Hamilton County Schools Announces Expansion of the Future Ready Center Program

Posted 11:21 AM, July 26, 2025 and last updated 11:22 AM, July 26, 2025

Written by: Sky Arnold

Editor's Note: This story has been updated from its original version to include the latest developments.

Four years after launching its innovative Harrison Bay Future Ready Center, Hamilton County Schools (HCS) is doubling down on its successful model for college and career training with plans for two major expansions.

District leaders say the program, which allows students to spend half of each school day engaged in hands-on, career-focused learning, has been so successful that they are now opening a new North River Future Ready Center at the current location of Sequoyah High School for the 2025-26 school year.

The new center will serve students from Red Bank, Hixson, Soddy Daisy, and Sale Creek, and is already in high demand, with 175 students enrolled for its inaugural year.

"Future Ready Centers represent the power of partnerships,” said HCS Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson. “Working alongside the County and our local business partners is what makes it possible for Hamilton County Schools to continue designing opportunities for our students to explore their future through engaging learning experiences aligned to their interests and the evolving industry needs of our community.”

The expansion aligns with the district's strategic plan, Opportunity 2030, which prioritizes creating pathways for students to be "Future Ready" for post-secondary education and high-wage, high-demand careers.

The district is also planning a third location, the Franklin-Roberts Future Ready Center, slated to open in downtown Chattanooga in the 2026-2027 school year. The proposed name honors two historic local leaders: John P. Franklin, Sr., the city's first African American elected official, and Dalton Roberts, the first County Executive.

"The Franklin-Roberts Future Ready Center is an important step towards restoring vocational education in the City of Chattanooga, offering students valuable skills that will lead to good jobs and business ownership," said Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp.

As Hamilton County continues to earn recognition as the fastest-improving school district in the state, the expansion of the Future Ready program marks a significant investment in the region's future workforce.