FAQs

The faculty-to-student ratio is 1:8. The average class size is 14. McCallie’s 120+ full- and part-time faculty have earned 68 master's degrees and 13 doctoral degrees combined.

McCallie's curriculum includes both middle school and upper school programs. Teachers design their courses and focus on meeting students where they are with the appropriate level of challenge. The curricular emphasis is on developing critical thinking skills, STEM, leadership, and life skills. Honors and AP courses are offered at the high school level. Student who meet the prerequisites can even take college level courses in some subjects. 

McCallie's approach to personalized learning is to help each boy develop and grow in critical and creative thinking skills, executive function, and worldview. Teachers invest a lot of time in developing trusting relationships with each student and seek to meet them where they are and help them grow from there. Learning Center support is available in both the middle school and high school level. 

Students are assessed through various methods, including tests, quizzes, projects, class participation, and semester exams, with emphasis on higher-order thinking and understanding of material.

McCallie offers courses in Latin, Spanish, Chinese, and German.

McCallie students can take college-level courses through their AP and Honors classes provided that they meet the prerequisites. The dean of student academics can help arrange courses at the college level for students in almost any subject.

Middle school applicants will be required to take an admission assessment. It is a free, paper-based assessment hosted by McCallie.

Upper school applicants are not required to take an admission assessment. However, submitting standardized test scores is an optional admission checklist item for upper school candidates. McCallie’s admission process is now test-optional for upper school students.  We recognize that standardized tests create barriers for some students and that test scores reveal only a portion of their academic capacity. However, McCallie does require English proficiency testing from applicants whose first language is not English.

McCallie is test-flexible for Michaels-Dickson Scholarship applicants, who may submit results of the PSAT, SAT, ACT, PreACT, or school/state achievement testing for their grade. However, the SSAT or ISEE is preferred. Applicants whose primary language is not English are required to take the TOEFL. McCallie also accepts the Duolingo English Test (DET).

After the February 1 deadline for regular boarding admission applications, McCallie continues to accept applications on a rolling basis depending on availability.

McCallie is a selective school, and we look for students who are not only academically strong but also a good fit for our mission and community. While admission is competitive, students who demonstrate strong character, motivation, and a willingness to grow both intellectually and personally are more likely to succeed. We take a very holistic approach to evaluating applicants. Grades and test scores are important, but so are interests, leadership, and how a student will contribute to life on campus.

McCallie offers substantial need‑based tuition assistance, thanks to the generosity of our alumni, parents, and friends. We award over $11 million in financial aid each year to help make a McCallie education accessible to families from around the world.

To schedule a campus tour, please contact us at admission@mccallie.org or call our admissions office at (423) 493-5848. You can also use the form on our website to select your preferred date and time, and we will contact you to confirm availability or arrange an alternative time that works for your schedule. We offer campus visits throughout the year and encourage prospective students and families to experience our campus firsthand.

You can find more information about scheduling visits and upcoming admission events on our website at mccallie.org, where we also list specific day student and boarding student events that might be of interest during your visit planning process.

McCallie offers extensive opportunities for students to participate in music ensembles. The school has a comprehensive music program with multiple ensemble options, including Band, Brass Ensemble, Chamber Choir, Chamber Ensemble, Chamber Orchestra, Choral Music, Glee Club, Guitar Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, Pep Band, String Ensemble, and A Cappella Group. This wide variety of ensembles allows students to participate in different musical genres and styles, from classical chamber music to contemporary jazz and popular music, accommodating various skill levels and musical interests throughout both the middle and upper school programs.

While we currently do not offer traditional visual art clubs, we do offer several arts-related extracurricular opportunities, including our Conservatory of Contemporary Music which helps musicians form bands, various arts and publication groups within our Afternoon Activity Program, and regular participation in musical events and theatrical productions throughout the year. Our facilities include a multimedia center supporting digital and visual arts, and we have exciting enhancements to our Fine Arts facilities planned as part of our strategic campus development. Most importantly, we strongly encourage students to start clubs based on their interests. For students passionate about visual arts, photography, theater, or any creative pursuit, McCallie can help you explore existing opportunities or support you in founding a new club by speaking with our dean of students, who coordinates student activities and can connect you with like-minded students.

