Chattanooga, Tennessee
I’m a GPS girl
and this is my school
3
GIRLS
4
Be your true self.
As a school for girls, GPS gives you the freedom to
be yourself. We value each student’s individuality, and we know that girls have talents and ambitions that are sometimes difficult to express when boys are around. Here we encourage you to aim high, to lead, to be kind—and even to be silly now and then. We’ve been educating girls for more than 100 years, so we understand.
5
PREPARATORY
Gain the confidence to reach your goals.
GPS girls
prepare for college and beyond as they increase their knowledge and abilities both inside and outside the classroom. You’ll develop confidence that’s built on experience, together with the perseverance to find new solutions when things don’t go exactly as planned. These are qualities you will carry with you always, and they will help you find success and fulfillment throughout your life.
7
SCHOOL
Experience the challenge and the joy of learning. Learning is about exploring and then understanding the unfamiliar. It’s a process of growth, and it’s an amazing adventure. A GPS education enables you to step up to the challenge and appreciate the joy of learning because everyone in this community supports and encourages you—your teachers, your coaches, your advisors, and, most of all, your classmates and friends.
9
This Is My School in Middle or Upper School, you’ll enter a carefully planned program in which each new experience builds on the one before. Your abilities and confidence will grow steadily. You will have teachers and older girls as role models, and you will set an example for younger girls. WHETHER YOU JOIN THE GPS COMMUNITY
GPS girls are a diverse bunch. They hail from Chattanooga, its suburbs, and towns beyond. Some have moved here from other parts of the nation and the world. They have different interests and learning styles. More than one-third of our students receive needbased financial aid. Girls of all backgrounds and faiths find success and happiness at GPS.
10
THE MIDDLE SCHOOL, with its own
THE UPPER SCHOOL inspires approx-
learning space and faculty, creates a home base for about 250 sixth, seventh, and eighth graders (an average of 75 to 85 in each grade). While the Middle School shares much with the Upper School, it has special features all its own, including assemblies, clubs, and a daily study hall. Students change classrooms and teachers throughout the day.
imately 350 girls in grades 9 through 12 (also an average of 75 to 85 in each grade) to expand their knowledge, capabilities, and flexibility through a challenging curriculum and many opportunities for leadership and service. With a wide range of elective, honors, and AP courses, the Upper School prepares students for college and adult life.
Our Middle School program supports each student in exploring many possibilities, making friends, and creating a place for herself in the GPS community.
Starting high school is a big step, and GPS eighth graders get a helping hand from the senior-led course, Changes & Choices.
ADVISORIES Groups of about 10 students and a faculty advisor give girls the opportunity to plan and lead group and schoolwide activities that enhance their learning experience.
11
FUN FACTS
12
Loves to bake Learned to surf last summer Commutes to school with three other GPS girls, including her sister
Alice GRADE 6
Soccer, Lacrosse, Fellowship of Christian Athletes
So many ways to express myself “I’m exploring and discovering who I really am. That’s why I’m grateful that there are so many ways at GPS to express myself and find what I love. I like science so much more than I ever did before— dissecting a starfish is gross but fun! It’s amazing to see how different their organs are from ours. Global Cultures is showing me how many ideas of beauty there are in the world. In Art, we’re making wire sculptures, and then in English we’re writing fables and using our sculptures to illustrate them. I’m exploring outside of class, too. I’ve always enjoyed playing soccer, and now I’m trying lacrosse. I was nervous about that at first, but I’ve found that I love it, too. After playing with kids at the Boys and Girls Club, I know I want to do what I can to help the world, so I’m going to join the Community Service Club next year.”
