Frequently Asked Questions

Parents choose private schools over public schools to access smaller class sizes, specialized curricula, and more opportunities for unique extracurriculars . Private institutions often foster a strong sense of community, maintain strict disciplinary standards, and provide tailored support to help students succeed in competitive college admission. In addition, private school students’ participation in community service projects is significantly higher than their public school counterparts, fostering character development outside their course of study. 

In addition to maintaining high academic standards and a student-teacher ratio of 9-to-1, ESK believes in educating the whole child through instruction in religion, character, and community service. We take pride in a warm, family-centered environment that provides students with the emotional security necessary to achieve their full potential as students and as citizens.

The Board of Trustees sets the Episcopal School of Knoxville’s tuition on a competitive scale. ESK receives no funding from the Episcopal Church or the State of Tennessee. We seek grants from numerous sources, as well as donations to offset the cost of educating students. We also offer tailored tuition on a sliding scale to make the ESK experience more accessible to families.

As a Junior Kindergarten through eighth grade institution, everything is tailored to the unique developmental needs of early childhood, elementary, and middle school students, from curriculum to the structure of school life.  We have carefully crafted the ESK experience to inspire a love of learning and provide support specifically for this foundational time in students’ lives.

At age 14, students are ready to explore new social situations and take on different roles and responsibilities in new environments. ESK kids really know who they are when they leave us, and they go on to be leaders in various high schools. Our alumni are student government presidents, academic stars, talented musicians, and athletes at Webb, Catholic, West High’s IB program, and Bearden, as well as numerous boarding schools across the country. We believe it’s our foundation that launches them.

And, finally, it’s tough to know where your child will go to high school when they start Kindergarten! Children change and life circumstances do, too. From the time students enter middle school at ESK, we are helping them think about this important choice. We offer extensive high school counseling, guidance, and placement services to ensure that all students go where they want and where they will be most successful. We believe this to be an added value of the ESK experience.

Although Junior K-8 education is what we do, we are always thinking about the needs of our community, today and in the future. The administration and Board of Trustees are always monitoring the demand for a high school among our families and in the Knoxville area. Any decision regarding a possible high school addition will be thoughtfully and carefully considered to ensure continuity of quality to our existing program.

We know that families worry about the competitive nature of high school admissions in the area, specifically at Webb and West High’s IB Program. Rest assured that qualified ESK students who choose these schools have no trouble getting in and thriving once admitted. It is not necessary to make the switch in middle school to ensure entry into these programs in the ninth grade.

To date, all of our graduating eighth-graders have been accepted into their school of choice. These schools range from local private and public schools to area boarding schools such as McCallie, Baylor, Chatham Hall, Woodberry Forest, and the Asheville School.

No, because we believe our youth is an advantage! We came on the independent school scene just as multiple revolutions were taking place in education across the nation: new ways of teaching, new focus on technology, and new emphasis on collaborative learning and academic extension, among others. Our youth and our small size have allowed us to be nimble and flexible, and to build these innovations into our core curriculum without having to unwind older ways of doing things.

We currently boast leadership in multiple areas. We are the only private STEMspark school in the area; the only PreK-4 with full-time classroom assistants; the only Farm-to-Table program; the only school with structured guidance classes and the Tribes Agreements.  We can truthfully say that we have always been, and continue to be, on the cutting edge of important trends in education. And, already, our graduates are distinguishing themselves in high school, college, and careers.

ESK is a private, independent school and a member of the National Association of Independent Schools. This means that we are independent of any church or state institution in funding, admissions, and curriculum. Without receiving any financial support from the Episcopal Church, ESK is a member of the National Association of Episcopal Schools and affiliated with a time-tested Episcopal school model that has served students for hundreds of years across the globe.

The ESK Admission process, including campus tours, can be scheduled with our Director of Admission, Heidi Offel  at (865) 777-4212 or at hoffel@esknoxville.org.

Admission tours are designed to give prospective families an overview of the Episcopal School’s facilities, curriculum and philosophy, as well as provide an introduction to the faculty and staff.

Upon receipt of the application, our admission office will reach out to you to schedule your tour, followed by your child’s assessment and classroom observation time.

The application fee for our Junior Kindergarten program is $50; the K-8 application fee is $85. Both fees are due at the time of application, and cover administration and evaluation costs.

Admission decisions are made on a rolling basis for grades with current availability. We strongly recommend beginning the process prior to March, as we start extending offers to completed applications at that time. Click HERE to apply online.

Admission decision notifications will be sent on or around March 1. After this date, decisions are shared on a rolling basis once the application, assessments, and observations are complete.

Upon receipt of the contract, you will receive a digital Student Handbook via email including the school’s uniform policy, as well as information about the Parents’ Association, upcoming school events, and all pertinent information for our students' success. 

All children are required to be fully toilet trained before entrance to Jr. Kindergarten and Kindergarten.  While all teachers of young children routinely remind the children to use the bathroom, children are ultimately responsible for identifying the need to go and taking care of this task independently.  “Pull-ups” are not allowed during any part of the school day.

ESK uses a Tailored Tuition approach which means families will submit a confidential financial profile to a third party company to receive an affordability score that places them on a sliding tuition scale.

New families can apply for assistances beginning Jan. 1. Funds are limited so you are encouraged to apply early.

A new application is required annually. Changes in your financial status may affect the size of your reward.

Tailored Tuition recipients are expected to remain in good financial standing with the school.

Families will be notified on a rolling basis.

Please contact the Business Office to discuss your family’s needs after submitting the Tailored Tuition Application.

Yes, the application for Tailored Tuition is $40.

Any family may apply for Tailored Tuition. Applying for Tailored Tuition does not affect your child’s admissions decision. Prospective families may apply for Tailored Tuition after they have applied for admission.