Girls Preparatory School inspires each girl to lead a life of integrity and purpose by engaging her mind, cultivating her strengths, and nurturing her self-confidence and respect for others.
“Three Muses” by Eve Oldham-Harris ’60
GPS Upper School is designed to further introduce girls to learning opportunities that exercise their critical analysis, collaboration, and communication skills as well as their creativity while also building advocacy and confidence. Upper School students become the best version of themselves at GPS in a highly individualized environment where learning is self-directed, hands-on, and multidisciplinary—making their journey more relevant and meaningful. They discover interests, pursue their passions, and develop the tools and skills to make any dream possible.
—MELANIE AND ANDRE’ CALLOWAY PARENTS OF GIRLS IN THE CLASSES OF 2015 AND 2026
“GPS helped make them all independent—motivated them to find what mattered, to find something that interested them, to try everything and see where it would take them.”
—TAMMY COMBS, PARENT AND AUNT OF GIRLS IN THE CLASSES OF 2019, 2021, AND 2022
“The experience, education, and opportunity that the girls have a chance to receive at GPS are the absolute best.”
“GPS is a place that helps them grow into the people they were created to be and take their place in the world. We know they will graduate prepared for the next chapter of their lives. We love and believe in GPS.”
“GPS develops the entire girl, not just academically, but they were being prepared for the next stages of their lives. We consider it a privilege to be a part of the GPS community.”
—MICHELLE
AND JIMMY SCOTCHIE, PARENTS OF TWINS IN THE CLASS OF 2022
—JENNIFER ’ 91 AND STRIB STRIBLING, PARENTS OF GIRLS IN THE CLASSES OF 2022 AND 2025
At GPS, college counselors set students up for success by presenting a multi-year exploration to help them identify a college that best fits them.
Selecting a college is a personal journey that involves the student, her college counselor, and her family. It is more than academics and extracurriculars. Rather: Who is she and what does her future hold?
During her freshman year, each girl is focused on making the transition to Upper School academically, socially, and emotionally. She is encouraged to explore her options, try new activities, get involved in both the school community and the community at large, and discover her interests. The goal is to get her off to a strong start in her first year of Upper School.
In sophomore year, students are assigned a college counselor with whom they will meet for the first time that spring. The girls are encouraged to reflect on their high school experiences thus far and on how they wish to approach the second half of their Upper School experience. The college counselor engages each girl in a personalized discussion about standardized testing plans and course selection.
90% of our recent college graduates finished their degrees in four years or fewer (National average is 36%)
are admitted to a 4-year college
Throughout the fall, each girl is encouraged to meet with college admission representatives who visit GPS and Chattanooga. From November through February, the college counseling office meets individually with each girl and her family for a comprehensive discussion about her college search and upcoming application experience. In the winter and spring, the college counseling office provides a curriculum for students, a panel discussion with admission deans for parents and students, an admission case study program for students, and other constituent-education programs.
90% of our recent college graduates completed their degrees at their original institutions (National average for women is 48%)
Seniors are encouraged to attend a summer workshop where they will continue to hone their resumes, essays, and other important components of their college applications. Upon returning to campus in August, each senior meets individually and in seminars with her college counselor to discuss admission strategies, fine tune her application, edit essays, and to reflect on what she is seeking in her next step beyond GPS. At the end of the college counseling journey, we hope each girl is thrilled for what awaits her beyond GPS!
JENNA BROWN wasn’t looking to switch schools her sophomore year; she was content where she was. But when a friend at McCallie introduced her to some GPS girls, she was surprised by how nice they were. And then she went to a football game and met more GPS girls. And they were nice, too. It was then that Jenna started to think about making a move. “I filled out the application by myself … my parents thought I was crazy!”
Jenna thrived at GPS. She was elected to her class’s leadership council, she was on the track team, and she served as a GPS Ambassador for the Admission Office. She says the transition wasn’t hard at all. “A lot of people think I’m crazy when I say that, but everyone in my class was very welcoming and accepting. I got to know people at the class retreat before school started—there were several girls who went out of their way to make the new students comfortable, and they didn’t leave our sides. It was also easier to get to know girls in class, thanks to the smaller class sizes.”
