Boarding School Review - Established 2003

McCallie School

5.00 (3 reviews)
500 Dodds Avenue Chattanooga TN 37404
Tel: (423) 624-8300
www.mccallie.org
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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Grades: (Boarding Students) 9-12, PG
  • Grades: (Day Students) 6-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 1,006 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $74,600
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $38,800
  • Acceptance rate: 60%
  • Average class size: 14 students
  • Application Deadline: Dec. 15 / Feb. 1 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update
McCallie School Photo #4 - At McCallie, we feel it is essential to grow the whole boy. Our expert coaches and trainers utilize our state-of-the-art facilities to help our young men be physically the best they can be.
McCallie School Photo #5 - By coordinating activities with our sister school, GPS, we provide students with academic and social activities where "all-boys" and "all-girls" schools can interact.
McCallie School Photo #6 - McCallie offers hundreds of weekend activities all year, from intramural sports on campus to out-of-town trips to concerts, sporting events, and outdoor activities. No matter what you're interested in, McCallie has an activity to match it.
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About the School

  • Located in Chattanooga, Tennessee, McCallie offers boys in grades 6-12 an exceptional education.
  • Academic and extracurricular programs are tailored specifically to boys.
  • Boys learn responsibility, leadership, and citizenship.
  • Through interactions and relationships with faculty and peers, boys develop strong social-emotional skills.
  • Every year boys are accepted into outstanding colleges and universities across the country and become leaders wherever they are.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Grades: (Boarding Students) 9-12, PG
  • Grades: (Day Students) 6-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 1,006 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $74,600
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $38,800
  • Acceptance rate: 60%
  • Average class size: 14 students
  • Application Deadline: Dec. 15 / Feb. 1 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update

Top Rankings

McCallie School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools (out of 271 schools) for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size
Large student body (number of students)
Offering Breadth
Most sports offered
Offering Breadth
Most extracurriculars offered
Student Test Scores
High SSAT scores

School Overview

2026 School Data
McCallie School
Boarding School Avg.
School Focus
College Preparatory
College Preparatory
Grades Offered (Boarding)
9-12, PG
8-12
Grades Offered (Day)
6-12, PG
8-12
School Type
All-boys
Co-ed
ADD/ADHD Support
Yes
Yes
Supports Learning Differences (LD)
Yes
Yes
Religious Affiliation
Non-denom. / Christian
Non-denominational
Year Founded
1905
1907
Campus Size
140 acres
125 acres
School Motto
Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.

Student Body

Enrollment
1006 students
319 students
% Students of Color
21%
27%
% International Students
22%
21%
% Students Boarding
33%
65%
Average SAT Score
1250
(Out of 1600)
* National Avg. »View
SAT range (25th-75th percentile)
1220 - 1410
-
Average ACT score
26
(Out of 36)
*National Avg. »View
Offers Post-Grad Year
Yes
No

Academic Profile

Saturday Classes
No
No
Classroom Dress Code
Formal
Dress shirt and tie (Mon-Thur); School Polo (Fri)
Casual
Average Class Size
14 students
12
* National Avg. »18
Student-Teacher Ratio
6:1
7:1
ESL Courses Offered
No
Yes
% Faculty with Advanced Degree
63%
72%
Summer Program Offered
Yes
Yes
Summer Program Details
View Summer Program Details
Accreditations
International Boys' Schools Coalition (IBSC)
National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS)
Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS)
Tennessee Association of Independent Schools (TAIS)
The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)
# of AP Courses Offered
18
18
Courses
AP BiologyAP Calculus AB
AP Calculus BCAP Chemistry
AP Chinese Language and CultureAP Computer Science Principles
AP English Literature and CompositionAP Environmental Science
AP European HistoryAP Latin
AP MacroeconomicsAP Microeconomics
AP Physics C: Electricity and MagnetismAP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Spanish Language and CultureAP Statistics
AP United States HistoryAP World History

