The office number is 423-498-6762 or by email, choosehamilton@hcde.org. Email is the most efficient way to communicate.

School Choice Lottery applications open on November 16, 2026. The school choice application deadline is January 29, 2027 at 4:30 pm. The District will share lottery results with families on February 12, 2027. The deadline for famlies to respond to Choice offers is February 19, 2027.

The School Choice Office notifies families of offers for open Choice seats via the email on their student’s application. To help you plan ahead and use as a reminder to check your email regularly we have a calendar for you of when offers will go out. Remember, you have only 7 days to respond to your offer. If no action is taken on your email offer, your seat will be expired and removed from the list. Remember, that if you have a school ranked higher than the one you are accepting you will remain on the waitlist and should check your email regularly. If an offer comes available, the lower ranked seat you accepted will AUTOMATICALLY be dropped and the new offer will be emailed. It is important that if you accept a seat and are happy with that choice, you should contact the School Choice office via choosehamilton@hcde.org  to let us know to take you off any remaining waitlists.

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. Choice schools expand the options for students to attend schools that best fit their individual interests and skill sets. These schools offer students opportunities that will propel them forward and ensure they are future-ready for college, careers, and beyond.

 The 2nd Round of Choice Applications are from April 12, – July 2, 2027

Available Choice Seats

The 2nd Round applications will be open from April 12, – July 2, 2027. 2nd Round applications are only for families who did not apply in the first round of the Lottery. If there is already a waitlist, 2nd Round applicants will be placed at the bottom of those lists as they come in. Original applicants do not lose their current position to a new applicant. You may access the application through your Parent Portal if you are an existing student, or you can return to the main School Choice page and find the links for both existing and new students to the district. CCA is still open but not on the application. You may email the principal if you are interested in auditioning. Be sure to check the email you submitted on your application every week, as offers go out weekly. Offers go out on Mondays, and they expire 7 days later on Sunday if no action is taken. The last day of offers are on July 2, 2027 and ALL offers expire at 7 pm on July 9, 2027.

Any student living in Hamilton County is eligible to apply for a choice school for the 2027-2028 school year.

There are no academic requirements for most choice schools. Student selection is based on seat availability. If a school’s number of applications exceeds its seat number, students will be chosen by lottery. During the 2nd round, all seat offers are made weekly. The parent will have the same 7 day time period to accept or decline the seat. **Note: CCA does require an audition for admission. Career programs do require a transcript review: Early College/ Collegiate High, Polytech, VW Mechatronics, Gestamp, HCVS.

Up to 5 schools may be selected in ranking order #1 first choice etc. Your selection ranking will have an effect on your offer process.

Yes, each child in your family will be required to have an application completed if selecting a choice school.

No, students do not have to reapply each year during their student’s current grade-tier level. However, when entering a new tier (Middle or High) the parent has the option to apply for a new choice school or return to their zoned school.
The privilege of continuing enrollment depends on acceptable behavior, attendance, and parent commitment. Parents will be required to attend an orientation at their child’s new school. Parents may be asked for a letter of intent for returning students to secure their seats, provided the student has met all other expectations for continuing enrollment.

  • 1st round lottery results will be shared February 12, 2027. These will be delivered to the email on the application.
  • During the second round of applications parents will be notified weekly via email only. We recommend parents check their email daily for any new offer and respond to accept or decline before the deadline each week.

Once initiated, the offer remains valid for 7 business days. After such time, it is removed from the selection process.

Once registered, students and parents are expected to commit for a full school year. At the end of the school year, families may choose to reevaluate and switch to another school (either apply to another choice school option or return to their zoned school). Appeals to this policy may be made to the Director of School Choice.

Transportation is not provided to open enrollment schools. Parents must provide transportation for their child to the selected choice school, some Future Ready Institutes, and Early College options. The exceptions include Magnet Schools and some Future Ready Institutes, which provide centralized drop-off/pick-up points.

Yes, an application may be submitted but a seat will only be offered if there is no waiting list for that grade at that particular school. The out-of-state/county tuition fee will apply.

  • Each middle and high school has an athletic director who supervises and administers the athletic program. Before pulling your child out of their current school, confirm with the destination school’s athletic director that your student meets every TSSAA baseline requirement.
  • The TSSAA sets the athletic eligibility requirements when a student moves to a new middle or high school in Tennessee. The TSSAA First-Time Transfer Rule allows middle and high school student-athletes one free transfer without having to sit out of sports for a year or move houses. The transfer must occur during the summer break between school years. Mid-year transfers during the active school term are not covered by this rule.
  • Important: TSSAA rules govern athletic eligibility only and cannot be used to bypass, expedite, or alter the standard school choice process. Academic admission to any Magnet School, Open Enrollment School, or Future Ready Institute remains strictly subject to seat availability and the district’s official application and lottery system.
  • Second/subsequent transfers will lead to ineligibility for 12 months in any sport played during the previous year, unless a formal TSSAA hardship waiver is granted.
  • If a student is under suspension or disciplinary action at the old school, immediate athletic eligibility will be denied.

Specific questions regarding athletic transfers can be directed to each school’s athletic director or to the HCS Director of Athletics at (423) 498-6714. 

No, a completed application, submission, and acceptance are required for any student to receive an offer.

Families that missed the first-round deadline (January 29, 2027) can submit an application during our second-round application for Choice Lottery Schools.

This second round for Choice Lottery Schools will be posted on our website beginning April 12, 2027-July 2, 2027.

Any application submitted during this time will be added to the bottom of the waitlist in order of the date received. These second-round applications for Choice Lottery Schools will only be considered for possible placement AFTER all those that applied during the priority application period have been offered a choice seat. If you already submitted an application during the first round, then you will not be able to submit another application during our second round.

No. The institutes support career-and-college-ready experiences. Integrated experiences within each institute will foster the critical thinking skills necessary for future success.

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 collaboration with each other as well as give teachers the chance to build deeper, positive relationships with students while gaining a clear understanding of their needs for success.

The application criterion for an institute is based on student interest and enrollment at the school offering the institute.

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 placement of students if interest is greater than the allotted institute positions. Students and parents will be notified by individual institute schools regarding processes for the start of the coming school year.

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 with the school administration and guidance counselor prior to withdrawal.

Once registered, students and parents are expected to commit to a full school year. At the end of the school year, families may choose to reevaluate and switch to another school (either apply to another choice school option or return to their zoned school). Appeals to this policy may be made to the Director of School Choice.