- Source: The McCallie School
The McCallie School is a boys college-preparatory school located on Missionary Ridge in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States. The school was founded in 1905 and now has 322 boarding students in grades 9–12 and 657 day students in grades 6–12.
History
Brothers Spencer Jarnigan and James "Park" McCallie founded the school in 1905, which remained under the control of the family until a board of trustees assumed management of the school in 1937.
Founded as an all-boys school, McCallie became a military school in the wake of World War I, with students wearing uniforms and participating in military drills.
In 1970, McCallie dropped its military program as a result of admission challenges during the Vietnam War.
Like most schools in Tennessee, the McCallie School was formerly racially segregated. While the school's board of trustees agreed to allow the admission of African-American students beginning with day students in 1969 and boarding students in 1970, the school did not admit its first African-American student until 1971.
McCallie has a close relationship with Girls Preparatory School (GPS). One of the co-founders of GPS was Grace McCallie, sister to Spencer and Park. McCallie has maintained a formal coordinate program with Girls Preparatory School in Chattanooga since 1985. Students at the two schools participate in a variety of organized social events and coordinate some academic programming, particularly in music and theater.
Athletics
Varsity sports, except climbing, crew, lacrosse, mountain biking, swimming and diving, are governed by the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA).
Boarding life
McCallie's first dorm, Founder's Hall, had 8 students. In 1907, record enrollment of 110 students required an additional dormitory; the school built the two-story Douglas Hall on Kyle Street, accommodating 35 boys. It also served as the headmaster's office and Park's residence. In the early 1950's the school constructed North and South Hutch, along with Maclellan Hall. In 1962, Belk Hall was dedicated as the Senior dorm, and at the same time Founder's home was being renovated to allow for more housing, giving the building its iconic pillars. And finally when work on Belk and Founder's was completed, the school tore down Douglas Hall, and constructed Caldwell Hall on its site. Later to address the growing boarder population, Pressly Hall was dedicated in 2007, and Burns Hall was dedicated in 2010.
Rankings
In 2016 McCallie was ranked as the top private high school in the state of Tennessee by Business Insider. In Niche's 2023 high school report, McCallie was ranked the number one boarding high school and best high school for athletes in Tennessee. Nationally, McCallie was ranked the 35th best overall all-boys high school and 123rd of 418 best boarding high schools.
Summer programs
McCallie School offers seven boarding camps and 18-day camp options. Programs are offered in enrichment, sports, or leadership camps (for children aged five years old and up).
Notable alumni
Eric Rivers '2021: Wide receiver for the FIU Panthers
Sean Ryan '2010: Olympic swimmer
Michael Bingham '04: Olympic medalist in track and field
Jon Meacham '87: writer, former editor of Newsweek, contributing editor at Time
Giovanni Alberto Agnelli '82: CEO of Fiat Group
Zach Wamp '76: Former member of the United States House of Representatives of Tennessee
Marshall Fletcher McCallie '63: United States ambassador to Namibia
Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. '58: former Governor of South Carolina
Ted Turner '56: founder of CNN and Turner Broadcasting System, former owner of Atlanta Braves, Atlanta Hawks, and Atlanta Thrashers
Bill Brock '49: Former United States Senator and Secretary of Labor
Preston Henn '49: Founder of the Fort Lauderdale Swap Shop and race car driver
Pat Robertson '46: televangelist and founder and Chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network
Howard Baker Jr. '43: former Senate Majority Leader, White House Chief of Staff, and Ambassador to Japan
John M. Belk '39: president of Belk Department Stores, Inc. and former Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina
Sonny Montgomery '39: Former member of United States House of Representatives for Mississippi
James Rhyne Killian '21: former president of Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Ralph McGill '17: former editor of the Atlanta Constitution
Kyle Testerman: mayor of Knoxville, Tennessee
References
External links
School website
The Association of Boarding Schools profile