Other than the friendships she’s made, Jenna says her favorite thing about GPS was how prepared she was. “Coming into GPS, I was top of my class, but I wasn’t being properly challenged. Now I can confidently write a paper. The teachers really cater to your individual needs and have your best interest at heart.”
While Jenna admits she was nervous to make the switch to GPS, she says it was the best decision she could have made for herself. “There are so many resources here that are open to us and people who are here to help you. I think that’s hard to find in the same magnitude anywhere else.”
To me, a GPS girl is ... who you want to be. You can be who you want to be and do what you want to do, and the school will support you in that.
At GPS we recognize our students are with us during an extraordinarily formative stage in life. Who they are and who they will become begins with a strong foundation reinforced by the adults they trust and respect.
GPS OFFERS:
+ Academic Support
+ Social & Emotional Support
+ Belonging Support
+ College Counseling
Upper School students begin to imagine the futures they wish to pursue and focus on their paths to college. Our curriculum is designed to guide students to become critical thinkers, articulate speakers and writers, empathetic collaborators, and resilient problem-solvers.
+ The academic year is divided into semesters; Upper School students attend each class three times a week, 55 minutes per meeting, with study halls and help class time built into each day.
+ Select GPS juniors conduct research with a science professor through our University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Research Program.
+ A dedicated, onsite research laboratory is a gem in our science building.
+ National Honor Society, National Beta Club, and The Cum Laude Society all recognize GPS students for outstanding scholastic achievement. Fifteen members of the Class of 2022 were inducted into The Cum Laude Society the spring of their senior year.
+ GPS students benefit from one of the bestequipped libraries and makerspaces in the region. Here everything is hands-on—from the VR stations and 3D printers to the robotics, podcast, and green screen studios.
Confidence is a key predictor for success—even more than intelligence. It’s also an area where many girls struggle. While confidence cannot be taught, it can be cultivated. At GPS, our primary goal is to nurture and grow each girl’s confidence in herself and her abilities.
62
Teachers
84% hold advanced degrees
21
AP Credit Opportunities
17
Honors Classes
GPS ACADEMICS AT A GLANCEIn alignment with our GPS Athletics mission, our coaches teach girls to be team players, understand the importance of mental toughness, accept challenges enthusiastically, and value strength, fitness, stamina, and good health. The GPS athletic environment encourages student-athletes to be the very best on the field of competition, in the classroom, and in life.
On average,
1909
1974 1994 2005 2022
GPS WAS THE FIRST SCHOOL IN CHATTANOOGA TO OFFER GIRLS: Basketball Golf Rowing Lacrosse Squash
64%
of Upper School students participate in sports, compared to 36.8% in Tennessee
21% of GPS athletes play sports in college
SINCE 2002: 25 STATE TITLES 48 REGION CHAMPIONSHIPS
did you know?
GPS has the only all-girl program in the area with two National Strength and Conditioning AssociationCertified Specialists.
We play to win, but not just on the field. Scan the QR code to learn more about Athletics at GPS.
GPS ATHLETICS AT A GLANCE
A SELF-DESCRIBED “history/science person,” in her free time, Soree Kim might be practicing her violin … or working on her cartoon about invasive plants for Tucker River Fellows … or making crepes for French Club (note: she doesn’t even take French) … or playing soccer … or meeting with her fellow class leadership council members … or attending BIPOC … or climbing … or hanging out with friends.
She’s involved.
But her involvement across the board isn’t to pad her résumé so she can get into top colleges. Soree is involved because she loves spending time with the people who mean the most to her. “I started climbing because it gave me an opportunity to spend time with my siblings, who are much older. I play soccer because I love my teammates,” she explains.