13
Traditions
Of Cats and Rats
One of the most beloved traditions at GPS is Cat-Rat—and maybe that’s because it combines an important purpose with a whole lot of fun. First, the purpose: to make sure that each entering sixth grader, or Rat, has one special senior, or Cat, to be her guide and mentor throughout her first year. While everyone at GPS is welcoming and supportive, the Cat-Rat bond is so strong that it often lasts for many years. Then there’s the fun. Before classes begin, the seniors plan the Cat-Rat Parade, which introduces the new sixth grade students to the entire school. The parade features a different theme each year, with costumes made by the Cats for their Rats. Each Rat discovers the identity of her Cat through a pair of matching objects—such as magic wands—made by the seniors.
14
Goal sheets help GPS girls to take responsibility for their own education.
“In my Ancient Civilizations course, I use props like swords, show videos, and play songs to give my students creative insight into vastly different cultures. It’s fun, and it supports the way girls learn history most naturally and effectively.” GLEN VEY, Middle School History and Social Sciences
16
Learning to Learn At GPS, you’ll learn many things—subjects from English to engineering, athletic and public-speaking skills, how to manage your time and prepare for college. But perhaps the most important part of your education here will be learning how to learn—and specifically how you, as a unique individual, learn best.
What might surprise you about our approach
You’ll be braver than you ever thought possible. Learning in a safe environment
You’ll always have a plan. We teach you
makes it comfortable to take a leap into new ideas.
how to set goals for yourself and how to make plans to reach them.
You’ll learn from everyone around you. Your teachers will teach, of course, but
You’ll see that the journey is as important as the destination. It’s not
so will your classmates, with their diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
just completing the assignment or getting the grade, it’s what you discover along the way.
You’ll know your education is truly yours. By gradually taking responsibility for
You’ll celebrate missteps. We all make
them, and you’ll find out how much you can learn from them.
your own education, you’ll learn better and more joyfully. You’ll find your voice. It might be quiet
You’ll be a real team player. When you
appreciate your own learning style, you appreciate the strengths of others, too— and that means you can work together as a powerful team.
or it might be loud, but whatever your voice is like, you can use it to create a meaningful life.
17
Points of Pride A FORWARD-LOOKING CURRICULUM
The GPS curriculum gains its strength by blending traditional college preparatory subjects with such disciplines as computer science and engineering—fields with great career potential in which women are underrepresented. We are the only school in our area to have a full-time computer science and engineering teacher, and we offer these fields from Middle School through AP. TECHNOLOGY LEADERSHIP GPS stu-
dents benefit from technology that seamlessly enhances learning. We have been a leader in educational technology, with the only local laptop program and a majority of digital textbooks, enhancing interactivity and mobility. All students use iPads to access digital textbooks and educational applications. Students in the upper grades also use laptops that provide additional power for complex tasks and access to class-specific programs. This combination enables our teachers to incorporate wikis and blogs, audio and video, and Skype into their classrooms and assignments. LEARNING CENTER Knowing how to
study—and what works for individual learning styles—is an essential skill that we make sure all GPS students cultivate. The goal of our Learning Center is to support every 18
GPS student in reaching her full potential by developing effective strategies. The staff members work closely with teachers to provide the right help and resources to set students up for success. MAKING AN IMPACT Education extends
beyond the classroom through IMPACT, our comprehensive co-curricular program that prepares girls for a balanced life by promoting self-awareness, self-confidence, independence, and active global citizenship. IMPACT sponsors workshops, activities, and speakers that complement academic courses and encourage service and good decision making. GETTING IN SHAPE Physical education
at GPS goes far beyond the traditional—it’s a comprehensive fitness-wellness program designed especially for girls. Known as SHAPE (Starting Habits to Attain Physical Excellence), the program teaches students how to develop habits for a lifetime of health and fitness. SHAPE is required for girls in grades 6 through 10 and for all Upper School athletes. In addition to a variety of sports, strength and cardiovascular conditioning, nutrition, hygiene, character development, CPR, first aid, and stress reduction are key components of the program.
“Teaching is my calling, and I’m so grateful that GPS gives me the freedom to be flexible and innovative in getting concepts across. This is especially important in my field of environmental science, where the girls need to see and experience the world beyond the classroom.” JENISE GORDON, Upper School Teacher
The GPS garden is a learning laboratory, and its produce benefits the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.