McCallie hosts various student performance showcases, including talent shows, musical recitals, and theatrical productions. The school holds an annual "Afternoon of Music" student recital in the Chapel, featuring solo and ensemble performances by students showcasing their musical talents across various instruments, including piano, trombone, saxophone, and guitar. McCallie also hosts a GPS | McCallie Got Talent show where students can display their diverse talents in a competitive format. The school's comprehensive arts program includes multiple music ensembles, theater productions through their Drama Club and Theater classes, and various performance opportunities throughout the academic year. Students participate in both fall and spring recitals, with performances ranging from classical pieces to contemporary music, and the school encourages both solo performances and group collaborations. These showcases provide students with valuable performance experience and opportunities to share their artistic achievements with the school community.

The McCallie campus currently includes the Academic Building housing the Learning Center, Counseling Center, and Writing Center, along with McDonald Hall containing the library and research facilities, 6 residential dorms ranging from 35-60 students each with integrated faculty apartments, a dining hall, and the Student Health Center. Athletic and recreational facilities include an all-weather track, athletic fields, baseball field, basketball courts, fitness center, football field, gameroom, indoor basketball court, indoor climbing wall, indoor courts, indoor golf facility with Trackman, indoor pool, innovation lab, lacrosse field, lake/outdoor pool, outdoor track, rowing facility, sand volleyball court, soccer field, squash court, technology center, tennis courts, The CAVE, turf fields, volleyball court, and weight room.

Additionally, McCallie has an ambitious strategic campus development plan that includes future construction of a new Humanities Building for the Upper School, new dormitories, a Student Wellness and Support Center, an expanded Chapel, enhanced Fine Arts facilities, an Athletic Field House, and improved soccer field and track facilities, representing a comprehensive long-term vision to support the school's educational mission for decades to come.

McCallie offers 17 varsity sports including baseball, basketball, bowling, climbing, crew, cross country, swimming/diving, football, golf, lacrosse, mountain biking, soccer, tennis, track and field, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, and wrestling, and the school has achieved 20 state team championships over the past five years, demonstrating strong competitive programs where students at all levels, including some freshmen, have opportunities to participate on varsity teams.

McCallie competes extensively with other schools across all our varsity sports programs. We have achieved 20 state team championships over the past five years, demonstrating our strong competitive success at the state level. Our football team alone has made seven consecutive appearances in the playoff semifinals and has won four state championships in the last five years. With 17 varsity sports including baseball, basketball, bowling, climbing, crew, cross country, swimming/diving, football, golf, lacrosse, mountain biking, soccer, tennis, track and field, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, and wrestling, our student-athletes regularly compete against other independent and public schools throughout Tennessee and the region, providing excellent opportunities for competition and athletic development at all skill levels.

Students may request a roommate for consideration, but McCallie does not guarantee specific roommate pairings.

When students first enroll in the boarding program, they complete a roommate survey designed to help the residential life team make thoughtful assignments. Roommates are typically paired based on grade level, daily routines, and shared interests or personality traits to help ensure a positive living environment. While the school does consider specific roommate requests, final assignments are made with the student’s overall well-being and community balance in mind.

There are six residential dorms on campus, each supervised by faculty members (called dorm heads) who live in apartments within the dorms and are deeply involved in students’ daily lives.

McCallie is an all-boys school, so our dorms are not co-ed. McCallie dorms are designed specifically with the needs of boys in mind.

Our residential life program is built around understanding how boys develop, learn, and thrive in a supportive community environment. We have 6 dorms ranging from 35-60 students each, where boys live with male roommates and are guided by our experienced faculty families who live directly in the dorms. Our residential life mission focuses on helping boys learn to balance personal accountability with growing freedoms within a thoughtfully structured, value-based community that encourages physical, emotional, spiritual, social, and academic growth while building strong friendships and brotherhood among our students.

