Hamilton County Schools

Future Ready Institutes, sometimes referred to as FRIs, are just one of the options of School Choice provided by Hamilton County Schools. Future Ready Institutes are small learning communities within schools that offer programs of study in a variety of career clusters such as Advanced Manufacturing; Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources; Architecture & Construction; Arts, Audio/Visual Technology & Communications; Business Management & Administration; Education & Training; Health Science; Hospitality & Tourism; Information Technology; JROTC; Law, Public Safety, Correction, & Security; Marketing, Distribution & Logistics; STEM; and Transportation.

Admissions – How do I apply?

Families interested in HCS Future Ready Institutes must fill out an application through the School Choice Office. The application is here.

Application, Selection, and Admissions Processes for Future Ready Institutes

• Admission to Choice Schools/programs is on a space-available basis through the application. The application period runs annually from mid-November through January 31. Seats will be first filled by those applications received during the official application period. Applications may be filled out online at www.hcde.org/choosehamilton
  
  
• Future Ready Institute seats are not available to Out of County or Out of State families unless there is no waitlist in the grade level and program desired. Families residing outside the district who choose to attend an HCS school are required to pay tuition (set by the school board annually). There could be additional expenses depending on each family's situation.
  
  
• In the event there are more applicants than available seats, a lottery will be used to assign students a seat number according to their choice(s) indicated on their application. Any further openings are filled first from the waitlist. Waitlists expire on the first day of school of each school year and are not carried over to future years.
  
  
• If there is space available, children of full-time staff members may attend the choice school where their parent/guardian works full-time, but a choice school application must be completed.
  
  
• Incomplete applications will not be processed. Falsifying any information on the choice lottery application automatically disqualifies the application. Duplicate applications will be voided.
  
  
• Placement to any choice school is not confirmed until the parents/guardians accept the offered seat within 7 business days of the offer.

• Once admitted to the desired choice school, the student must remain at the school for the entire school year unless a Zero Tolerance offense occurs. Any other requests for a transfer during the school year must be approved by the Chief of Opportunity & Access or their designee.

Sibling Preference for Future Ready Institutes

There is no sibling preference for Future Ready Institutes.

Deferring the Future Ready Institute offer

Families may not defer their offer to a Future Ready Institute. A family must either accept or decline the offer.

Student Status for Choice Lottery

• After enrolling at a Future Ready Institute, the Future Ready Institute student is not eligible to transfer to his/her zone school until the following school year. They may apply to a choice school when the next application period opens for the following school year. The Office of School Choice may make exceptions to this policy. All students who attend the first day of school are expected to remain in the choice school for the entire school year.
  
  
• The student also must have good attendance (see Exit Policy for attendance) by the end of the school year and follow the Hamilton County Department of Education Code of Acceptable Behavior and Discipline Policy.
  
  
• Student athletes who transfer from a zone or any School Choice option to another zone or magnet school, Open Enrollment school, or Future Ready Institute fall under the TSSAA and TMSSA transfer guidelines.
  
  
• Hardships to a school that offers Future Ready Institute seats are less likely to be considered. Families should always apply through School Choice Application if available.
  
  
• A Future Ready Student must progress academically within the Institute they are enrolled and qualify to remain in the cohort they entered with. Not qualifying to remain in the cohort will require the student to return to their zoned school and may reapply for School Choice options after one year.