20
Traditions
On My Honor The GPS Honor Code is an enduring guide to character. Girls live the rest of their lives by its tenets of integrity, honesty, respect, and consideration for others. They internalize the code by following the example set by the students, faculty, and staff members around them, and they commit to it by signing the Honor Pledge. Some aspects of the Honor Code are visible to all. Girls can leave their backpacks outside the cafeteria or their laptops in the library without a second thought—practices that make every day easier and happier. But the impact is much greater. The Honor Code determines how students make choices and behave outside of school. Years later, its lasting effect is evident in the way GPS alumnae conduct themselves in college, in their careers, and as they raise families of their own.
21
Nikki GRADE 8
Community Service Club, Motion Makers, Dance Club, Middle School Play, Track and Field
To find what we do best “I enjoy many different things, and I love change, so I can’t wait to move across the lawn to the Upper School next year. GPS encourages us all to find what we do best. For me, that’s history, English, and Spanish. In athletics, I know I don’t have the hand-eye coordination for contact sports, so I put my competitive energy into track and field. I compete in the 100-meter hurdles, and I’m on the varsity high jump team. These events teach me different things. In the high jump, I’ve learned to focus and tune everything else out. And my coach says, ‘Use the most efficient and simple way to get over hurdles.’ I think it’s a great approach to everything in life. Last summer I tutored kids at the Northside Neighborhood House as part of the GPS volunteer program. I liked it so much that I’ve continued through the school year and will spend the summer there. Whatever my future brings, I’m sure it will combine volunteering and travel.”
22
FUN FACTS
Has visited 30 states Reads three books a week Favorite pastime: going out for ice cream with friends
Athletic Prowess All GPS girls have the opportunity to extend what they have learned in their physical education classes beyond the school day. Although after-school sports are not required, more than two-thirds of our students choose to pursue greater involvement in athletics. Our varsity athletes also have a period during the day for strength training and conditioning. This level of discipline and physical challenge complements our academic program in furthering the development of character, collaboration, confidence, fairness, and empathy. INTERSCHOLASTIC COMPETITION
OUTDOOR SKILLS If team sports are not
At GPS, you’ll have many options for competing against teams from other schools, with the level of coaching and facilities to bring out your best. We sponsor 38 interscholastic teams on the field or court, in the pool, and on the river, and our student-athletes have brought home an abundance of state championships at both the Middle School and Upper School levels.
for you, the GPS Outdoor Program offers outdoor adventures in rock climbing, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, mountain biking, and caving in and around Chattanooga. You can extend your outdoor skills, expand your leadership capabilities, and enjoy nature all at the same time. The program runs during the fall, winter, and spring seasons with offerings for Middle School and Upper School students.
“Our all-girl environment fosters scholastic growth and inspiration. A confidence to succeed also motivates our girls to do their best in athletics. Through athletic competition they develop grit—a skill that will carry them far beyond the playing field.” CAROLINE CARLIN, Varsity Lacrosse Coach
Athletics MIDDLE SCHOOL
Fall Cheerleading Cross Country Soccer Softball Tennis Winter Basketball Cheerleading Diving Swimming Volleyball Spring Golf Lacrosse Track and Field Tennis (club sport)
3 playing fields for soccer and lacrosse, the on-campus Lower Field and nearby Lupton Fields
UPPER SCHOOL
Fall Cheerleading Crew Cross Country Golf Soccer Volleyball Winter Basketball Bowling Cheerleading Diving Swimming Spring Crew Lacrosse Softball Tennis Track and Field For a complete list of athletic facilities, visit www.gps.edu/athletics. 25
2 gymnasiums with 3 full-size courts for basketball and volleyball
Our champion bowling team practices and competes at Hixson Lanes.
8 outdoor and 4 indoor tennis courts
On-campus rowing center just steps from the Tennessee River
Our golfers train at Black Creek Club.
