Alternative Programs

Application, Selection, and Admissions Processes for Choice Lottery Schools

• Admission to Early College & Career School opportunities is on a space-available basis through the application. The application period runs annually from mid-November through January 31. Seats will be first filled by those applications received during the official application period. Applications may be filled out online at www.hcde.org/choosehamilton
  
  
• Early College & Career School seats are not available to Out of County or Out of State families unless there is no waitlist in the grade level desired. Families residing outside the district who choose to attend an HCS school are required to pay tuition (set by the school board annually).
  
  
• Non-processed – Early College & Career Schools are considered a non-processed schools. This means that families still submit a school choice application and are run in the lottery, but rather than receiving a letter of acceptance, schools must first review the transcripts of applicants to make sure they meet the prerequisites set forth. Schools then contact the students who are accepted. Waitlists expire on the first day of school of each school year and are not carried over to future years.
  
  
• If there is space available and early college and career prerequisites are met, children of full-time staff members may attend the choice school where their parent/guardian works full-time, but a choice school application must be completed.
  
  
• Incomplete applications will not be processed. Falsifying any information on the choice lottery application automatically disqualifies the application. Duplicate applications will be voided.
  
  
• Placement to any College & Career School is not confirmed until the parents/guardians accept the offered seat within 7 business days of the offer.
  
  
• If a student applies and is accepted to more than one choice school placement, the student can only accept one choice seat. They will forfeit the other seat(s) and the seat(s) will be offered to the next student on the waitlist.
  
  
• Early College & Career seats are not available to Out of County or Out of State families unless there is no wait list in the grade level desired. Families residing outside the district who choose to attend an HCS school are required to pay tuition (set by the school board annually). There could be additional expenses depending on each family's situation
  
  
• Once admitted to the desired choice school, the student must remain at the school for the entire school year unless a Zero Tolerance offense occurs. Any other requests for a transfer during the school year must be approved by the Chief of Opportunity & Access or their designee.

Sibling Preference for Early College & Career Schools

There is no sibling preference for College & Career Schools

Deferring an Early College & Career School offer

Families may not defer their offer to an Early College & Career School. A family must either accept or decline the offer.

Student Status for Choice Lottery

• After enrolling at an Early College and Career school, the Early College and Career student is not eligible to transfer to his/her zone school until the following school year. They may apply to a choice school when the next application period opens for the following school year. The Office of School Choice may make exceptions to this policy. All students who attend the first day of school are expected to remain in the choice school for the entire school year.
  
  
• The student also must have good attendance (see Exit Policy for attendance) by the end of the school year and follow the Hamilton County Department of Education Code of Acceptable Behavior and Discipline Policy.
  
  
• Student athletes who transfer from a zone or any School Choice option to another zone or magnet school, Open Enrollment school, Early College & Career School or Future Ready Institute will fall under the TSSAA and TMSSA transfer guidelines.
  
  
• Hardships to a school that offers Early College & Career seats are not considere

Transportation

Transportation is only provided for a few of the College & Career school options. Collegiate HS, PolyTech, and the two Akademies at VW have some limited transportation options. Be sure to look into those to be sure they address your needs. For all other College & Career school options, it will be the responsibility of each family to provide transportation for their student.