Tuition & Financial Aid

Endowment Size
$200 million
$30 million
Yearly Tuition
(Boarding Students)
$74,600
(The total includes a $500 Facility Fee.)
$71,420
Yearly Tuition
(Day Students)
$38,800
(The total includes a $500 Facility Fee.)
$40,000
Tuition international students
$81,050
$58,650
% Students on Financial Aid
42%
40%
Avg. Financial Aid Grant
$20,600
$25,000
Merit Scholarships Offered
Yes
Weekly

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Admissions

Application Deadline
Dec. 15 / Feb. 1 / rolling
Jan. 15
Accepts Standardized Application (SAO and/or Gateway)
Yes
No
Average Percentile SSAT
66%
-
Acceptance Rate
60%
64%
Director of Admissions
Hank Bramblet
Application URL
Online Application

Sports

# Interscholastic Sports Offered
25
17
Sports
BaseballBasketball
BowlingCheering
ClimbingCrew
Cross CountryCross Country Running
DivingFootball
GolfIntramural Sports Only
LacrosseMountain Biking
Rock ClimbingSoccer
SquashSwimming
Swimming and DivingTennis
TrackTrack and Field
Ultimate FrisbeeVolleyball
Wrestling
Colors
White, Blue
School Mascot
Blue Tornado

Extracurriculars

Total Extracurricular Organizations
90
23
Extracurriculars
Club or Organization:
Amnesty International ClubChess Club
Community Service Related Club(s)Computer Club
Debate ClubDiversity Club
Dorm ProctorsEnvironmental Club
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)FIRST Robotics
Foreign Language Related Club(s)Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)
Gay/Straight AllianceHabitat for Humanity
Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA)Honor Council
iMAT (Integrated Music, Art, and Technology)Investment Club
Literary MagazineMath/Science Club
Mock TrialModel United Nations (Model UN)
National Honor SocietyNewspaper
Outdoor ClubPeer Counseling
Peer TutoringPennant (Yearbook)
Pep Club (SPIRITUALS)Prom Committee
Quiz BowlResident Advisors
RoboticsRobotics Club
Science BowlScience Olympiad
ScoutingSenate
Spanish ClubSports Marketing
Student ActivitiesStudent Ambassadors
Student BroadcastersStudent Council
Student GovernmentStudent Publications
Student VestryTEPS
The International ClubVolunteer
Young DemocratsYoung Libertarians
Young RepublicansYoung Writers Society


Arts and Music Programs:
A Cappella GroupArt Club
BandBrass Ensemble
Chamber ChoirChamber Ensemble
Chamber OrchestraChoral Music
Digital PhotographyDrama Club
Film StudiesFilmmaking/Videography
Glee ClubGuitar Ensemble
Individual Music InstructionJazz Ensemble
Pep BandPhotography
PotteryString Ensemble
Tech CrewTheater


Recreational Athletic Programs:
BasketballCanoeing
Cheerleading ClubDodgeball
HikingKayaking
Rock ClimbingSkateboarding Club
SpikeballSwimming
TennisUltimate Frisbee
VolleyballWeight Lifting