She began playing the violin because her Beginning Strings instructor was kind and helpful. “She was the one who really opened the door for taking violin lessons, and she was always there for me,” Soree says. “She even found me an instructor.” Today Soree plays for community-wide events with the GPS Tango Quartet and also plays for her church. “People enjoy hearing music, and that helps me enjoy it. I love making music that sounds beautiful to the ear.”
The Black, Indigenous, People of Color forum has been another area where Soree has felt supported. “Growing up in a bubble, you don’t know what’s going on outside unless you go outside and experience it yourself,” she says. “I never knew I really needed a support system until BIPOC came along. Last year I even shared about Lunar New Year, and I don’t think I would’ve done that before. BIPOC gave me confidence.”
To me, a GPS girl is ...
someone who can accept criticism and persevere under challenges. She's strongwilled and welcomes those around her, even if society looks down on them.
BRUISERS FOR BELONGING
Forums represent opportunities for students to discuss important issues with those who either share a similar perspective or lived experience or wish to better understand a perspective that differs from their own. Forums offer a safe and supportive atmosphere for conversation and advocacy. Discussions in these groups may focus on challenges encountered or approaches learned, with the goal to provide participants with a greater understanding about themselves and cultivate a sense of belonging for all individuals at GPS.
From video production to Mock Trial and more, club participation creates ways for GPS girls to explore and pursue opportunities outside of their daily Upper School courses. In addition, new friendships across many grades are made, and connections with people and organizations outside of GPS give girls a chance to engage on a grander scale.
ELLA HARRIS is very involved, but not just for the sake of keeping busy. Every activity she participates in fuels her passion for growth, change, and belonging. “I have a lot of friends who have a lot of interests, and when they’re passionate about things, I get passionate about them. When I get the chance to do something, I take it,” she says.
At GPS, she’s involved in a variety of activities ranging from Tucker River Fellows to the Gender and Sexuality Forum. She was also elected by her classmates to the Honor Council. “The honor system is super important to the structure of GPS,” she explains. “We know that we’re all held accountable for our actions here, and it’s important that we remain honorable in our scholastic endeavors because it’s really the best way to grow.”
Ella also works on the tech crew for theater productions, Chapel, and other school events. “I really want to go into theatrical design and production as a career, and I was fortunate enough to get to talk to a GPS alumna about it when we worked on the Middle School production of Frozen JR. together last year,” she says.
Her work in theater even connects to her Tucker River Fellows project. She is working to make the theater department more eco-friendly by repurposing fabric and costumes from past productions.
“GPS provides a lot of opportunities to reach out and experiment with what you want to do and who you want to be, and when you figure it out, you are supported in following that path,” she says. “Your people are here.”
a
someone who is not afraid to reach out and take risks to work on improving herself for the sake of a love of learning or a love of a sport or activity or science or art. It’s really about growing more than anything else.
To me,
GPS girl is ...
The Fine & Performing Arts Program at GPS provides creative spaces where a girl can express herself, develop new interests, take risks, uncover hidden talents, and foster deep connections. Beautiful works of art are created but, more importantly, a girl learns to master a creative process that will benefit her throughout life—whether she wants to be a software engineer, a painter, or an accountant.
3
Major Theater Productions Each Year Fine Arts Courses
40 Dance Groups
3
Instrumental Music Groups
13 Coordinate Arts Activities with McCallie
Vocal Music Ensembles 3 2
Not every girl will become an artist, but each girl learns to be a creator. Scan the QR code to learn more about Fine & Performing Arts at GPS.
did you know?
More than 75% of Upper School students participate in the Arts.
GPS FINE & PERFORMING ARTS AT A GLANCE
True learning requires students to go beyond the confines of the classroom—to immerse themselves in experiences. At GPS, we offer signature programming you won’t find elsewhere.
Designed to prepare future leaders to understand and have an impact on the conservation of the Tennessee River, Tucker River Fellows is a multiyear cocurricular program founded by the Board of Trustees and named after former headmaster Randy Tucker. Fellows are selected prior to their freshman year and spend part of the summer and following academic year engaged in experiential learning about the many issues impacting their local watershed. They also learn about the historical, ecological, political, economic, and aesthetic significance of the Tennessee River. During the second year in the program, Fellows choose a focus and work with local experts while consulting scientific literature and policy to become more knowledgeable about their chosen topic in order to implement an independent project.
