About Us

Welcome to Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences!

What sets CSAS apart from other schools? Well our Paideia Philosophy for one, but if you look at what we have done best for over 30 years is graduating our students at a very high level, getting them into college, keeping them in college and continuing on to even higher education.

ADMISSIONS - GRADE K-12

These applications are available in the CSAS admissions office. Date, time and year of receipt of application determine placement in the applicant pool for all grades. Following the placement of children of full-time CSAS faculty and staff members, those in the applicant pool are admitted for enrollment on a space available basis at the beginning of each school year. This includes applicants who qualify for sibling preference. Applications from students residing in Hamilton County have priority over out-of-county or out-of-state applicants.

Families who have not fulfilled their volunteer commitment in any of the Hamilton County magnet schools will not be eligible for enrollment at CSAS. Sibling admission is dependent upon satisfactory completion of the parent involvement commitment. Sibling preference is honored if an older sibling is enrolled and in good standing for the upcoming school year. Siblings of graduating seniors do not qualify for sibling preference. CSAS admits students on a first-come, first-served basis.

Location: 65 E. 3rd St., Chattanooga, TN 37403

Telephone: 423-498-6845 | 423-209-5831 or 423-209-5817

School Hours: M-F: 8am – 3pm

ELIGIBILITY FOR ADMISSION

Any resident of Hamilton County whose child will be entering kindergarten (must be five years old on or before Agust 15th) is eligible to submit an application. CSAS serves grades K-12. Students interested in applying for grades 9-11 at CSAS must contact the admissions office or one of the guidance counselors to discuss graduation requirements. Students applying for 10th and 11th grades must also supply an official transcript showing that they have sufficient credits to permit admission to the grade for which an application has been submitted. Applications for grades 1-11 will be accepted on a first-come, first served basis and are available year-round in the main office of the school. Applicants will be added to the existing applicant pool for the grade to which they apply, sequenced by the date and time of application.

TUITION & TRANSPORTATION

CSAS is a public school. While there is no tuition for students living in Hamilton County, there is an activity fee which covers materials unique to the program, such as science laboratory logs, supplemental educational materials, mailing costs for parent newsletters, conferences, appointment letters, etc. Each year fees are set and approved by the Hamilton County Board of Education. Tuition is charged in accordance with school board policy. Students who live outside Hamilton County pay a tuition fee. Current tuition charges can be obtained by calling (423)209-8680. Bus transportation is available for students from a number of central locations. It will be necessary for parents to make arrangements to drop off or pick up students at those locations.

CRITERIA

We consider the following criteria in the student admission process:

  • The willingness of parents/guardians to actively participate in the educational experience of their children by completing at least eighteen hours of volunteer time per year. Parental involvement is key in helping insure the child(ren)’s academic and behavioral success. Parents of all students must also attend two parent/teacher conferences per year. Parents with scheduling conflicts must make arrangements to make up the conference within two weeks of the original conference date.
  • The commitment of the student to undertake the demands of the curriculum to the best of his/her potential.

ADMISSION PROCESS

  • Applications for grades 1-11 are available throughout the year in the main CSAS office.
  • After an application has been processed, the admissions office will contact the applicant’s family to set up a required admissions conference. Admissions conferences in grades with particularly long applicant pools may not be held in the same year in which the application is received.
  • Siblings applying to grades other than kindergarten or applicants who have become siblings will receive sibling preference by being placed at the top of the list by date and time of application for the year that they apply (or applied). We do not and have never put siblings ahead of applicants who applied prior to them.
  • Transfers will not be allowed between magnet schools. Once a parent has confirmed acceptance at a magnet school, the decision is final. After accepting placement and reporting to the school, students will be expected to continue in their chosen magnet school through the end of the current school year. Students may apply to another magnet school for the following year if they so choose.
  • If a student is unable to progress to the grade level for which he/she was accepted, he/she will have to attend his/her zone school and an eligible student will be selected to fill the slot. The application will be adjusted to the correct grade level waiting list according to the date received.

Volunteer Opportunities

Why should parents be involved?

Research shows that students do better at school when parents take an active role in their children’s education, and parental involvement is an important part of the educational philosophy at Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences. Each CSAS family is required to contribute at least 18 hours of parental involvement and to attend two student-led parent/teacher conferences each year. There are a variety of ways for parents to be involved at CSAS and meet the mandatory participation hours set forth in the Admissions Contract. The family involvement office communicates with regular e-mails and posts opportunities for volunteering on the bulletin board in Room 218. CSAS parents are encouraged to complete a minimum of nine hours by the end of the first semester and 95 percent of their hours before March 1. Volunteer hours cannot be recorded without a Record of Volunteer Hours form completed and signed by the faculty member for whom parents volunteer.

