Applications are open for Future Ready Institutes, open enrollment schools, and early college options for 2019-20
Posted on 02/01/2019
Future Ready Inst.

Applications are now open forFuture Ready Institutes, open enrollment schools, and early college options for the 2019-2020 school year for Hamilton County Schools. Applications will remain open for these options through March 15.

Every student has different interests, hopes, and dreams and must have access to opportunities that best open doors to exciting pathways to possibilities for their future. Hamilton County Schools provides educational opportunities in local communities and beyond neighborhood zoned schools to ignite the passion for learning in each child.

For the 2019-2020 school year, Hamilton County Schools is opening enrollment to a select group of schools, “My Future School,” to which students across the district will be eligible to apply. Opening enrollment to these schools will provide students with a diverse range of options outside of their neighborhood zoned school. These schools will be in addition to the 15 magnet schools that were previously open to all students.

The open enrollment schools are:

  • Dalewood Middle School
  • Howard Connect Academy (Howard Middle School), which will be new for the fall
  • Lookout Valley Middle/High
  • Red Bank Middle
  • Rivermont Elementary
  • Soddy Daisy Middle
  • Woodmore Elementary.

Future Ready Institutes will begin their second year of operation in the fall as the current students will move up to become the sophomore class at each school while current eighth-graders have the opportunity to apply for the new freshman class. Future Ready Institutes provide students with a unique learning environment that tailors their education to career-themed subjects. Each institute has its unique curriculum with career teachers working hand-in-hand with academic subject teachers to make learning meaningful for each participant. Students also have opportunities for college credits and industry-based certifications. The goal of Future Ready Institutes is to help high school students jump-start their college education, collaborate with local business professionals and work toward a future career.

There were 20 Future Ready Institutes in 13 high schools in Hamilton County Schools this first year. The program found immediate success with one-third of this year’s freshman class enrolled in a Future Ready Institute. Five organizations joined the program as “branded partners” with Unum providing support for teacher professional development and externships. Bryan College, Erlanger, EPB, and UTC added their name to four of the individual institutes and provide expertise and resources in business and marketing, healthcare and innovation, technology and networking, and teaching and learning.

In total, over 50 organizations, businesses, college programs, and nonprofits serve on advisory boards to provide real-world expertise to the programs. The Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce also worked with Future Ready Institutes to develop four industry councils to advise the work of the institutes.

The Future Ready Institutes were so successful in the first year that the program was awarded the Community Impact Award by the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga.

Six new institutes will join the line-up for the 2019-2020 school year:

  • Institute of Entrepreneurship opening at Brainerd High
  • Institute of Leadership at East Ridge High School,
  • Institute of Robotics and Welding at The Howard School
  • Institute of Architecture and Construction at The Howard School
  • Institute of Automotive Maintenance and Manufacturing at Lookout Valley Middle/High
  • Institute of Health Sciences at Tyner Academy.

“The new Institute of Leadership at East Ridge High will partner with the JROTC program to focus on principles of leadership as well as opportunities for students interested in entering the armed forces or emergency medical services fields,” said Blake Freeman, director of Future Ready Institutes. “Additional partnerships are being added as the program grows and we welcome the participation of the business community.”

For the complete list of Future Ready Institutes, visit the Hamilton County Schools website.

The early college options include:

  • Hamilton County Collegiate High School at Chattanooga State
  • Mechatronics Akademie at Volkswagen
  • Polytech Academy

For application information regarding early college options. Contact Hamilton County Collegiate High School at Chattanooga State online or by phone at 423-697-4492.

All of these My Future School options will participate in an information night at Unum located at 500 Walnut Street on Tuesday, February 19 from 5 to 7 p.m.

More information is available at:

My Future School.

Applications for Future Ready Institutes

Applications for Open Enrollment Schools