College Matriculation

College Acceptance Rate
100%
View Matriculation Data

School Notes

  • One of the premier boys schools in the nation, McCallie has provided rigorous college and life preparation in a Christian context since 1905. McCallie is an achievement-oriented community that encourages boys to strive toward academic excellence and commit to a student-administered honor system. McCallie offers a coordinate program with Girls Preparatory School, AP courses in all disciplines, an extensive weekend activities program, 17 competitive varsity sports, and 39 different intramural tournaments.
  • McCallie's mission is to prepare its students for college and for life. The school is dedicated to the academic, physical, spiritual, and emotional growth of boys.
  • The McCallie Michaels-Dickson Scholarship brings to secondary education the prestigious merit-based scholarship traditions that have graced the finest Southern universities. Like the Morehead Scholarship at the University of North Carolina, the Jefferson Scholarship at the University of Virginia, and the A.B. Duke Scholarship at Duke University, the Michaels-Dickson Scholarship attracts exceptional students from around the country to McCallie. These scholarship recipients are outstanding young men in several respects. Their academic excellence is demonstrated through both academic record as well as standardized test scores. They exhibit exceptional leadership potential and possess truly extraordinary character. Scholarship, leadership, and integrity are the defining characteristics of the McCallie Michaels-Dickson Scholar. In recent years, approximately 150 boys have been nominated annually for the Michaels-Dickson scholarships. All are required to visit campus during a Visitor's Day program or for an individually scheduled visit during which they meet current McCallie students and staff, tour campus, and complete an admission interview. From the group of nominees, finalists are invited back to campus in late February to participate in the Michaels-Dickson Scholarship Weekend during which final award levels are determined. Scholarships may consist of merit, financial aid, or both. Levels range from partial to full tuition, room, and board.
  • Sample of notable school alumni/alumnae:
    • Jon Meacham ‘87 - Editor of Newsweek and best-selling author
    • Zach Wamp ‘76 - Current member of the House of Representatives
    • Carroll Campbell ‘58 - Former Governor of South Carolina
    • Ted Turner ‘56 - CNN Founder
    • Billy Dunavant ‘50 - Chairman of the Board of Dunavant Enterprises, Inc.
    • Bill Brock ‘49 - Former Senator and Secretary of Labor
    • Pat Robertson ‘46 - Founder and Chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) and host of The 700 Club
    • Olan Mills, II ‘48 - Chairman of the Board of Olan Mills, Inc.
    • Howard Baker ‘43 - Former Senate Majority Leader, White House Chief of Staff, and Ambassador to Japan
    • John M. Belk ‘39 - President of Belk Department Stores, Inc.
Source: Verified school update
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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does McCallie School cost?
McCallie School's tuition is approximately $74,600 for boarding students and $38,800 for day students.
What is the acceptance rate of McCallie School?
The acceptance rate of McCallie School is 60%, which is lower than the boarding school average of 64%.
Who are famous alumni from McCallie School?
McCallie School famous alumni include: Jon Meacham ‘87, Zach Wamp ‘76, Carroll Campbell ‘58, Ted Turner ‘56, Billy Dunavant ‘50, Bill Brock ‘49, Pat Robertson ‘46, Olan Mills, II ‘48, Howard Baker ‘43 and John M. Belk ‘39.
What sports does McCallie School offer?
McCallie School offers 25 interscholastic sports: Baseball, Basketball, Bowling, Cheering, Climbing, Crew, Cross Country, Cross Country Running, Diving, Football, Golf, Intramural Sports Only, Lacrosse, Mountain Biking, Rock Climbing, Soccer, Squash, Swimming, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track, Track and Field, Ultimate Frisbee, Volleyball and Wrestling. McCallie School is ranked as one of the top boarding schools for most sports offered.
Does McCallie School offer a summer program?
Yes, McCallie School offers a summer program. Visit their summer school page for more information.
What is McCallie School's ranking?
McCallie School ranks among the top 20 boarding schools for Large student body (number of students), Most sports offered, Most extracurriculars offered and High SSAT scores.
When is the application deadline for McCallie School?
The application deadline for McCallie School is Dec. 15 / Feb. 1 / rolling (applications are due on Dec. 15 / Feb. 1 but additional applications are reviewed year-round as space permits ).

Alumni Reviews Review School

Review
Description

Class of 2018
5.00
Bowdoin College/ Wheaton College (IL)
When the McCallie school says they, "Inspire boys, and build men" they truly mean this. Even better though, McCallie does this in a way that is specifically tailored to how boys develop and learn. Before. . .

Class of 2005
5.00
Davidson College
McCallie is unquestionably one of the finest boarding schools in the nation. It prepares its students to achieve excellence in every arena. Three things in particular distinguish McCallie from other schools. The first thing that. . .

Class of 2003
5.00
University of Virginia
As an all-male school with a focus on building up men of character, McCallie offered me an unmatchable experience. In a single sex environment, my classmates and I did not feel constrained by a. . .
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Quick Facts (26-27)

  • Grades: (Boarding Students) 9-12, PG
  • Grades: (Day Students) 6-12, PG
  • Enrollment: 1,006 students
  • Yearly Tuition (Boarding Students): $74,600
  • Yearly Tuition (Day Students): $38,800
  • Acceptance rate: 60%
  • Average class size: 14 students
  • Application Deadline: Dec. 15 / Feb. 1 / rolling
  • Source: Verified school update
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