” Welcome to CSAS Lower School! I am so thrilled to share this part of your child’s educational journey with you. It is my hope that you will also be thrilled to be a part of this vibrant learning community. At CSAS it is our tradition, steeped in the Paideia philosophy, that parents are first teachers and essential partners in their child’s education. I like to say that you are the expert on your child, we are the experts in academics and together we make a powerful team for helping your child achieve. Of course, ours is the beginning step on a lifelong journey of learning and becoming a contributing, informed member of our society who can make a good living for oneself. Those are the basic goals of a Paideia education. The way we begin this journey is through Paideia Units of Study.

By combining “best practices” in education for math and reading instruction, we engage students in thematic units to explore the world around them. As a culmination of what has been learned across the subjects, students create a real-world demonstration that can take many forms. It might be an original play or song, a living museum, an interactive habitat, or invention prototype. You are invited to be a part of every step along this exciting journey!

I believe that school should also be a place of celebration and fun along the way. We have a family “Trunk or Treat” in October, a “Book and Cookie” reading celebration in December, Guest Speakers, Seminars for Parents, PTA events, A week-long Dr. Seuss party, School Spirit Weeks, and an awesome Field Day to end the year! Whew! Thank you for trusting us with your most precious gift. My hope is that we can give him or her the gift of loving to learn and an eagerness to join in life wherever it takes them!”

– Principal Jim Boles

Calendar

Our Upcoming Curricular Events & Activities

01

May

May PTA Meeting

 

12

May

Parent Teacher Conferences

 

14

May

Talent Show

 

22

May

Staff Appreciation Week

 

29

May

State Testing Begins

 

04

June

6th Grade Graduation

 

Our School

School Description

CSAS follows the principles of The Paideia Proposal written by Mortimer Adler, advocating the same curriculum for all students. The course study is general, not specialized; liberal, not vocational; and humanistic, not technical. Advanced placement courses are not offered; instead, Paideia-focused classes offer their own strengths for all students. The school bases its learning on three pillars of instruction: didactic, Socratic seminaring, and coaching. CSAS is one of only two K-12 schools in the country to be founded as a Paideia School and maintain its principles throughout its history.

PTA Organization

Having parental involvement is key to a child’s educational success. Our PTA is deeply involved in the cultivation of a learning environment.

School Meals Menu

Our student’s health is a top priority, so we provide a lunch menu that is nutritious and beneficial.

Academic Standards

We hold ourselves to the highest academic standards, so our students can reach their full potential.

Extracurricular Activities

With 24 extracurricular activities, from sport teams to clubs, our students benefit from a well-rounded experience that helps them develop.

Technology In the Classroom

Technology plays a vital role in our society, so we bring technology into the classroom to build the skills the future requires.

Announcement

Recent Fundraiser Event

Chattanooga TN School Sponsorship

Local Chattanooga businesses came out to support CSAS in its fundraising efforts recently. The funds raised will go toward upcoming enrichment events, laptop computers and a 3D printer.

Gold Sponsor: Greater Chattanooga REALTORS®

Silver Sponsor: First Horizon Bank

Executive Sponsor: Moses Buys Houses

Interested in learning more about upcoming partnership opportunities, please reach out to our support staff.

i

Blog

Our News & Announcements

Parent Volunteering Opportunities at CSAS

Parent Volunteering Opportunities at CSAS

Research shows that students do better at school when parents take an active role in their children's education, and parental involvement is an important part of the educational philosophy at Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences. Each CSAS family is required...

STEAM Education in Chattanooga Is Making A Difference

STEAM Education in Chattanooga Is Making A Difference

In today's economy, a STEAM education is more important than ever. That's why the Chattanooga School District is making a difference in the education of its students. With a focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), this district is...

What Is A Padeia School?

What Is A Padeia School?

A Padeia school is a type of educational institution that emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. The name Padeia comes from the Greek word for "education" or "formation." Padeia schools typically follow a three-column approach to instruction: the...

Enrolled Students

After School programs

Students to Teachers

Year Established

Get In Touch

Location: 865 E. 3rd St.,
Chattanooga, TN 37403

Telephone: 423-498-6845

School Hours: M-F: 8am – 3pm