October 22, 2025 – Finding Opportunity Through School Choice: Voices from CCA and STEM

When students talk about their schools, you can hear the difference that school choice makes. For two Hamilton County juniors, Lucy from the Chattanooga Center for Creative Arts (CCA) and Aniyah from STEM School Chattanooga, open enrollment opened doors they never expected.

Lucy has attended CCA since middle school. She said the experience has been “very transformative” and described the strong community built through the arts.

Lucy who is an instrumental major that plays the viola, explained how she was encouraged to take a ceramics class just to try something new. “I’m not very good at art,” she admitted, “but it was such a wonderful experience. It gave me new ways to let my brain be creative and kind of express my humanity.”

Aniyah, who joined STEM School Chattanooga as a freshman, said her experience has been a completely new way of learning. “From ninth grade, it was just a whole new way of teaching,” she said. “For most people, it would be hard to adapt, but the way they pace you here makes it very easy. They listen to our voices. It’s very student-led. So if we have something we want to implement, we have that option.”

For Aniyah, one of her favorite experiences has been working with local partners on real-world projects. Her group worked with a UTC professor to design and 3D print a newborn femur bone model. “The professor wanted to show her students how the bone changes from newborn to adult. We just had to design a baby bone to show her students” Aniyah explained. She even detailed the programs her group used which included Blender, Tinkercad, and AutoCAD to bring the design to life.

Even though 3D printing isn’t her main passion, Aniyah said the experience taught her to push through challenges. “I don’t like Fusion, but I worked with it and persevered,” she said. “I made a totem head, and that was fun.” When asked what she would tell younger students, she shared, “Don’t be scared to apply, even if you’re not interested in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Still throw your hat in the ring. Reach out of your comfort zone.”

Lucy said she found the same sense of growth through community and academics at CCA. “We have a bunch of different majors and people from all over the county,” she said. “That’s one of my favorite things because we get to connect with the outside community.” She started a medical club at school, and her teachers helped her connect with professionals in the medical field. “Last year, my chemistry class was one of the best classes I’ve ever had,” she said. “My teacher introduced me to a virtual cancer research program over the summer. If it hadn’t been for that class, I don’t think I’d be headed where I’m going.”

Both students show how School Choice lets students find the right fit and discover what inspires them. The stories of these students is a great representation that HCS wants to ensure that every student belongs. This means helping students feel comfortable with challenges: Establishing safe, honoring, and respectful learning spaces that foster perseverance and recognize all students experience growth as unique individuals.

 Lucy said it best when talking about the CCA audition process. “Even if you’re not the best at your art, try it. You never know what’s going to come of it.”