Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts opened its doors in 1991 in the former Elbert Long Elementary School on East Brainerd Road. It was created in response to the overwhelming success of Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences which operates downtown on East 3rd St. The then Chattanooga City School System thought that this side of the county could also benefit from the type of school that CSAS was.
Now thirty-two years later, CSLA is a thriving and diverse community on a brand new campus with students enrolled from all nine Hamilton County School Districts. Our kids come from a various backgrounds of race, culture, socio-economic status, family structure and religion. They walk the halls together to create a beautiful tapestry reflective of our Chattanooga community. Every day our students say the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag and follow it by reciting our Code of Conduct which guides our student, staff and parent behavior and expectations.
I will respect myself and others.
I will be responsible for my actions.
I will treat people the way I want to be treated.
Our students participate in learning-rich field studies throughout the year and tie their experiences into the curriculum and Tennessee state standards. Second graders may visit local artisans at Dollywood as they learn about economics and natural resources. Fifth graders take a trip to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC to reinforce their understanding of the Industrial Revolution and the men and women who led the way. Fourth grade visits Cherokee, NC to see first-hand the Native American struggle and culture. We believe that learning outside the classroom helps a child's understanding of a subject grow exponentially.
Every child benefits from Foreign Language as part of their core curriculum, Music is incorporated into each student's schedule and PE, Technology and Art are also rotations that allow students to find their gifting, explore new ideas and stretch their realm of knowledge. Middle and high school students can take Strings or Band.
Clubs such as Archery, Garden Club, FCA, Sonshine Club and Drama give kids the opportunity to create friendships and delve deeper into their interests. Competitive robotics teams such as FLL Robotics, VEX-IQ and VRC are also available. We offer Middle School sports for Cross Country & Track, Softball & Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, Golf and Tennis. CSLA has an amazing partnership with Brown Middle School and Central High School for our students wishing to play football or wrestling.
The intentional conversations between teacher and student, the parent participation, the commitment to learning by the faculty and staff and the belief that every child has amazing potential are just a few of the aspects that make CSLA a special place to learn and grow. We work hard every day to support, encourage and teach our students to be the best people, the best learners and the best citizens they can be!