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Hamilton County Schools
Developing our diverse graduates to be connected, competitive, and life ready.
Where all children
thrive and experience a future without limits.
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Opportunity by Design
The mission of HCS is to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and support to THRIVE in life. While we know this mission starts with a primary focus on academics, we also understand from listening to our community that a student must possess qualities beyond academics to excel in the real world. We strive to create graduates who embody our "Portrait of a Graduate" with skills rooted in academics, problem-solving, effective communication, cultural inclusivity, and resiliency.
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Yesterday, our Board of Education participated in their Fall Board Retreat. With all sitting members present, they discussed what our district's values of integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, care, collaboration, and stewardship mean to them individually and as a group. Then they discussed ways that they can use these values to guide their decision-making. This retreat together each year is incredibly important for relationship building and fostering a team-oriented mindset. We appreciate each of them for taking time to participate and engage in such a thoughtful way!
Celebrating #PrincipalsAppreciationMonth with Principal Andrea Short of Ooltewah Middle School! 💙For Principal Short, leading a middle school is all about knowing your students, building trust and creating a place where kids know they have someone in their corner. From morning cafeteria duty to celebrating the many cultures represented at Ooltewah Middle, she makes time to connect with students beyond the classroom.“I try to get to know the kids outside of academia,” Short says. “I try to get to know my staff outside of their job description.”After 23 years in education, Short says the greatest joy of the job is still the same: “My greatest joy, of course, are the kids. Good or bad and different. It’s kids. They bring joy.”Read more about Principal Short, her journey into education and the people who make Ooltewah Middle special: hcde.org/principal-appreciation-month-andrea-short/
October is National Bullying Awareness Month and our commitment to raising awareness, strengthening prevention efforts and informing effective intervention to support the overall well-being and success of every student continues all throughout the year. Join us for an interactive workshop open to all HCS families and students on Tuesday, November 17th at CSLA from 5:30-7:00 pm.
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You're invited to the FREE Choral Festival concert tonight!Throughout the day, students have been learning and rehearsing music in preparation for tonight’s special performance, featuring individual high school choirs and a combined choir led by guest clinician Dr. Morgan Luttig from the University of Alabama.Red Bank Baptist Church 📍 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. 🕕 Free and open to the public! 🎟️Come celebrate these dedicated students and their incredible voices!
Hamilton County Schools is more than a workplace. It’s a community where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to make a difference every day!For Ashley Smithey of McConnell Elementary, that sense of community is one of the reasons she continues to choose HCS.Hear Ashley share what makes her experience so meaningful and why she chooses to stay! 🎥
Fall Break was full of fun and creativity 🍂🍁While school was out, students participating in Hamilton County Schools’ School Age Child Care (SACC) program stayed active and enjoyed quality time with friends!We’re grateful for the dedicated SACC staff who help make every holiday break a meaningful experience for our students!
Recent Awards and Recognitions
Hamilton County Schools earned an NSPRA Award of Merit through the National School Public Relations Association’s (NSPRA) 2026 Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards. The honor recognizes excellence in school communications and marketing and places HCS among education organizations from across the United States, Canada, and Department of Defense Education Activity schools worldwide.
