Hamilton County Schools has choices and options for parents and children to fit the interests and career aspirations of any child in the Tennessee Valley. The school choice application window is now open for parents to apply for their children to attend a choice option school in Hamilton County Schools for the fall of 2020. Parents can choose from 15 magnet schools, eight open enrollment schools, five early college option programs, or more than 28 Future Ready Institutes in Hamilton County high schools.
How to Apply
The application is available on the School Choice web page at
www.hcde.org/choosehamilton
The online application is available in English and Spanish. There is only one application this year to simplify the process. The admissions timeline is also uniform for all choice options to make the process easier for parents. Schools with more applicants than space available will participate in a lottery to select students for the slots. All applications completed during the application window are weighted equally in the choice lottery scheduled for February 10, 2020. Applicants may list up to three schools or programs as the first choice in the application. Applicants are not required to apply for more than one choice option.
Parents of current students enrolled in Hamilton County Schools interested in applying for a school choice option can apply through the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Applying in this manner will reduce the amount of information a parent will need to complete because much of it is already in the system. Parents using the PowerSchool Portal can use their regular login. Once in the portal, parents will find the option for the school choice application on the left side menu bar.
Notification of acceptance into a choice school will be sent to parents by February 15, 2020. Students securing a spot in a choice school will need to attend an event at the school before the end of March. Dates and times for the events will be sent to the parents of students selected to attend the each school or program.
Magnet Schools
Magnet schools available for 2020-2021 include Barger Academy of Fine Arts, Battle Academy, Brown Academy, Donaldson Environmental Science Academy, Chattanooga High Center for Creative Arts (CCA), Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Lower (CSAS), Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences Upper (CSAS), Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts (CSLA), East Lake Academy, Lakeside Academy, Normal Park Museum Magnet Lower, Normal Park Museum Magnet Upper, STEM School Chattanooga, Tyner Middle Academy and Tyner High Academy.
Open Enrollment Schools
Open enrollment schools include Dalewood Middle, Howard Connect Academy (grades 6-7), Lookout Valley Middle/High, Red Bank Middle, Rivermont Elementary, Sequoyah High, Soddy Daisy Middle, Woodmore Elementary.
Early College Options
Early college options include the Graduation Success Program, Hamilton County Collegiate High School, Hamilton County Virtual School, Mechatronics Akademie at Volkswagen, and Polytech Academy.
Future Ready Institutes
The application for this year also covers the wide range of Future Ready Institutes available in the district’s high schools. Eighth-grade students preparing to enter high school will have the opportunity to apply to the Future Ready Institutes. If a young person has interests from engineering to aviation, a program option is available in a Future Ready Institute. The program has been recognized locally and nationally as a break-through program to prepare students for success after graduation.
Medical programs are available at the Erlanger Institute of Healthcare and Innovation at The Howard School, the Institute of Health Sciences at Tyner Academy, and the Institute of Health Careers and Medical Advancement at Hixson High.
Engineering programs are available at the Institute of Architecture and Engineering Design at Central High, the Institute of Innovation Engineering at East Hamilton Middle/High, the Institute of Engineering and Design at East Ridge High, Institute of Architecture and Engineering Design at Ooltewah High, and the Institute of Construction, Engineering and Design at Sale Creek High.
Business programs are available at the Institute of Entrepreneurship at Brainerd High, the Bryan College Institute of Leadership, Business, and Marketing at East Hamilton Middle/High, the Institute of Leadership at East Ridge High, the Institute of Business Leaders and Owners at Hixson High, and the See Rock City Inc. Institute of Hospitality and Tourism Management at The Howard School.
Manufacturing and industry programs are available at the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics at Central High, the Institute of Robotics and Welding at The Howard School, Institute of Automotive Maintenance and Manufacturing at Lookout Valley Middle/High, Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics at Ooltewah High, and the Institute of Industrial Manufacturing at Sequoyah High.
Teens interested in technology will find programs at the Institute of Technology and Multimedia at Lookout Valley Middle/High, the BlueCross Technology Academies located at Red Bank High and Soddy Daisy High, and the EPB Institute of Technology and Networking at Tyner Academy.
Other opportunities include the UTC Institute of Teaching and Learning at Tyner Academy, Institute of Architecture and Construction at The Howard School, Institute of Law, First Responders, and Forensic Science at Brainerd High, Institute of Integrative Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Hixson High, Institute of Building Construction at East Ridge High, Institute of Aviation at Brainerd High, and UTC Institutes of International Baccalaureate Studies are available at Ooltewah High and Signal Mountain Middle/High.