Is Brainerd Baptist School a “Baptist” school?
While there are many Christian schools in the Chattanooga area that require agreement with a doctrinal statement and/or a pastor referral letter, Brainerd Baptist School does not. Brainerd Baptist School was founded as a ministry of Brainerd Baptist Church in 1953 and continues to this day as a ministry of the church. The school is truly non-denominational in the sense that we accept students from a wide range of religious backgrounds and faith traditions, and our faculty and staff attend many different Bible-believing churches in the Chattanooga area. Our student body represents a variety of ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, as well as families not affiliated with any church or religion.
The school is unapologetically Christian and teaches from a Biblical perspective that reflects the truth, love, and grace of Jesus Christ. We are committed to fulfilling the Great Commission as revealed in Matthew 28. This missional philosophy truly makes our school special place and sets it apart from most Christian schools in the Chattanooga area.
“Honestly, being unapologetically Christian is what initially pulled me in to take a bigger look. I believe Brainerd Baptist School is thriving because you are true to God’s word, taking care of his children in all aspects of their life and giving glory to him. For these reasons, I know this is the school for us.”
Are all applicants accepted at Brainerd Baptist School?
It depends on the availability in the grade the student is applying for. If you are applying for K3, there are two requirements: the student should be potty-trained when school starts; and turn three by August 15 of the year they are enrolling.
If you are applying for any other grades, a screening must be done first. This screening helps ensure that the academic pace that is kept at Brainerd Baptist School will not frustrate your child.
What should I do first if I am interested in learning more about Brainerd Baptist School?
The admission process is designed to be very simple and straightforward. You may request an admission packet by calling the school office or by clicking the “request a packet” link on our site. Once you have reviewed this information, the next step is to tour the school. You may schedule these by calling Robin Morris at 423-622-3873. Once you have toured, you may submit the application. The screening process is different for K4 and K5 than for 1st-5th grade students.If you are applying for K4 or K5, we will contact you to schedule a screening. The admission screening takes about 30 minutes. Once the screening is completed, we will go over the results with you and acceptance packets are then mailed out. For 1st-5th grade applicants, we request that applying students spend a day visiting Brainerd Baptist School. Students are asked to be at the school around 8:15 and be picked up around 2:30. The visit gives the student a chance to learn more about Brainerd Baptist School and also meet prospective teachers and classmates. We typically will screen your child sometime during their day while they are visiting with us. The screening process for the 1st-5th grade applicants takes around 45 minutes to an hour.
“This school has always been at the top of our list when considering preschool. We want to launch our daughter into a diverse program that will challenge her and build confidence within her abilities. After touring the school we are certain that it is the right choice for our child.”
Is Brainerd Baptist School accredited?
YES! We are accredited through the Southern Association of Independent Schools which is the premier accrediting agency for private schools in the southeastern United States. In addition to SAIS membership, Brainerd Baptist also is a proud member of the National Association of Independent Schools and the Tennessee Association of Independent Schools. Examples of other schools in our area that hold accreditation and/or membership in through these organizations are McCallie, GPS and Baylor.
I am concerned that BBS only goes through 5th grade. Why should I consider your school over another school that is K-12?
This is another common question. Our desire is simple – we want to be the best elementary school in Chattanooga. We are laser focused on reaching this goal. Every decision we make is made with this in mind. Schools from all over our city desire to enroll Brainerd Baptist School graduates. We have a rich tradition of academic excellence for over 30 years. BBS students are frequently named Valedictorians, Salutatorians, National Merit Scholars, All-Americans, and student government leaders at many schools in our city. A BBS graduate is prepared to go to any school in Chattanooga. This is one of the biggest advantages to sending your child to BBS. Whether you choose Baylor, McCallie, GPS, Chattanooga Christian, Boyd Buchanan, or another school, we work closely with area middle schools and our students have had incredible success with the foundation from Brainerd Baptist School.
Are there any extra-curricular activities for students at BBS?
Yes. Our students are able to participate in a wide variety of extra curricular activities. Currently our students have the opportunity to participate in art classes, ballet, drama club, piano, chess club, Soccer Shots, and various other clubs that teachers will do throughout the year. These take place after school and are usually done by third parties that work with the school. We are constantly looking to add more opportunities as well. For more information go to our Extra Curricular Activities page.