Each room typically includes two beds, desks, dressers, and storage space, with access to shared bathrooms, common rooms, and laundry facilities.

McCallie students can go home on weekends with proper approval through our Blue Slip process.

Students must submit an online blue slip form during the week prior to their planned absence, which goes to their dorm advisor who will contact you as parents and any destination adults to verify plans.

For any non-school sponsored overnight stay away from campus, we must receive direct permission from parents. This is a firm policy we maintain for all students' safety. Students also have regular weekend check-in times and must communicate with duty teachers about their plans.

While we have many exciting activities happening on campus that keep students engaged on weekends, we understand the importance of family time and home visits, and we work closely with families to accommodate these needs through our established checkout procedures that ensure everyone's safety while allowing flexibility for family connections.

McCallie offers several forms of SAT and ACT preparation support at McCallie. In the fall, we run several PSAT, SAT, and ACT review classes  on campus for our students. We also provide classes focused on improving reading speed and comprehension, which can be beneficial for standardized testing. For students who desire more individualized support, we can arrange tutors who specifically focus on standardized test preparation. Additionally, we offer one-on-one support for students who qualify for extended time accommodations on standardized tests. All details about specific review and support courses are emailed to 10th-12th grade students when relevant, ensuring they have access to the preparation resources they need to succeed on these important tests.

Our college counselors are highly involved and provide personalized, individualized support throughout the college application process. We have a well-designed college counseling curriculum, but we intentionally do not over-program our students, so we remain available to accommodate their individual needs and timelines. Our counselors work closely with students through regular meetings during junior year and beyond, helping with everything from college research and visits to application strategies and decision-making. We serve a wide range of aspirations and financial needs, with experience helping students gain admission to the most selective colleges in the country as well as local and regional public universities. Our counselors are supported by the school to travel extensively to visit colleges and network with admissions offices, which helps maintain our admission success even as college selectivity has increased. While our process is student-driven. Boys lead their own college searches with counselors in a supporting role. Our counselors provide the guidance, expertise, and individual attention needed to ensure each student finds the college that fits them best and gives them the greatest chance for success.

McCallie provides comprehensive financial aid guidance and FAFSA assistance through our college counseling program and workshops offered throughout the year via the College Financial Aid Resource Center. If you anticipate that paying for college will be a significant concern (which it is for many families), we encourage you to talk with your college counselor early in the process to establish a deeper understanding of all the financial options available to make your college education more affordable. Our counselors help families navigate the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), which is the detailed form that serves as the first step in applying for federal aid and only needs to be completed once per year, even if you are considering multiple colleges. We also assist with CSS Profile forms for colleges requiring additional financial documentation, institutional-specific financial aid forms, and help families understand the difference between need-based and merit-based aid. Early in the process, we encourage families to use cost calculators and Student Aid Index calculators to determine their financial aid eligibility, and our counselors provide guidance on state scholarship programs like Tennessee HOPE and Tennessee Promise for eligible students, ensuring families have comprehensive support throughout the financial aid application process.

McCallie's dining hall is open 7 days a week. They even serve 4 meals throughout the week, knowing that boys get hungry in the evening.

Students at McCallie enjoy meals prepared from scratch using fresh ingredients, focusing on nutrition and minimizing artificial food dyes and allergens. Boarding students are provided four meals per day in the dining hall. There are no cooking facilities for students other than microwave ovens which are provided in the dorm lounges.

McCallie dining services offers meals prepared from scratch using fresh ingredients. They source foods locally when possible.

McCallie's cultural adjustment support includes accommodating diverse faith traditions by helping students access appropriate worship services in Chattanooga and connecting them with local families and organizations. The school's Multicultural Alliance promotes campus-wide diversity through monthly programming, while the overall residential life mission emphasizes respect for individual dignity and the extensive counseling and advisor support system provides a framework for helping international students navigate cultural differences, though specific cultural adjustment programs aren't detailed in the available materials.

