Hamilton County's new downtown adult high school has found its home on Chattanooga's west side.

The Young Adult High School will open its doors in the James A. Henry Resource Center.

The program expands the Adult High School program already established in Harrison.

Expected enrollment is about 100 students.

The school will accept students age 17 to 21 who did not succeed in the traditional high school setting.

Students who complete the program will earn a traditional diploma.

Hamilton County Superintendent Dr. Jim Scales says, "Those of us who are in positions of leadership we need to step up and make sure that we provide for those students who for whatever reason they might have...have sort of gotten off track, but we can get them back on track and get them graduated."

Scales named Hixson Assistant Principal Chris Earl as principal of the new school.

Classes start in August.

The new school announcement comes as the district faces a $13,000,000 budget short fall...and a recommendation to cut teachers and close schools.

But Hamilton County School Board members say that will not happen...at least not today.

Hamilton Co. School Board Member Jeffrey Wilson says, "Budget's tight. We're gonna do the best that we can with the dollars that we have, but at this point there is no passion at the board level to close any schools, certainly to not lay off any teachers. We're proud of our teachers and our plan is to work with what we've got and keep schools open and teachers employed."

Wilson calls the money spent on the Young Adult High School an investment.

Dr. Scales says the district planned for the new adult high school for the last year and a half.