The GPS/ McCallie Blue Crew cheerleading squads cheer for both schools.
WHY BRUISERS? With school colors black and blue, what could we call our teams but Bruisers?
Championship softball field with adjacent batting cage and training stations
Natatorium with extendedlength, 6-lane pool
27
Adventures in the Arts GPS gives you abundant opportunities to explore the visual and performing arts and to take your talents as far as you want. We build a strong foundation in Middle School, where students take classes that expose them to varied disciplines that they can build on in the Upper School. Beginning in grade 9, students with special expertise and drive can pursue higher levels, including vocal music, instrumental music, and dance ensembles that carry course credit. In the visual arts, students can hone their technique through the AP level and prepare college portfolios.
We have six art studios, including one for ceramics equipped with 10 wheels and a kiln.
28
Arts and community Our fine arts program brings the GPS community together at exhibits, performances, and the GPS Guest Artists Series. One highlight among many is the spring musical, a coordinate production with McCallie School, which draws standing-room-only crowds. In the last few years, productions have included Grease, Footloose, and Les MisÊrables— great evenings, all! Students perform in our 850-seat Frierson Theatre (second largest in Chattanooga).
29
Arts offerings VISUAL ARTS Drawing* Painting* Printmaking* Sculpture* Ceramics Graphic Design Art History* College Portfolio Preparation* PERFORMING ARTS Terpsichord Choreography Drama and Theatre Arts GPS Singers Senior Orchestra 30
* Including AP
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS Modern Dance (grades 6–8) Ballet (grades 6–9) Upper School Modern Dance Ensemble Winter One-Act Plays (grades 9–12) Tango (Upper School string ensemble) Middle School String Quartet GPS Wind Quartet COORDINATE WITH MCCALLIE SCHOOL Middle School Play Fall Play Upper School Spring Musical GPS McCallie Orchestra Candlelight Chorus
Dance, dance, dance! Modern dance has a long, proud history at GPS. Terpsichord, founded in 1954, was the first high school contemporary dance troupe in Tennessee. As well as serving our own students, our dance program has been a model for dance education across the country.
Our dancers practice in three on-campus dance studios.
“GPS encourages its arts teachers to model the creative process for students and invite them to participate. We teach technique, but we know that making art is about relationships and trusting that you can take risks to create something original and moving.” CATHIE AULT KASCH ’72, Department Chair, Visual & Performing Arts 31
FUN FACTS
Voted Terpsichord president for her senior year Has performed in The Nutcracker eight times Loves playing with her dog, Lisa
32
Nia
GRADE 11
National Honor Society, Curie Society, GPS Ambassadors, Amnesty International, Terpsichord, Recipient of the Rowland Ring
To connect with something bigger “Math is my favorite subject right now, but my interests are broad. I love history and English. In college, I think I’ll major in engineering or computer science, and I expect I’ll still enjoy exploring many kinds of ideas. Dancing is my passion. I started when I was five, and now I concentrate on ballet and modern, with some jazz. The most important thing about dance is that it gives me a way to release myself into the art and connect with something bigger. At GPS, dance classes from sixth grade on do more than teach you technique—you have a chance to create your own work. I just choreographed a piece for 12 dancers for the Terpsichord spring concert. I was inspired by Emerson’s “Self-Reliance,” and I created a piece that was dreamlike and hypnotic. I wanted the dancers to convey the emotion, and I pushed them to go beyond technique to do that.”
33
Traditions
Rite of Passage
May Day, a pageant to celebrate spring and the senior class as its members approach graduation, has been a signature event at GPS for 100 years. Wearing long dresses and carrying bouquets, the seniors are honored by the assembled GPS community and guests. Sophomores wrap the May Pole with colorful ribbons, and costumed student dancers perform for the crowd.