For 3rd-5th grade students, there are athletic opportunities as well. These students can participate in track, cross country, and tennis camps. Our 4th and 5th grade students get to participate in soccer, basketball and cheerleading.
“We searched the Chattanooga area for a private school that shared our Christian beliefs and also had strong academic emphasis. From the moment we toured Brainerd Baptist, we instantly liked the school.”
Do parents have any requirements to fulfill throughout the year?
To be successful, a school requires an amazing amount of support. Our desire is to partner with our families for academic excellence. It is with this in mind that we require each family to volunteer 10 hours of their time to Brainerd Baptist School each year. These hours can be earned in many different ways. Our PSO (Parent Support Organization) organizes these opportunities.
Is there any sort of early care, after-care, or summer camp opportunity?
Brainerd Baptist School is happy to provide early care for our parents free of charge. Early care begins each day at 7:00 am and goes until 8:00 am when students are dismissed to their classrooms. Breakfast is available in early care for free as well.
After-school care is available from the time your child is dismissed until 6:00 pm each day. The cost of ASC is $7.00 per hour and this includes a snack. Information about the billing procedures is available in our handbook.
Summer camp is available for all students at Brainerd Baptist. The camp begins Tuesday after Memorial Day and runs through July. Students are involved in various activities from swimming to fun field trips weekly. Registration information for camp is sent home each spring. More information is also available on our Camp Bobcat website.
“After reading about Brainerd Baptist and taking a tour of the school, we are in love with what Brainerd Baptist has going on! From the academics to the after school activities the school has so much to offer!”
How do we pay for tuition?
Brainerd Baptist School uses a company called FACTS for tuition management. This company gives our parents complete on-line access to their account and also gives our parents many options in regards to paying their tuition. You may choose ACH drafts or use credit cards as payment option. Our goal is to make the tuition process as easy and flexible as possible. If you have additional questions about tuition or FACTS, please contact Chris Shields.
Are the Pre-k programs (K2,K3 & K4) full day?
Parents can choose from a Monday, Wednesday, Friday (MWF) or the Monday-Friday option for K2, K3 and K4. The hours for all of our Pre-k programs are 8:15-12:30pm. Students eat lunch at school before dismissal.
Is financial aid offered at Brainerd Baptist School?
Yes! Financial aid is offered for students in K5 through 5th grade on a yearly basis. All aid is need based and is awarded in April of each year. Students who receive financial aid are expected to maintain academic and behavior guidelines. All applicants are required to fill out a form through FACTS each year. More information on financial aid can be obtained by visiting the Financial Aid section of our website.
What are the cut-off dates for kindergarten?
All students entering kindergarten must turn 5 before August 15th. This is also the date that we use for our K4 and K3 programs.
THE ADMISSION PROCESS
We understand that finding the right school can turn into an overwhelming experience! Our goal is to make the process as easy as possible. Below you will see how the admission process at Brainerd Baptist School works. If you have any questions about the school or about the process, please feel free to contact us either by email or by calling 423-622-3873.
1. Request a Packet – This will have general information about the school. You may complete this step by clicking the link at the top of any page on this website, or by clicking here.
2. Tour the School – This is the most important step in the process. You will take a tour of our campus, meet with our Head of School who will share our philosophy of education and see what makes our school so special. Tours typically take about 1 hour. For families entering K3, K4, or K5 we prefer to do the tour in the morning hours so you can see the students in the classroom environment. We also recommend that children not attend the tour as we have a special time planned for them when they come to complete the screening process or on their shadow day (students entering 2nd-5th grades). Call (423-622-3873) or email to schedule.
3. Apply for Admission – Parents begin this process after they have completed a tour of the school. The process is all done online. Step by step instructions will be provided. Parents will pay the $75 application fee in this step. To begin the application for admission please click here.
“We are looking for a school that has a rigorous academic curriculum with small class sizes. We feel that Brainerd Baptist will challenge our child to be a better student and person. We’ve heard Brainerd Baptist has a positive and nurturing environment with teachers that truly love children and their jobs. We think it will be a wonderful school and will prepare our daughter for middle and high school.”