716 students (364 boys/352 girls) The College Counseling Office is staffed by three professional full-time college counselors who advise students. Our Mission is to foster in our students both the ability and the desire to make a positive difference in the world. Professional Support Staff include a school psycholo- gist, learning specialist, counseling staff, and an EFL (English as The Teaching Faculty consists of 52 men and 47 women, a Foreign ) instructor. A learning center is also located 70 of whom hold advanced degrees, including 13 doctorates. on the second floor of the Hedges Library. Teachers also serve students as advisers, regularly interact- ing closely with students. Reflecting Baylor’s commitment to Athletics are an integral part of the Baylor experience. In ongoing professional development and life-long learning, our the last 20 years Baylor teams have won 162 State Champi- faculty members use the summer months for continuing edu- onship Titles. Baylor began competing in TSSAA Division II (for cation and enrichment programs that include travel abroad. schools that provide students with need-based aid) in the fall of 1997, and to date, has won 91 state titles in the division. While The Honor Code is a core value instilled in students the Class of 2015 was in the Upper School, Baylor won the fol- from the moment they enter the Baylor gates. The Founding lowing State Championships were won: Boys: (’12), soccer Headmaster, John Roy Baylor, modeled his Honor Code after (’12), and (’13-’15), wrestling duals (’14 -’’15). that of the , his alma mater. Today thir- Girls: cross-country (’12), golf (’12-’13), (’12, ’13, ’15), teen students selected by the student body hear infractions of swimming and diving (’12-’15), (’12-’15). Combined: the code and determine consequences. They are guided by a (’12, ’13, ’15) and swimming and diving (’12-’15). faculty adviser. A seat on the Honor Council is considered the most important position of leadership within the student body. The Arts pervade the Baylor campus. Theater, music and dance; , drawing, sculpture, pottery and photogra- Academic Achievement Some highlights include: phy are all available either as extracurricular activities or in Through the end of their junior year, 62% of the Class of the classroom. Performances range from the formality of the 2015 had a GPA of 3.5 or higher, and 91% carried a GPA stage to impromptu in the quad. over 3.0. Since 2008, Baylor has had 55 National Merit Scholarship Residential Life comprises 200 students representing 20 Semi-Finalists. states and 20 countries and 38 adults who serve as dorm par- In May 2015, 212 Baylor students took 459 Advanced ents and advisers. Adults in the residential life program live Placement exams and earned score of 3 or higher on 92% of on campus and provide academic and social support. Bay- them. lor’s Student Activities staff schedules events and activities Between 2012 and 2014, the middle-50% score range for throughout the week and weekends, giving students numer- Baylor students has been: ous opportunities to relax and enjoy the nearby shops, malls, • ACT Composite: 23-29 restaurants, coffee shops, and world-class attractions. • SAT Critical Reading: 490-620 Community Service is the largest extracurricular activ- • SAT Math: 500-640 ity on campus with over 200 students participating each year • SAT Writing Skills: 510-640 in the after-school tutoring program located at inner-city Chat- Grade Point Averages (GPA) The cumulative GPA is tanooga community centers. Though led by an adult director, calculated at the end of each semester. Advanced Placement a leadership board composed of veteran student volunteers (AP) courses receive an additional boost to the course grade organizes and implements the program assisted by other stu- (+4 points) as do Honors courses (+2 points). Baylor uses dent site leaders at each community center.

admission guide | Why Baylor? Baylor stands among the finest prep schools in the country. Students come here for different reasons, but there are compelling considerations common to most decisions. Here are eight of them:

