Public education is the clearest predictor of a community’s future prosperity. It shapes our workforce, strengthens neighborhoods and fuels economic growth. That’s why cities across Tennessee have stepped up to invest in their local schools alongside counties.
The city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County have a long history of collaboration — on economic development, public safety, parks, tourism and even a controversial new baseball stadium. But when it comes to public education — the foundation of a thriving community — there’s room for a stronger, more meaningful partnership. While many schools in Hamilton County’s small towns and unincorporated areas are excelling, the opposite is true within Chattanooga.
Today, we face a difficult reality that 30 of the 34 zoned public schools within the city limits are performing below the state average, despite nearly $2,000 more per student being spent at these schools compared to elsewhere in Hamilton County.
Across Tennessee, peer cities like Knoxville and Clarksville which also have similar school system structures have made substantial investments in their county public school systems. Knoxville contributes $53 million of its local option sales tax to education beyond the state-mandated requirement, as does Clarksville, investing an additional $28 million. These cities recognize that high-quality public schools are not just a county responsibility, they are central to a vibrant, competitive city.
In contrast, the city of Chattanooga contributes just $1.5 million above the statutory minimum, even as schools within the city face increasingly complex and costly challenges: concentrated poverty, single-parent homes, gang activity and growing numbers of English language learners.