34
This beautiful celebration has a deeper meaning. The May Queen and her court are chosen by the students because they are role models. These six girls, and the May Queen above all, are actively and enthusiastically involved in the life of the school, and they embody the ideals of character and integrity. GPS girls imagine their own senior May Day through the years, and when it arrives, they feel a deep connection to all the alumnae who have gone before.
35
Join In You’ll find an additional outlet for your passions, creativity, and leadership in clubs and activities. A hallmark of GPS girls is the way they combine various interests and involvements. It’s not unusual to find a girl who is involved in Student Council and science activities, or Fashion Club and Model UN . Activities help Middle School students find their place at GPS, as they explore possibilities and make friends. Middle School girls create their own interest groups with the guidance of their teachers. As students enter the Upper School, GPS encourages them to be involved in two clubs or activities, including after-school arts and athletics.
GPS students show their support at games by dressing all in black.
CLUBS & ACTIVITIES SAMPLER Amnesty International Character Forum Creative Writing Club/ River Review Curie Society Global Ambassadors
GyPsieS (school spirit club) Honor Council Improv Troupe JETS/Cyber-patriots Kaleidoscope (yearbook) Key Club
Model UN Science Olympiad Spectrum (newspaper) Student Council Technical Theater Team World Languages Club
Our brothers and friends As much as we value all-girls education, we realize the importance of helping our students grow in their ability to communicate well and establish healthy relationships with their male peers. Our coordinate program with the all-boys McCallie School gives our students the best of both worlds as they plan fundraisers and service projects, rehearse for plays and concerts, and enjoy the fun of dances and trips. The longstanding connection between the two schools can be traced to their beginnings: Grace Eliza McCallie became one of the three founders of GPS shortly after her brothers opened their school for boys. 37
Engaging with Our Community For more than 100 years, GPS has been a presence in greater Chattanooga, educating future leaders and following a tradition of service. Even our physical location, overlooking the Tennessee River, the city, and the mountains beyond, reinforces our connection with the larger community. We have seen our students grow as individuals by helping others, and we provide service opportunities to enhance this aspect of a GPS education. The Community Service Council, a student organization, leads fundraising and community service projects and reviews fundraising proposals from individual girls and student groups. You’ll find many ways to contribute to the greater good with weekly after-school commitments, weekend projects, special drives for funds or food, and annual events.
38
Building something meaningful The most enduring volunteer relationship at GPS is with Habitat for Humanity. Over the last decade and a half, each year GPS has partnered with McCallie School to fund and build a house in a Chattanooga neighborhood. About 35 GPS girls are involved in a typical year, including a core group of student leaders. GPS and McCallie were recently honored for their service with the Habitat Volunteer Partnership Award.
Most GPS students devote 20 to 30 hours to community partnerships during the school year, and they have raised over $20,000 in a school year to benefit a variety of organizations.
Some of the ways we partner • After-school tutoring at Northside Neighborhood House, Glenwood Learning Program, and St. Andrews Center • “Battle of the Bells” for the Salvation Army, with McCallie School • Mission: Remission walk for cancer research, with McCallie School • Preparing meals for families at the Ronald McDonald House • Hosting events for the Chattanooga District Senior Olympics • Socializing animals at the Red Bank Pet Placement Center • Donating food raised in the GPS garden to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank
39
Scottie GRADE 9
Golf, Track and Field, Christian Forum, Girl Scouts, Fashion Club
All about challenge “I never thought about an all-girls school until I got to know GPS through a friend. It made me realize that there was something more out there for me, a way to grow and become a better person. There’s a whole new level of expectation here—you have to push, but in a good way, and not just go along for the ride. The girls show each other so much trust, there’s respect for the Honor Code, and it’s okay to excel. Coming in the ninth grade, I’ve taken this year to get used to everything. I enjoy history and math the most. I like seeing how the world has adapted to change. I’ve always been a runner, and now I’m gradually improving my personal competitive time and enjoying the team atmosphere. In golf, I’m learning about focus and realizing how much practice it takes to shave a point or two off my score. It’s all about challenge.”