Co-Education College is co-ed. The work place is co-ed. The Accessibility Not every family can afford private school world is co-ed. Baylor is co-ed, and we prepare our students to tuition, so Baylor provides need-based financial aid to roughly work with the opposite sex in a culture of mutual respect and one-third of our students. tolerance. Spirit Baylor’s personality is manifest in its students. Visitors Faculty Study after study shows that the most meaningful to campus encounter young men and women who are polite, aspect of any classroom is the person standing in the middle of engaged and, most importantly, happy. it. Baylor’s teachers are known for being demanding yet deeply Campus Arguably, the most beautiful prep-school campus in caring. the Southeast, our 690-acres on the banks of the Tennessee Honor In place for over a century, the Baylor Honor Code is River provide options many other schools cannot. the backbone of the community, reassuring students that their Process The Baylor admission process is designed to be seam- spaces, their belongings and their intellectual material will be less and hassle-free, giving families more time to learn about respected. the school and less time worrying about the application forms. Balance Baylor is first and foremost an academic institution, but we firmly believe that prepping students for college re- ➡ If you have questions about Baylor School, please call the admission department at (423) 267-5902 or email us at quires attention to the body and the spirit as well as the mind. [email protected]. That commitment is reflected in every aspect of Baylor life out- side the classroom.

How to Apply Boarding Scholarships Baylor’s entire application process is now online. Just go to Baylor provides a full boarding scholarship each year to two www.baylorschool.org > admissions > applying > apply now. Your students who are named Distinguished Scholars. The awards parent checklist will let you know what remains to be done to are available to rising 9th and 10th grade students and cover complete the student’s admission file, including testing, teach- the full tuition during their time at Baylor. Students admitted er and personal recommendations, grades and transcripts. We to Baylor as Distinguished Scholars and finalists who enroll at also require applicants to interview with an admission coun- Baylor are automatically members of the Harris-Stanford Honors selor, and that appointment can be scheduled online. Program. Modeled after college honors programs, it is designed to provide extraordinary learning and leadership opportunities for motivated students. Nominations and applications are due by Fri., Jan. 15, 2016 and our Finalists’ Weekend is Feb. 26-27, Financial Aid 2016. Baylor awards more than $5 million annually in need-based fi- ➡ Information on our boarding scholarship program can be found nancial aid to families for whom Baylor tuition is beyond reach. at: baylorschool.org/boarding-scholarship-program Approximately one-third of Baylor families qualify for assis- tance, and Baylor is able to meet, on average, 70 percent of their demonstrated need. Families interested in financial aid To schedule a campus visit, RSVP for a www.sss/nais.com must complete an application at and upload Boarding Open House or connect with an certain documents before Baylor can review the application Admission Counselor contact us at: and make an award. (423) 267-5902 | [email protected] ➡ Baylor’s Director of Financial Aid, Bill Murdock, can answer any questions relating to aid. (423) 757-2821 www.baylorschool.org or [email protected]

| why baylor? The Curriculum As a prerequisite for graduation, Baylor expects students to enroll in a (3 credits required: , , ) minimum of 20 credits, including 17 required academic courses. Biology or Biology Honors, AP Biology English...... 4 credits Laboratory ...... 3 credits Chemistry or Chemistry Honors, AP Chemistry ...... 4 credits Foreign Language...... 2 credits Physics or Physics Honors, AP Physics C Social Studies...... 3 credits Fine Arts...... 1 credit AP Environmental Science Honors Elective: Additional requirements: 2 years of Leadership Baylor and 4 credits of Limnology (year-long course) physical education (interscholastic or intramural). Scientific Investigations (year-long course) Senior Semester Electives: HONORS and AP OFFERINGS Baylor students, with permission of the Astronomy (1 semester) Department Chair and Upper School Head, may elect Honors or Ad- Electronics (1 semester) vanced Placement (AP) courses. Honors sections normally lead to work Environmental Science (1 semester) in an AP course. Recommended students normally take up to three AP Forensic Science (1 semester) courses junior year and four AP courses senior year. All AP students must complete the AP exam. SOCIAL STUDIES (3 credits required in specific subjects) 9th Grade: World History I (required) ENGLISH (4 credits required) 9th Grade: English I or English I Honors 10th Grade: World History II (required) EFL (English as a Foreign Language: additional course) 11th Grade: US History or AP US History (required) 10th Grade: English II or English II Honors 12th Grade: 11th Grade: English III or Senior Semester Electives: AP & Composition or Classical Mythology History of Eastern Religions AP English Literature & Composition Economics History of Western Religions 12th Grade: English IV (semester-long electives) Ethics History of Rome students select two English courses: History of American Law World War II Shakespeare: Literature, Theatre, Film AP European History (full year course) Contemporary Popular Literature AP Human Geography (full year course) Literature of the South FINE ARTS (1 credit required) Literature of Medicine Dance Literary Voices of Equality Dance in the 20th Century Travel Literature Wilderness Literature Theater 100: Introduction to Acting MATHEMATICS (4 credits required: Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, Theater 200: Acting for Production plus one other course) Theater 300: Advanced Acting and Directing Algebra I Calculus Music Geometry or Geometry Honors AP Calculus AB Concert Choir Music in Society Algebra II AP Calculus BC Concert Band Orchestra Algebra II w/Trigonometry or AP Statistics (full year course) Media Arts Algebra II w/Trigonometry Honors Honors Abstract Math Visual Literacy Precalculus or Precalculus Honors Digital Design I and II Trigonometry and Analysis Studio Art Art 100 Int. Drawing and Painting FOREIGN LANGUAGE (2 credits required of the same language Art 200 Painting which must be completed in the upper school) Pottery I, II AP Studio Art Chinese: 300, 400, AP Chinese, 500 Drawing AP 3-D Art French: 100, 200, 300, 400, AP Language Design: Form and Function German: 300, 400, AP Language : 100, 200, 300, 400, AP Latin COMPUTER SCIENCE Spanish: 100, 200, 300, *350, 400, 500 Computer Science I: Introduction AP , AP Spanish Literature Computer Science II:Intermediate *350 is an accelerated course, not offered every year Software Design and Engineering

