Hamilton County Schools

Hamilton County announced historic progress in academic achievement today with the release of local district student growth data. Hamilton County Schools recorded a record Level 5 status in student academic growth in all five categories. The district scored an overall Level 1 just two years ago, Level 3 overall last year, and jumped to Level 5 across the board for student academic growth in 2019 state testing results. The district also earned a record number of Reward schools in 2019. Thirty-two schools earned Reward School status, which is up from 17 last year.

Hamilton County Schools made history yesterday with the release of district growth data showing the district at an overall Level 5, Level 5 in the district for all five categories, Level 5 status for 45 schools, 21 of those schools with Level 5 in all categories, and 32 Reward schools. The statewide achievement results for TNReady released by Commissioner Penny Schwinn today provides even more good news regarding student achievement in Hamilton County Schools. The district outperformed the state in five of eight-grade band subject areas where no accountability areas were above the state last year. The district ranks first out of 142 districts in student growth index in grades 3-5 and second out of 146 districts in overall student growth.

Dr. Bryan Johnson, superintendent of Hamilton County Schools, has been named an Austin Peay State University 2019 Alumni Award winner. During the Austin Peay Homecoming celebration this November, Dr. Johnson will be among six alumni of the school honored. Johnson will receive an Outstanding Young Alumni Award.

Upon returning from summer break, second-year students of the EPB Institute of Technology and Networking at Tyner Academy High School discovered their old classroom had been completely refurbished and equipped as a high-tech learning laboratory. This transformation resulted from the continuing partnership between Hamilton County Schools and EPB, which also engaged several other local businesses in the effort. The project marks the beginning of the second year EPB has been working with students and educators at Tyner as part of Hamilton County School’s Future Ready Institute program.

Hamilton County Schools is rewinding successes of the past year as we prepare for the announcement of historic progress in our school district this Wednesday with the release of state student achievement data. The exciting progress of the district in the fine arts last year earned national attention and honors. Last October, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts announced Chattanooga-Hamilton County, Tennessee, as the 26th site in the country for Ensuring the Arts for Any Given Child and later in the year the district was honored as a NAMM Foundation 2019 Best Community for Music Education.

One of the anticipated services of the selection of First Student to provide bus service for Hamilton County Schools was access to the Parent App called FirstView that will allow parents to track buses on their routes. The app is available for download now, and it will be active for parent use by October.

Hamilton County Schools has won four awards for communications from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) in the organization’s 2019 Awards and Recognition program. The district won awards for the district's website, a video about Hixson High winning the Vans Custom Culture contest, Hamilton County Schools 2019 district animated budget video, and the “I Am Hamilton” recognition program.

We are celebrating successes of the past year as Hamilton County Schools prepares for the announcement of historic progress in our school district next Wednesday with the release of the Tennessee Value-added Assessment System (TVAAS) information. One success story is the number of certifications earned by high school students in Hamilton County Schools during the 2018-2019 school year. The number of students earning an industry certification more than tripled from last school year with 224 earned this year by high school students. Industry certifications allow graduates to leave high school with a certification for a job skill in the career field of choice for a graduating senior.

We are celebrating successes of the past year as Hamilton County Schools prepares for the announcement of historic progress in our school district next Wednesday with the release of the student achievement data from the state. One success story is Kristen Robertson, a teacher at Signal Mountain Middle/High, selected to be in the finals for the Tennessee Teacher of the Year. Robertson is a finalist from the Southeast region and one of nine finalists.

Summer break is over, and it is time to head back to school tomorrow to see friends and renew the learning journey to prepare children for success in life after high school. The back to school season is a time of excitement with new learning opportunities for children and possibilities for tomorrow. Just as children get excited about a new school year, administrators and teachers are enthusiastic about plans that will mean improved schools for children.

Last year, Hamilton County Schools saw tremendous increases in scholarships offered to seniors, early college option courses such as Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) taken by students, and more students earning an industry certification.

Saturday, we will help get everyone ready for the start of the 2019-2020 school year with the second annual Back to School Bash from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at First Tennessee Pavilion and Finley Stadium. This event will help you and your children get ready for the first day of school on Wednesday, August 7.