McCallie has faculty and staff who speak multiple languages, including German, English, and Chinese, to support international students. The school provides dedicated language support through specialized staff, including a Chinese Teacher who also serves in International Student Support, indicating direct language assistance for Chinese-speaking students. Along with the comprehensive international support team that includes multiple Designated School Officers who manage SEVIS records and assist with visa and travel questions, this multilingual faculty capability ensures that international students have access to both academic and administrative support in their native languages, helping them navigate their educational experience and daily life at McCallie more effectively.

Students can stay connected with their families abroad through various means such as phone calls, video chats, emails, and social media. McCallie supports international students to ensure they have the resources and guidance necessary to maintain connections with home while fully engaging in their McCallie experience.

Formal teacher conferences are held during Family Weekend in the fall, and again in the spring just before Spring Break. However, teachers reach out to parents any time they feel a conversation is needed, and parents can request conferences at any time as well. 

McCallie encourages maintaining communication between families and students. Day students can contact their students throughout the day on their cell phone, although McCallie discourages excessive cell phone usage. International students can stay connected with their families abroad through various means such as phone calls, video chats, emails, and social media. For emergencies during the school day, parents may call the middle school or upper school offices to relay a message to their child. If parents have any specific concerns about communication with their son, they can reach out to the school's support staff, who can provide assistance and guidance.

There are many ways to connect with the McCallie community. We encourage you to take an active role through the McCallie Parent Council. The Council offers a variety of opportunities for families to get involved—whether by supporting student life, helping with events, joining parent groups, or simply building relationships with other families. The mission of the Parent Council is to provide meaningful ways for families to serve and engage with McCallie while supporting the boys, faculty, and the school’s strategic vision and culture. Led by an executive committee and grade-level representatives, the McCallie Parent Council fosters strong connections among parents and helps create a vibrant, welcoming school community. Whether you’re local or from afar, there's a place for every parent at McCallie.

McCallie maintains 24/7 adult supervision with multiple faculty families associated with each dorm, most living in apartments that open directly onto the dorm hallways. Faculty members rotate through duty schedules to ensure consistent overnight coverage, with specific check-in times at 7:15 pm for study hall and final check-ins between 10:15-10:30 pm, ensuring that trained adults are always available to monitor student safety and provide support throughout the night.

McCallie communicates with parents during emergencies through a comprehensive notification system using multiple channels. Weather emergencies are communicated via campus siren and text message, while other emergency situations are handled through text messages and emails to ensure parents receive timely information. The school maintains detailed emergency procedures that are reviewed annually and has established clear communication protocols as part of its Emergency Action Plan. In case of emergencies, parents can contact the security/emergency line at (423) 667-6045 or the infirmary emergency line at (423) 493-5555. Additionally, parents can call the Student Health Center at any time to inquire about their son's health status during medical situations, and the school has mandatory reporting procedures in place for serious safety concerns that require immediate contact with authorities.

McCallie offers several breaks throughout the school year to give students time to rest and recharge. Since the exact dates can vary each year, families should refer to the academic calendar or the “Key Dates” section in the McCallie School portal for the most up-to-date schedule. Typically, the breaks offered are Labor Day, Fall Break, Thanksgiving Break, Christmas Break, Martin Luther King Day, Winter Break, and Spring Break.

A typical weekend at McCallie is busy. There are many sports competitions and arts events on campus. The Weekend Activities Office plans both intramural games and competitions as well as planning outing in Chattanooga and beyond. Boys can explore Chattanooga, of course following the required check-out procedures and protocols. Many boarding students visit day families on the weekends. On Sundays, the school helps facilitates rides for boys to attend religious services, and Vestry is held on campus.

McCallie parents are welcome to visit. Many come to arts events and athletic competitions. We do like to know when you may be coming and encourage parents to communicate with advisors and dorm staff.

