About Us
About Us
We offer three innovative opportunities designed to propel students toward postsecondary success. Read a brief overview of each below, and click the logos above to learn more about these exciting opportunities.
Hamilton County Collegiate High School is a partnership between the Hamilton County Department of Education and Chattanooga State Community College. Recognized as a State of Tennessee Reward School and a National Blue Ribbon School, Collegiate High empowers students in grades 9–12 to fast-track their education and get a head start on college and career goals. Students at Collegiate High participate in Dual Enrollment classes, allowing them to earn high school and college credits simultaneously. Many of our students graduate high school with both a high school diploma and an Associates Degree. Nationally, Collegiate High students are some of the most sought-after students. Our alumni have found continued success in colleges and universities across the nation. Ninety percent of Collegiate High graduates transfer to a four-year college or university. Additionally, our ACT composite continues to rank above the state and national average.
The Mechatronics Academy at Volkswagen is a unique partnership between Hamilton County Schools, Chattanooga State Community College, and Volkswagen. Located on the Volkswagen campus, this program is ideal for students in grades 11 & 12 who are interested in mechatronics, pre-engineering, hands-on learning, and a professional, business-style environment with small class sizes. Students earn both high school and college credits while working with state-of-the-art equipment and developing essential workforce skills that are in high demand across industries. Participants remain enrolled at their home high school and continue to enjoy all the benefits and extracurricular opportunities of their zoned school—while gaining access to an advanced, career-focused educational experience.
Polytech Academy is yet another partnership between Hamilton County School and Chattanooga State Community College that provides students with an opportunity to participate in dual enrollment classes. This program is ideal for students in grades 11-12 who seek an alternative and smaller learning environment that is focused on pre-engineering. Participants remain enrolled at their zone school and are afforded all of the benefits of a zone students. Students attend classes on the Chattanooga State Community College campus, allowing them to learn from highly qualified instructors, earn high school and college credit, and utilize the skills they learn on our state of the art equipment.
Eligibility
Student Eligibility Criteria:
- 9th-12th grade student with satisfactory attendance and discipline history.
- Must have a minimum 2.0 GPA and be on track for graduation.
- Must demonstrate college readiness by meeting the following ACT criteria, or by demonstrating college readiness on Chattanooga State’s Accuplacer exam with a score of 250 or higher in Reading, Writing, and Math.
- ACT composite score of 19 or higher;
- ACT English score or 18 or better;
- ACT Math score of 19 or higher; and
- ACT Reading score of 19 or higher.
Application Process
Applications for the 2026-2027 school year are now closed. Applications for the 2027-2028 school year will open in the Fall of 2026.
Attendance Policies
Our students follow the Chattanooga State academic calendar rather than the Hamilton County School academic calendar, including extended breaks, inclement weather, and some holidays. While we offer students flexibility with their schedule, students are expected to arrive to class on time and consistently. For our high school classes (Algebra I, Geometry, Algebra II, English 9, and English 10), we follow the Hamilton County attendance policy posted below. However, Chattanooga State professors who teach Dual Enrollment policies set their own attendance guidelines and these must be followed accordingly.
Hamilton County Department of Education
Attendance Policy (6.200)
Regular attendance is essential for academic achievement. Recognizing that, the following procedures govern attendance:
* Absences are recorded daily by class.
* Written excuses stating the reason for absences must be turned in to the Collegiate High office within five (5) days of the student returning to school. After 5 business days, excuses will remain posted as UNEXCUSED.
* By law students are allowed 5 unexcused absences per school year. HCDE will allow parent/guardian excuses to serve as documentation for 3 additional personal illness days. **After the 5 unexcused days and the 3 additional personal illness days, parents must provide medical services documentation.** To avoid student absences being recorded as unexcused, a written statement signed and dated by the parent or guardian and any medical documentation should be presented to the school within 5 days of the student returning to school.
The following are legal reasons for excusing a student from school:
Personal Illness – A physician’s statement may be required.
Death in Immediate Family – Students may be excused for three days in the event of a death in their immediate families including parents, step-parents, siblings, or grandparents.
Family Illness – Students having an illness in the family which requires them to give temporary help will be excused from attendance after receipt of a physician’s statement concerning the necessity of the student’s assistance.
Religious Holiday – Students shall be excused on religious holidays regularly observed by their faith. Prior approval may be required.
Personal – Students who are absent for a good cause – doctor, dental, or court appointment may be excused upon proof of appointment.
Approved School Sponsored Activities – Students shall be marked present when participating in a school sponsored activity away from the school building.
Excessive absences are governed by Tennessee State Law, which requires that school officials report to the court any parent, guardian, or other person in a parental relationship with a child who is unlawfully absent from school for any five days during the school year without adequate excuse. TCA 49-6-3007
Campus Map
Chattanooga State Campus
4501 Amnicola Highway
Chattanooga, TN 37406
Collegiate High Office: Branch 21 (CAT Building on the map)
Curriculum Requirements
Students will earn both high school and college credits by taking Dual Enrollment classes. Below are the requirements to obtain a high school diploma. Beyond these requirements, students may take classes aligned to their professional and personal interests or align to the Chattanooga State Associate’s Degree requirements.
| English | 4 credits |
| Math | 4 credits |
| Science | 3 credits (must be lab sciences) |
| Fine Art | 1 credit |
| Foreign Language | 2 credits of same language |
| Social Studies | 3 credits (Including Economics, US Government and US History) |
| Wellness: or ROTC |
1 credit 2 credits |
| Electives | 3 credits |
| Personal Finance | 1/2 credit |
| PE | 1/2 credit |
Computer Science: 1 credit (beginning with class of 2028)
Tuition and Fees
Dual Enrollment classes are based on the tuition rates set forth by Chattanooga State and may change annually. While we do offer grants for Juniors & Seniors, as well as a low-income scholarship for qualifying 9th-12th graders, any remaining balance is the responsibility of the guardian(s) and student. See the FAQs for more information on these funding opportunities.
Out of state and out of district students will also be required to pay a percentage of the current out of state/district tuition rate to Hamilton County Schools. This tuition may fluctuate annually.
Transportation
Providing it fits with a student’s schedule, students may use the HCS STEM School bus. This bus does not run when Hamilton County Schools is not in session. Students may also ride on Carta Route 28 for free if they have signed up for Chattanooga Public Library’s Read and Ride Program. Click here for details.
