Hamilton County Schools

Hamilton County Schools has enjoyed historic success in the past year for academic growth and academic performance. The district had a district record 32 schools earn Reward status from the Tennessee Department of Education. Alpine Crest Elementary in the Rock Point Learning Community is one of those schools, and they held a special assembly program today to unveil their new banner from the state. Reward schools are those improving overall student academic achievement and student growth for all students and student groups. Reward designation is the highest honor for academic achievement in Tennessee. Alpine Crest Elementary Principal Kelley Weiss announces the honor as students hold the new Reward School banner.

Today’s academic success spotlight shines on Westview Elementary in the Missionary Ridge Learning Community for earning Level 5 school status. Hamilton County Schools is honoring the 45 schools in the district that earned Level 5, the highest level of student growth, with a special “championship” recognition banner. Dr. Larrie Reynolds, executive director of the Missionary Ridge Learning Community presented the banner to the students and staff at Westview Elementary.

The Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences, and Christy Varnell, a teacher at Hixson High School, were honored as part of the 12th Annual Best of the Best Awards for 2019 announced by the Chattanooga Times Free Press. The publication recognized the two at the annual awards banquet where Best of the Best finalists gathered. The Times Free Press also recognized the finalists and winners in a special section in the October 4 issue of the paper.

Today’s academic success spotlight shines on Soddy Elementary in the North River Learning Community for earning Level 5 school status. Hamilton County Schools is honoring the 45 schools in the district that earned Level 5, the highest level of student growth, with a special “championship” recognition banner. Dr. Neelie Parker, executive director of the North River Learning Community presented the banner to the students and staff at Soddy Elementary.

Today, the “I am Hamilton” video feature spotlights Colleen Ryan, a Rivermont Elementary kindergarten teacher and the 2019 Toyota Teacher of the Year. Ryan not only works with her children in the classroom, but she takes learning on the road in her bus called “The Passage.”

Hamilton County Schools and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC) have teamed to bring ACT prep to students in the district’s high schools. The two started the partnership to address the goal of attaining a district average ACT composite score of 21 in the Future Ready 2023 Action Plan. The program is held at five high schools in the district, but slots are open in the ACT prep program for high school students across the county. The sessions are held after school hours on Saturdays. The programs started at Tyner Academy in the fall of 2018 but have expanded to Brainerd High, The Howard School, Red Bank High, and Central High this year. Hamilton County Schools funds the sessions at Red Bank High and Central High with slots open to students from other high schools in the district.

Clifton Hills Elementary and The Howard School are 2019-2020 Bronze-level RTI2-B (Response to Instruction and Intervention for Behavior) Model of Demonstration Schools selected by the Tennessee Behavior Supports Project (TBSP) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. The Tennessee Department of Education funds the TBSP program. There are over 1,800 schools across the state, and each year a small percentage of schools meet criteria to be selected as an RTI2-B Model of Demonstration School.

Hamilton County Schools has selected Lorie Collier to be the new principal at Calvin Donaldson Environmental Science Academy. Collier joins Hamilton County Schools from Knox County Schools and brings six years of administrative experience to Calvin Donaldson.

Today’s academic success spotlight shines on Middle Valley Elementary in the North River Learning Community for earning Level 5 school status. Hamilton County Schools is honoring the 45 schools in the district that earned Level 5, the highest level of student growth, with a special “championship” recognition banner. Joe Smith, District 3 representative on the Hamilton County Board of Education presented the banner to the students and staff at Middle Valley Elementary.

Today’s academic success spotlight shines on McConnell Elementary in the North River Learning Community for earning Level 5 school status. Hamilton County Schools is honoring the 45 schools in the district that earned Level 5, the highest level of student growth, with a special “championship” recognition banner. Joe Smith, District 3 representative on the Hamilton County Board of Education, presented the banner to the students and staff at McConnell Elementary.

Sasha Hitachi, a junior at Hamilton County Collegiate High at Chattanooga State, spent the summer traveling and performing with the National Youth Orchestra at some of the most prestigious venues in the country, including Carnegie Hall in New York and the New World Symphony Center in Miami.

Today’s academic success spotlight shines on Rivermont Elementary in the Rock Point Learning Community for earning Level 5 school status. Hamilton County Schools is honoring the 45 schools in the district that earned Level 5, the highest level of student growth, with a special “championship” recognition banner.