McCallie offers several student government opportunities. Students can participate in the Senate, a longstanding student government body that helps shape school policies and student life, as well as the Student Council, which represents student interests and organizes school-wide events. Additionally, leadership groups like Keo-Kio provide opportunities for students to serve as role models and mentors within the community. These platforms allow students to develop leadership skills and have a direct impact on their school environment.

McCallie offers a diverse range of leadership programs designed to cultivate character, responsibility, and service among students. These include student government bodies like the Senate and Student Council, which play active roles in shaping school policies and organizing events, as well as select leadership groups such as Keo-Kio and TEPS that promote peer mentorship and academic excellence. Students also have opportunities to engage in service and honor organizations like S.P.I.R.I.T.U.A.L.S., Habitat for Humanity, and the National Honor Society, which emphasize leadership through community service and scholarship. Additionally, McCallie fosters community and belonging through leadership councils and clubs such as the Head of School Leadership Council, Black Student Union, Diversity Club, and the Alliance for Belonging, Identity, and Brotherhood, which work to create an inclusive community and provide mentorship. These programs collectively prepare students to become thoughtful, effective leaders who contribute positively to their school and beyond.  

McCallie does not have a specific number of required community service hours, but service to others is woven throughout our school culture and programs. We believe in providing our students with significant, meaningful experiences, preferably involving people rather than simply donating money, making our service program more active and hands-on than at many schools. We regularly schedule trips to the Community Kitchen (a local shelter for those without homes) and visits to assisted living care facilities most weeks, as we believe it's important to expose our students to a diverse range of individuals who have much to offer in wisdom and experience. This helps develop sincere care for the larger community. Community service is also integrated into our club system, where each club is expected to perform some service to either the school or the larger community, and through our disciplinary system, where students may complete community service as part of the consequences. With various service-oriented clubs and coordination through our Dean of Students office, we've found that community engagement becomes a natural and meaningful part of the McCallie experience rather than simply a requirement to fulfill.

If a McCallie student is struggling academically, we have a network of tutors available in all subjects, and arrangements can be made for regular tutoring sessions in the Learning Center.

McCallie strictly prohibits bullying, hazing, intimidation, and harassment, defining these as any intentional or reckless conduct that is objectively offensive and negatively impacts another person, including behaviors like ganging up, repeated name-calling, destruction of property, mean-spirited pranks, or invasion of personal spaces. The policy is grounded in the belief that every individual deserves dignity and respect, and violations can result in consequences ranging from warnings to expulsion. Students who experience or witness bullying are encouraged to report immediately to administrators, faculty, or counseling staff, with multiple reporting options available and protections against retaliation for those who come forward. For more detailed information, the complete Blue Book can be found on the parent and student portals.

McCallie provides comprehensive support through a multi-layered system centered around dorm advisors who serve as each student's primary contact and advocate, monitoring their academic progress, friendships, and overall well-being. New students are paired with trained senior Resident Assistants who mentor them through daily challenges, and faculty families live directly in each dorm to provide immediate adult support. The school offers extensive academic assistance through the Learning Center, counseling services, and structured orientation programs that teach students how to navigate policies, develop study skills, and integrate into the community through dorm activities and social events.

McCallie provides Wi-Fi access in all dormitories to support students' academic and residential needs. Students can connect their devices to the network for studying, communication, and accessing school resources.

McCallie monitors internet usage and clearly states that students will not have privacy when using the school's technologies. The school owns all data created and stored on its information systems and can view student data and network traffic at any time. School administrators may also search cell phones and other electronic devices when there are concerns about safety, security, or academic integrity issues, ensuring a safe and secure digital environment for all students.

McCallie has clear expectations for responsible technology use outlined in our comprehensive technology and social media policy. Students are expected to adhere to the same standards of ethical behavior online that govern other aspects of our school community, including being courteous and polite in digital communications, using appropriate language, protecting personal information, and reporting any concerning online behavior to faculty or administrators. These guidelines help students understand how to navigate technology safely and responsibly while maintaining the values that define our school community.