Open enrollment begins for new Howard Connect Academy

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Open enrollment is now available for Hamilton County’s innovative new middle school.

Inside an old middle school building, Howard Connect Academy is coming to life.

Crews spent the day painting and sanding the space.

“We are opening a brand new middle school, not for the purpose of relieving overcrowding, but truly to transform the way we do middle school learning,” said Mardee Miller, the principal of Howard Connect Academy.

It is undergoing a complete renovation.

“We are able to really design the learning spaces to fit the kind of learning that we are wanting to transform here,” Miller said.

Open enrollment is underway, with seats available to 150 rising sixth graders. There will be two lotteries with priority given to those living in the Howard community.

Half of the seats will be given to students at Battle Academy and Calvin Donaldson. The other half will be open to all Hamilton County Students.

Miller says students will be able to explore their interests in different areas, like technology.

“So all the connections in those collaboratories and virtual reality spaces and green screen studios, production and learning and interdisciplinary learning. I have to say my favorite part is all of it,” Miller said.

The first lottery ends on Friday. Then the second lottery available to all students in Hamilton County will start and continue through March 15.

“They really have the opportunity to restructure and reshape the culture of what middle school should be,” Miller said.

Click here for the Hamilton County Schools enrollment page.