Hardship Transfer Request
We are here to help when things get hard
For students who meet one or more of the following application requirements, Hamilton County Schools offers the opportunity to apply for a hardship transfer which will be available May 1, 2025. The application window for consideration for the 2025-2026 school year is May 1 – May 30. Once available, please print the application, complete and attach all supporting documentation to the application. You may choose to mail the completed application to The Office of Equity at Hamilton County Schools or submit via lockbox located outside 3074 Claude Ramsey Pkwy., Chattanooga, Tennessee 37421. The lockbox will be accessible Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Upon the close of the application window, applications will be reviewed by a committee and letters will be mailed out following their decision to approve or deny the hardship transfer. If approved, transportation WILL NOT be provided by Hamilton County Schools and the student must remain enrolled in the requested school for the entire school year.
Medical
The student’s physician, psychiatrist, or physiologist should provide written documentation noting specific medical reasons (physical and/or psychological) why a student cannot be accommodated at the school to which he/she is zoned to attend.
Legal/Unforeseen Family Circumstances
The student is subject to a court order/unexpected event that would prevent student from attending the school to which he/she is zoned to attend:
- A state of misfortunes unique to the student’s life; adverse or compiling.
- Supporting legal documentation should be attached and unforeseen family circumstances must have occurred within the last school year.
- If approved, the transfer will be granted to the school closest to the student’s zoned school that has capacity to accommodate such a request.
Parent/Guardian is Full-Time HCDE Employee
If unable to submit a Choice School Application, full-time Hamilton County School employees (custodial parents or legal guardians with whom the child resides) may request their child attend the school in which they work or the school within closest proximity of their work location.
- Full-time employees may be allowed to take their child to the school or feeder school of current work assignment.
- Verification of full-time employment and location is required and will be confirmed by employee ID/email via Human Resources.
- Out-of-state/out-of-county employees may be required to pay discounted tuition and any specialized services at a reduced price.
- The student must be in good behavior and attendance standing at their home zone school to be considered for a hardship transfer.
Current Hardships
Current students with an approved hardship for the 2025-2026 school year shall be grandfathered in through the highest grade of the current school if the student is in good behavior and attendance standing, except nonresident students, who must apply each school year per HCS Board Policy 6.204.
Hardship Application FAQ
Thinking about applying? Take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions section.
When can I get a hardship application?
Applications are available for you to print from our Hardship Transfer Request website or you may pick one up from any Hamilton County School including Central Office.
When and where does my hardship application need to be turned in?
Applications must be received by the Office of Equity and Advocacy by May 30th for consideration for hardship approval by the committee. You can drop off the application at any Hamilton County School, or at our Central Office location in either the inside or outside drop box or via USPS to Hamilton County Schools, Attn: Office of Equity and Advocacy, 3074 Hickory Valley Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37421. If mailed via USPS, the application and supporting documentation must be received by May 30th.
When will I know if my hardship has been approved?
Letters with the committee’s decision regarding hardship placement will be sent out by letter via the United States Postal Service to the address submitted on the application by the end of the first week in July.
Can I apply for hardship to a Magnet or Open Enrollment school if I didn't get awarded a seat through the lottery application?
No, hardships are not approved for any school that participates in the Choose Hamilton: School Choice program. Please visit the School Choice page for a listing of participating schools. For schools that participate in the School Choice program, non-Hamilton County resident students are automatically placed on a waitlist, and HCS resident students are seated before seats can be offered to nonresident applicants.
If my student is currently on hardship, do I need to reapply?
For Hamilton County resident students on current hardship, you do not need to reapply unless your student is changing schools (going from elementary to middle or middle to high). Hardships remain in effect at the current school if the student is in good attendance and behavior standing. If they are not, the family will receive a letter informing them that the student’s hardship status has been revoked and they must enroll the student at their zoned school for the upcoming school year. Per Board Policy 6.204, students on a tuition hardship must reapply each year and tuition must be paid in full or payments arranged with the first payment received by the first of August. If payments are being made, missing two consecutive payments could result in the loss of a tuition hardship.