The primary objective of Partnerships in the Community is to prepare GPS students to be the most engaged members and leaders of our current and their future communities. Each class elects two representatives who organize and identify community service opportunities. Members of PIC and their classmates have volunteered at numerous organizations around the city including Habitat for Humanity, Northside Neighborhood House, and the Chattanooga Area Food Bank.
Terpsichord is one of the longest running modern dance programs of its kind in the U.S. Terpsichord dancers in grades 10 through 12 master technical performance skills while learning to choreograph. The fall and spring concerts are a long-standing tradition with many alumnae in attendance.
Dog sledding in Minnesota, exploring the workings of state government, experiencing the arts in NYC, learning archery skills, or appreciating the natural world in day hikes, GPS students and faculty enjoy stepping into new and uncharted territories during a one-week Winterim program each February. Designed by faculty eager to reveal the connections and interdsciplinaries between academic subjects, Winterim offers experiential learning opportunities that help students explore curiosities, cultivate interests, and discover new possibilities. In fact, alumnae often report their Winterim experiences led them to pursue their passions in college.
IT WASN’T UNTIL A PANDEMIC HIT that Cat Feeney had ever heard of Girls Preparatory School. Living in Atlanta and attending a public school there, she was a typical seventh-grader until nothing was really typical again. Her mother is a girls’ school alumna and had competed against the Bruisers when she was in high school, so she knew GPS had a reputation for excellence. When exploring options for in-person learning, the family toured GPS the summer before Cat’s eighth-grade year and quickly made the decision to enroll.
While changing schools and moving to a new town came with the expected anxiety, Cat says, “My girl guide brought me into her friend group, which is still the group of friends I have now. It was really easy to meet people.”
Not one to wait for opportunities to present themselves, Cat took full advantage of all GPS had to offer. While she hadn’t danced since she was 5, she took a dance class in eighth grade and a choreography class as a freshman. “I loved it and might take another class next year,” she says.
Cat also dove into athletic offerings—literally! She joined the diving team with no experience, ran cross country and track, and is now on the rowing team. “Rowing is a lot of work, but you’re with so many awesome people, it makes it fun.” She also discovered a love for strength and conditioning and finds the class helps with her busy sports schedule.
With all her athletic interests, her creative outlet is art. “I cannot draw a person and am not that artistic but love being creative,” she says. You’ll find her in the ceramics studio, hard at work on her latest creation.
Even though her interests are varied and her schedule full, she makes time for fun. As a member of G-Force, Model UN, and Calliope, Cat likes meeting and spending time with girls across the grades, and enjoys football games and dances. “I came from a public coed school, but I like the all-girls environment, and we still have fun with and are friends with boys.”
someone who is independent and strong and does things she enjoys.
One question we like each GPS student to answer with a resounding, Yes! is: Do you have a trusted adult on campus? When we asked Cat, she said, “My diving coach, Mrs. King.” Then Cat shared the story of a time when she felt a little overwhelmed and over-committed. She went to Mrs. King and together they looked at her schedule and helped her prioritize her commitments along with assignments and projects that were due. “She was able to help me get organized and formulate a plan so I didn’t get stressed out about it.”
To me, a GPS girl is ...
We recognize that selecting a school is a life-changing decision. While there are many strong options for a high school education in our region, we believe that GPS is the best independent school for girls.
Complete the form at GPS.edu/Inquire to receive correspondence from GPS and stay up-to-date on upcoming events.
Tour Step on campus and see for yourself why we are best for girls. Tours are led by Admission Counselors and Student Ambassadors. Your daughter is welcome to attend. Visit GPS.edu/Tour.
Visit Experience GPS and discover the breadth of our programs by attending one of our upcoming Admission events. Visit GPS.edu/Visit for event details and registration.