Choose Hamilton
Future Ready Institutes
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.
(Click on the three dots beside the “Next Page” arrow to open the Pathways Guide in full screen view.)
Future Ready Institutes, offered in 11 zone high schools, 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 cohorts
- Interdisciplinary Project-based Learning
- Learning experiences outside the school building
- Leadership opportunities
- Elevated support for Work-based Learning and Youth Apprenticeship experience
Explore Our Future Ready Institutes!
- Institute of Aviation at Brainerd High
- Institute of Entrepreneurship at Brainerd High
- Institute of Law, First Responders, & Forensic Science at Brainerd High
- Institute of Supply Chain and Logistics Management at Central High
- Institute of Leadership, Business, & Marketing at East Hamilton High
- Institute of Automotive, Building Construction, and Design at East Ridge High
- Cempa Institute of Leadership and Public Health at East Ridge High
- Institute of Advanced Manufacturing & Construction at Harrison Bay Future Ready Center (Central High, Ooltewah, and East Hamilton High Schools)** Construction Pathway Welding Pathway
- Institute of Architecture & Engineering Design at Harrison Bay Future Ready Center (Central High, Ooltewah, and East Hamilton High Schools)**
- Erlanger Institute of Healthcare & Innovation at The Howard School
- See Rock City Institute of Hospitality & Tourism Management at The Howard School
- Institute of Supply Chain and Logistics Management at Ooltewah High
- BlueSky Technology Academy at Red Bank High
- Institute of Construction, Engineering, and Design at Sale Creek High
- BlueSky Technology Academy at Soddy Daisy High
- Institute of Media and Entrepreneurship (TIME3) at Soddy Daisy High
- EPB Institute of Technology & Networking at Tyner Academy
- Institute of Health Sciences at Tyner Academy
- One Chattanooga Institute of Early Care and Learning at Tyner Academy
- UTC Institute of Teaching, Leading, & Learning at Tyner Academy
** Students enrolled in these institutes will be enrolled ½ day at an off campus location.
For questions about a specific institute, please reach out directly to the school.
For all other institute related questions please reach out to:
Future Ready Institutes District Program Lead, Lisa Blakely, M.Ed.
School Choice Timeline
FAQs for Prospective Parents and Students
Application Information
School Choice applications for 2025-26 will open November 18, 2024, and close January 31, 2025.
Families interested in HCS Future Ready Institutes must fill out an application through the School Choice Office.
During application period, the application is available here.
Is the institute for college preparation only?
No. The institutes support career- and college-ready experiences. Integrated experiences within each institute will foster the critical thinking skills necessary for future success.
What benefits do students receive when joining an institute?
Students enrolling in a Future Ready Institute will have the opportunity to jumpstart their lives after high school. Institutes will provide unique learning experiences including: hands on project development, guest speakers from business and industry, job shadowing, internships, workforce certifications, college credits, and so much more.
A Future Ready Institute also incorporates the small learning community approach. Smaller learning communities allow for students to grow in their collaboration with each other as well as giving teachers the chance to build deeper, positive relationships with students while gaining a clear understanding of their needs for success.
Who can apply for an institute?
Currently In HCDE Zone: Any zoned HCDE rising ninth grade student who is scheduled to be a freshman.
Out of HCDE: Any students who currently do not live in the Hamilton County Schools zone but will be living in zone and enroll as a rising ninth grader for upcoming school year may apply with documentation stating he or she will be moving into the Hamilton County Schools zone.
If a student is currently home schooled or attending a charter, magnet or private school in Hamilton County, can he or she apply to a Future Ready Institute?
A student who is not currently enrolled in a HCDE school or enrolled in a district charter, magnet school, or private school and resides in Hamilton County may apply to an institute for the 2025-2026 school year. HCDE registration forms are required to complete registration.
How does a student apply for an institute?
Application process and information can be found in the main “School Choice” tab.
What is the application criterion for Future Ready Institutes?
The application criterion for an institute is based only on student interest and enrollment at the school offering institute.
Once a student has applied, what process is followed for selection?
The number of students accepted into an institute will be based on the school’s capacity, with at least 25% of the school institute’s enrollment designated for students living outside of a school’s zone. A lottery will be held to determine the selection of students if interest is greater than the allotted institute positions. Students and parents will be notified of their selection status soon after the application deadline. Parents will be notified by individual institute schools regarding processes for the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
If a student is not selected for the institute will he or she still have a chance to attend?
Each institute will maintain a waiting list. If other students who were selected choose not to register, the institute will contact students on the waiting list.
What is the withdrawal policy if a student changes his or her mind about attending the institute?
It is critical that a student who applies for an institute does so based on his or her interest in the college and career theme of the institute. If a student withdraws from an institute, he or she must return to his or her zoned high school. Although a student may withdraw at any point in the school year, it is important to note this could impact a student’s ability to complete a career and technical education (CTE) pathway. Parents and students should consult the school administration and guidance counselor prior to withdrawal.
If a freshman student enrolls in a new school in the middle of the 2025-2026 school year, can he or she enroll in the school’s institute?
Pending availability, a student who has transferred as a freshman in the middle of the 2025-2026 school year can be enrolled in the school’s institute.
If a student decides to withdraw from an institute, will that impact his or her ability to compete in sports?
Once a student has been accepted to an institute, he or she is now considered a member of that school. If a student withdraws from the institute, he or she must return to their zoned high school. If a student chooses to practice or play on a school sports team and then leave the institute, the student should speak with the Athletic Director about eligibility rules for transfer students before withdrawing, as he or she must follow the existing transfer or hardship policies established by the TSSAA. See the TSSAA website for further clarification.
What transportation options are available if a student chooses an institute not offered at his/her zoned school?
Limited transportation is provided to some Future Ready Institutes.
If you have questions about transportation, please contact Christina Herzog in the Routing Office at 423-498-5555.
What if a student is admitted to the institute but decides he or she no longer wants to take the institute pathway classes?
If students are attending the institute out of zone, they must be enrolled in the institute classes to remain at the school of choice. If the student, at the end of a school year, decides to enroll in classes that are not aligned with the institute pathway, he or she will be withdrawn from the institute and asked to return to his or her zoned high school.
FAQs for Potential Business Partners
What is a Future Ready Institute Partner?
A Future Ready Institute school partner consists of a business or community organization willing to support the growth and development of Hamilton County’s future talent and able to establish a formal partnership agreement with a high school institute. The overall partnership will result in collaboration of the school and partner preparing students for a successful post-secondary life. Partnership activities will vary, depending on the institute’s needs and business’s interests and available resources.
What are the expectations of an institute partner?
- 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
What can a partner expect while working with a school institute?
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 institute teachers for 2-3 days 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.
Institute Advisory Board – Meet a minimum of two times a year with other institute partners to provide industry guidance to the program.
Other Examples for Business Engagement Opportunities
- Academic fair or career club judging or sponsorship
- Career exploration fair
- Club/competition judging or sponsorship
- College planning assistance
- Donate classroom and learning materials
- Donate industry specific equipment
- Email mentoring
- Employability skills training
- Event participation
- Job search skills (resume writing, cover letters, interviewing)
- Provide equipment or supplies/materials
- Provide exit exam and ACT exam tutoring
- Provide Industry Certification training/tutoring
- Teach exploratory/enrichment class
- Incentives for student performance
- Life skills training
- Marketing assistance
- Mock interviews
- Part-time jobs for students
- Provide professional services to school
- Purchase books for library or classroom
- Scholarships
- Serve on school committees
- Share your facility for meetings, training sessions
- Student project facilitation
- Technical training
Overall HCS Goals for Business and Institute Partnerships
- 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