40
FUN FACTS
Can wiggle her ears Favorite place: New York City Ran a half marathon with her dad
41
The Rest of Our Lives GPS graduates have all the qualities needed for successful, meaningful, and happy lives. They are prepared to achieve great things in their careers, communities, and families. The first level of achievement is choosing the best college for you—definitely not a onesize-fits-all process. You may want to stay close to home or head somewhere new. You may be looking for the excitement of a large university or the intimacy of a small college. If you have a specific major in mind, you may want to aim for the most highly ranked programs. All this is yours to decide, with the guidance of our college counselors. Our four-year, step-by-step plan is designed to make the process as rewarding and stress-free as possible for you and your parents.
42
The proof Our senior classes typically choose to enroll at more than 50 schools across the nation and abroad. Each year, our graduates receive an average of $5.5 million in scholarship offers for their academic, athletic, or artistic talents. For the most recent complete list of college acceptances and scholarships, please visit www.gps.edu/college, the college section of our website.
43
Meet Some Graduates These talented alumnae were once where you are now, exploring GPS and dreaming about their futures. May their stories inspire you to pursue your own dreams.
EMILY BLEVINS ’09
SARAH GREBOWSKI ’05
“My hardest classes are the ones I look back on the most.”
“My most formative experience at GPS was AP English, where I learned to ask tough questions about controversial books in a diplomatic way.”
A graduate of the University of Richmond with a double major in psychology and international studies, Emily is working on a clinical psychology study at the University of Maryland while preparing to apply to Ph.D. programs in that field. She hopes eventually to join the Peace Corps.
Sarah is working for the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee after earning her master’s in foreign service at Georgetown. As a foreign service officer, she hopes to return to the Middle East, where she was a researcher and a freelance journalist during the Arab Spring. Sarah graduated from Boston College.
44
PRIYA BOYINGTON ’07
KATHLEEN
“More than college or my job, GPS shaped me as a leader.”
MILAZZO JOHNSON ’00
Priya is finishing a three-year position at consulting firm Bain & Company in
“Every day, I use the confidence I gained at GPS. I know I can accomplish the tasks before me.”
Atlanta, with a six-month sabbatical
Kathleen has made a career at
at the start-up GoldieBlox, maker
the financial giant J.P. Morgan in
of an innovative construction game
Houston, Chicago, and New York,
that helps girls develop spatial skills.
beginning as an intern when an
A graduate of Georgia Tech, she has
undergraduate at Rice. She majored
been accepted at the Wharton School
in anthropology because she liked
of the University of Pennsylvania.
the way it combines quantitative analysis with storytelling.
ANNA YOUNG ADAMSON ’03
JORDAN McCARTER ’96
“On a daily basis, I strive to instill in my children the values that GPS instilled in me.”
“GPS challenged me, but I always felt safe and supported. And I made friends for life.”
While studying at UT Chattanooga, Anna
Jordan is currently pursuing a Ph.D.
became active in Junior League, which led to
in higher education administration at
involvements with a variety of nonprofit
UT Knoxville. Her experience in higher
organizations. Today, she is focused on
education includes academic support,
raising her two young children. In all of these
fraternity and sorority life, student activities,
pursuits, she has been guided by the GPS
residence life, and admissions. She earned
values of integrity, service, respect, and
a master’s degree from Vanderbilt and a
responsibility.
bachelor’s degree from Tufts. 45
Speakers choose family members or friends to introduce them at their Chapel Talks. 46
Traditions
Speaking Our Minds . . . and Hearts
GPS girls are articulate and full of ideas, so it’s no wonder that the Chapel Talks given by every senior are highlights throughout the school year. Students choose their own topics and prepare with the help of teachers and classmates. Each talk reveals what matters most to each individual as she shares her insights and passions with an audience of more than 600 students, teachers, friends, and family. This is far beyond public speaking—it’s a way to communicate deeply and movingly a personal story and outlook on life for the benefit of all listeners. The Chapel Talks become occasions to celebrate the seniors. On the day of each talk, a girl’s friends and family decorate a display table with photos and personal mementoes, and this tribute serves as a backdrop to a reception following the talk.
