Hamilton County Schools runs Chattanooga's public schools: 76 schools, 45,000 students. Thanksgiving break is Nov. 25-27; the state rates it Advancing.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from Hamilton County Schools: its calendar, registration, school zones and Board of Education pages, and from the Tennessee Department of Education’s state report card and 2025 district accountability pages.
Public schools in Chattanooga are run by Hamilton County Schools, which serves the city and the rest of Hamilton County: 76 schools and about 45,000 students from pre-K through 12th grade. Sixty-six schools have attendance zones; 14 are magnet schools, nine of them with small zones and the rest open to students from across the county. For registration help, call the district’s Family Connection Center at 423-843-4799.
Every public school in Chattanooga, with its zone and report card: Chattanooga public schools.
Who to call
- Registration and enrollment help: Family Connection Center, 423-843-4799, 3074 Claude Ramsey Parkway, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays. Book an appointment
- Find your zoned school: School Zone Finder or the school zone lookup map
- Grades and returning-student registration: PowerSchool
- School board: hcdeboardmembers@hcde.org; agendas on BOEConnect
- Bus routes: transportation page
The rest of the 2026-27 calendar
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, Nov. 18 | Second-quarter midterm |
| Nov. 25-27 | Thanksgiving break |
| Friday, Dec. 18 | End of the second quarter |
| Dec. 21 to Jan. 1 | Winter break |
| Jan. 4-5, 2027 | Teacher professional development days |
| Monday, Jan. 18 | Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
| Monday, Feb. 15 | Presidents Day |
| Friday, March 12 | End of the third quarter |
| March 22-25 | Spring break |
| Friday, March 26 | Good Friday |
| Wednesday, May 19 | Last day for students |
School started Wednesday, Aug. 5, and fall break was Oct. 12-16. The year has 180 instructional days. The district posts the 2026-27 calendar and the approved 2027-28 calendar on its calendar page, both also in Spanish.
How to register
New students register online through PowerSchool new student registration; returning students use the PowerSchool portal. For a new student, have ready:
- Two proofs of residence: a mortgage, lease or deed; an electric, water, gas or cable bill; agency or court papers with your address; an insurance statement; or a current bank statement or pay stub with your address.
- A parent’s or guardian’s driver’s license or state ID.
- The Tennessee immunization certificate, up to date.
- Proof of a physical from the past 12 months on a Tennessee medical form.
- The student’s birth certificate.
Returning students need two proofs of residence and any updated immunization records. The district also runs kindergarten registration and a pre-K program.
Zones and magnets
Every child is assigned a school by home address. Zones follow streets, not ZIP codes, so check the exact address in the School Zone Finder before you buy or sign a lease. Printable zone maps for each school are on the school zones page. Five of the 14 magnet schools have no zone and are open to students from across the county.
The zoned elementary, middle and high schools for 10 Chattanooga areas are in our Chattanooga neighborhoods guide.
Ratings and report cards
The Tennessee Department of Education designated Hamilton County Schools an “Advancing” district for 2024-25, the second-highest of five designations (Exemplary, Advancing, Satisfactory, Marginal and In Need of Improvement). The state weighs success rates by grade band, growth, chronic absenteeism, English learner progress and graduation rates.
For any school’s test results, letter grade, attendance and graduation rate, look it up on the Tennessee state report card. A letter grade is one view; the report card also shows growth, which measures how much students improved in a year.
The school board
The Hamilton County Board of Education has 11 members elected by district. The superintendent is Dr. Justin Robertson. Work sessions start at 4:30 p.m., with the board meeting at 6 p.m. or when the work session ends, whichever is later. Coming up:
- Thursday, Nov. 12: regular session
- Thursday, Dec. 10: quarterly session
- Thursday, Jan. 21, 2027: regular session
Meetings stream on the district’s YouTube channel. Find your board member on the district’s schools by district map.
What this means for you
- Thanksgiving break is the full Wednesday to Friday, Nov. 25-27.
- Winter break runs Dec. 21 to Jan. 1, and Jan. 4-5 are teacher development days.
- Moving to Chattanooga? Register online and keep two proofs of address handy.
Related guides: Friday night football, moving to Chattanooga and voting in Hamilton County.
Frequently asked questions
What school district is Chattanooga in?
Hamilton County Schools, which runs the public schools in Chattanooga and the rest of Hamilton County: 76 schools serving about 45,000 students from pre-K through 12th grade.
When is the last day of school for Hamilton County Schools?
The last day for students in 2026-27 is Wednesday, May 19, 2027.
When is spring break 2027 for Hamilton County Schools?
March 22-25, 2027, followed by the Good Friday holiday on March 26.
How do I find my zoned school in Chattanooga?
Enter your address in the Hamilton County Schools School Zone Finder or the county’s school zone lookup map. The Family Connection Center (423-843-4799) can help.
How is Hamilton County Schools rated?
The Tennessee Department of Education designated Hamilton County Schools an Advancing district for 2024-25, the second-highest of five designations. School-by-school results are on the state report card.
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