the curriculum | In the past two years alone, Baylor students have received college scholarship offers exceeding “ $27 million. Beyond Baylor ” As a college preparatory school, Baylor should be judged in part the country. In the past two years alone, Baylor students have by the schools that open their doors to our graduates. Ninety- received college scholarship offers exceeding $27 million. nine percent of Baylor graduates attend four-year colleges and Below is a sampling of the colleges and universities to which universities. Over the past five years those young men and Baylor students have been accepted: women have been accepted by the most prestigious schools in

Southeast West/Southwest New England Agnes Scott College Baylor University Amherst College Auburn University Brigham Young University Bard College Belmont University California Institute of Technology Barnard College Berry College Colorado College Bates College Birmingham-Southern College Colorado State University Boston University Centre College Pomona College Bowdoin College Clemson University Southern Methodist University Brandeis University College of Charleston Brown University College of William & Mary Texas Christian University Colgate University Davidson College Trinity University Cornell University East Tennessee State University University of California at Berkeley Fordham University Elon University University of California at Irvine Hamilton College Emory and Henry College University of California at Los Angeles Harvard College Emory University and Oxford College at University of California at San Diego Middlebury College Emory University of Colorado at Boulder New York University Florida State University University of Denver Northeastern University Furman University University of Montana, Missoula Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Georgia Institute of Technology University of Puget Sound Tufts University Loyola University, New Orleans University of Washington Union College Middle Tennessee State University Whittier College University of Rochester Millsaps College University of Vermont Rhodes College Midwest Wesleyan University Samford University Bellarmine University Williams College Savannah College of Art and Design Carleton College Worcester Polytechnic Institute Sewanee: The University of the South Case Western Reserve University Yale University Tennessee Technological University Denison University Tulane University DePaul University Mid-Atlantic The University of Alabama DePauw University Carnegie Mellon University University of Florida Grinnell College Dickinson College University of Georgia Loyola University Chicago Georgetown University University of Mississippi Macalester College Gettysburg College University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill Northwestern University Haverford College University of Richmond Purdue University James Madison University University of South Carolina St. Louis University Johns Hopkins University University of Tennessee University of Chicago Lehigh University University of Tennessee, Chattanooga University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign The George Washington University University of Virginia University of Indiana Pennsylvania State University Vanderbilt University University of Wisconsin, Madison University of Maryland Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Washington University in St. Louis University Wittenberg University Military Academies Wake Forest University Xavier University United States Air Force Academy Washington & Lee University United States Merchant Marine Academy Wofford College International United States Naval Academy University of British Columbia The American University of Paris Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne

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