Future Ready Students

Future Ready Pathways are four-year programs of study in a field or career path. Pathways prepare students for the workforce through one course per year in High School. Pathways provide students with leadership opportunities, work-based learning opportunities, and opportunities to earn an industry certification that they can take with them after high school, whether they choose to enter directly into the workforce or attend a college or technical school, or enroll in an apprenticeship. 

For more information about Future Ready Pathways and to see what pathways are available at every high school, visit the Future Ready Pathways Guide.

Hamilton County Schools has several Branded Pathways, or four-year programs that are sponsored by local organizations. These pathways are:

• CHI Memorial Healthcare and Health Careers Pathway at Hixson High School
• Coca-Cola Business Pathway at Hixson High School
• Novonix Advanced Battery Technology Pathway at Lookout Valley Middle High School

Future Ready Institutes, offered in 10 high schools and two Future Ready Centers, elevate a high school’s Program of Study to create a school-within-a-school model that takes a high-quality Career and Technical Education Program of Study and adds the aspects of: 

• Small learning communities
• Interdisciplinary Project-based Learning
•  Learning experiences outside the school building
•  Leadership opportunities 
•  Elevated support for Work-based Learning and Youth Apprenticeship experience 

Volkswagen eLabs provide Hamilton County students access to state-of-the-art digital fabrication labs that transform learning and empower students to “make almost anything.”

VW eLabs offer hands-on experiences with emerging technologies, including renewable energy, robotics, and 3D printing. Students also develop essential skills like problem solving and communication. 

VW eLabs are available to students starting in kindergarten. For more information about VW eLabs, visit https://www.vwelab.org/.

View our schools with VW eLabs here. 

• Commit to work together for at least one school year with an option to renew annually
• Businesses should identify a partnership coordinator to serve as the chief contact for the school
• Participate in goal planning sessions with the school’s Institute school leadership and/or Institute Advisory Board to determine how best to work together with the school and with other business partners
• Support the goals of the Institute/s for a minimum of two opportunities within a one-year period
• Provide expertise and available resources from business in support of the student/teacher experience within the Institutes, including industry specific problems of practice
• Track and report the time the business organization spends on the partnership through district designee
• Provide available experiential learning opportunities related to industry for institute participants (job shadowing, externships, field trips, etc.)
• Ongoing communication with the school and district for areas of opportunity and improvement

Partners and school institute activities will vary with the institute career focus as well as resources of the partner. While working with a school, partners can expect that schools may reach out for support with one or more of the following interactions:

• Guest Speakers – Bring real-world application to the classroom on a one-time or recurring basis.
• Career Mentors – Meet regularly over the course of the year with a group of students, helping them explore and learn about career fields.
• Curriculum Advice – Recommend Industry Certifications and help edit curriculum to meet industry standards.
• Field Trips – Promote career fields and allow students to see industry up close in ½ day or full day tours.
• Teacher Externship – Help teachers stay current and learn practical applications for what they teach. Host a team of educators in your business.
• Loaned Classroom Instructor —Teach an industry or technical course for high school students.
• Job Shadowing – Allow students to complete a job shadowing day in your business. Your employees possess a wealth of knowledge to share with future employees.
• Student Internship – Select students will participate in a summer internship within a related business or industry. Internships may be paid or unpaid.
• Advisory Board – Meet a minimum of two times a year with other institute partners to provide industry guidance to the program.

• Provide resources and expertise towards real-world, hands-on academic and industry alignment
• Improve student knowledge, exposure, access and planning for careers and college matriculation in a specific and/ or multiple career fields.
• Provide soft skills and professional learning opportunities
• Promote opportunities for students to transition into pathways for high-wage and high-demand careers
• Support school-level institute goals to improve graduation rates, boost attendance, decrease discipline and improve academic achievement
• Provide opportunities for students to acquire portable Industry Recognized Credentials and Early Post-Secondary Opportunities (EPSO’s) through mentorships and training
• Build relationships between students and positive adult role models
• Support positive outcomes for post-secondary success, including further education

Dr. Olivia Bagby

Director, Office of Future Ready Students 

423-498-7129

Glenn Perry 

Coordinator, Work-based Learning & Youth Apprenticeship