47
Autumn A. Graves, Ed.D. HEAD OF SCHOOL
A promise made, a promise kept “Of all that Girls Preparatory School offers to students and their families, the most important is a fundamental promise: to know and love every girl for who she is. In fact, we could not do our job as educators without this knowledge and emotional bond. Our promise means that we teach and mentor each student mindful of her interests, her strengths, and her challenges inside and beyond the classroom. It means that we help each girl on her way to becoming her true, her best, her most fully realized self. In keeping our promise, we develop a partnership with parents. Parents know their daughters more deeply than we ever can. And with more than a century of educating girls behind us, we know how they develop, learn, and achieve. Together, GPS and parents create the strongest possible support for an exciting, joyous journey of discovery. I’m honored to pick up the mantle of the three visionary women who founded this remarkable school and to guide our girls as they grow into confident and capable young women.” 48
ESPECIALLY FOR PARENTS THANK YOU for your interest in GPS for the
next phase of your daughter’s education. We value your participation because we know that a great education is based on a strong partnership involving the school, the student, and her family. Parents are always welcome at GPS to discuss their daughters’ progress, to see them play and perform and present, and to take advantage of the many opportunities to have a role in our community. Many of our parents and families find fulfilling and lasting friendships here, enriching their own experience as well as their daughters’ education. ALL-GIRLS EDUCATION AND YOUR DAUGHTER
New research confirms what we have observed at GPS: girls benefit from single-gender education. In this environment, girls are unafraid to seek their highest level of academic achievement, and they are more likely to excel in typically male-dominated fields. At the same time, they become more empathetic and less competitive. They fill all the leadership roles, developing new-found skills and confidence. They are less concerned with matters that can make girls grow up too fast. The allgirls education at GPS is one of the best, most lasting gifts you can give your daughter. More information about all-girls education is available on our website. FACULTY AND CURRICULUM
subjects and to the art of teaching girls. We recruit nationally to find the teachers who are the best fit with our culture and learning environment. Nearly two-thirds of the faculty have earned advanced degrees, and they bring worlds of experience—as Fulbright Scholars, as triathletes, or as lawyers or journalists—to our classrooms. About 80 percent of our teachers are female and 20 percent male. Our curriculum combines the foundational disciplines with areas geared to preparing students for contemporary life and work. The daily schedule is based on 50-minute classes with breaks after each two classes. On a rotating basis, each class meets for 75 minutes, providing the opportunity for special collaborative projects or field trips. WHAT WE LOOK FOR IN AN APPLICANT
GPS seeks students who want to reach their potential—as learners and leaders, as participants and collaborators, as girls who are full of curiosity and energy, eager for new opportunities and committed to values and character. We assess each applicant holistically, based on her • Application • Transcript, including grades, previous standardized test scores, and recommendation from school counselor • Recommendations from teachers • Entrance exam scores
The GPS faculty numbers approximately 75 teachers who are devoted to their academic 49
Please Visit Us We offer you and your daughter the opportunity to get to know the GPS community through a variety of visit options, and we hope you will take advantage of them all. – Admission Open Houses – Student Visit Days – Parent Tours and Interviews – Other special events To arrange your visit and learn more about the admission process, please call us or visit www.gps.edu/admission.
We look forward to welcoming you to our school. GPS Admission Office • 423-634-7644 • www.gps.edu 50
Girls Preparatory School admits students of any race, color, religion, or national or ethnic origin. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, financial
CREATIVE: CHENEY & COMPANY; COPY: SUSAN GEIB/WRITTEN WORK; PHOTOGRAPHY: BILLY HOWARD
aid program, or athletics or other school-administered activities.
205 Island Ave. Chattanooga, TN 37405 423-634-7644 www.gps.edu