Admissions at Ivy Academy
We are Scholars. We are Stewards. We are Volunteers.
Ivy Academy is Tennessee's first environmental-focused public school and a National Green Ribbon School, where rigorous academics meet real, hands-on learning. Located on Dayton Pike in Soddy-Daisy and connected directly to North Chickamauga Creek State Park, Ivy is a place where students learn as much outside as they do inside - about half of the school day includes an outdoor or hands-on component. If you're looking for a high school where your student is known by name, challenged to grow, and given a real head start on college and career, we'd love to meet you.
🌟 Now Enrolling - Seats Available for This School Year( 26/27)
We currently have open seats in grades 9-12, and eligible students can enroll and start this fall. If you'd like to tour the campus or begin the enrollment process, contact Jennifer Tripp at (423) 305-7494 or jtripp@ivyacademychattanooga.com. We'd be glad to walk you through every step.
Who Can Attend
Ivy Academy is a public charter school, which means there is no tuition and any student who lives in Hamilton County is eligible to enroll - you are not limited by your zoned school. We serve:
Middle School - grades 6-8: a strong academic foundation with an early introduction to Ivy's environmental focus and future pathways.
High School - grades 9-12: all the core courses you'd expect, plus specialized college and career pathways and dual-enrollment opportunities.
How to Enroll
1. Schedule a visit. The best way to know if Ivy is right for your family is to see it. Call or email us to set up a tour - you're welcome to bring your student.
2. Complete an application. Ivy Academy welcomes new students through the Hamilton County Schools School Choice lottery - a fair, straightforward process we're proud to be part of and will continue to use. Right now, we're excited to share that we have a few open seats ready to fill, so eligible families can enroll directly and have their student start this fall. Whichever path fits your family, our team will walk you through every step and answer all of your questions.
3. Get ready to start. Once enrolled, we'll help your student choose a pathway and get settled so they can hit the ground running.
Not sure where to begin? Just reach out - Jennifer Tripp (jtripp@ivyacademychattanooga.com) will personally help you through the whole process.
Explore Our Career Pathways
At Ivy, a 9th grader can choose a pathway and spend all four years in it - graduating with real experience and industry credentials already earned. Our three signature high school pathways are:
Residential & Commercial Construction (with Electrical, Mechanical & Plumbing). Students learn by building real projects with industry-standard tools, gaining experience in carpentry, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing systems, green construction, and site safety. They can earn OSHA 10 and NCCER Carpentry credentials and use state-of-the-art equipment - including our xTool laser cutter, VR/AR ZSpace lab- graduating ready to step onto a job site or into a paid apprenticeship or post-secondary program.
Horticulture. Students gain hands-on experience in greenhouse and nursery management, landscape and turf management, and plant science - working in our native plant nursery, gardens, aquaponics system, greenhouse and hoop house, compost and honeybee programs, and rain garden, and helping care for the school's goats and chickens in the teaching barn. Along the way they can earn a TSIC industry certification, dual credit, and participate in FFA, preparing for college and careers in agriculture, environmental science, and beyond.
Teaching as a Profession (TAP). For students drawn to education and leadership, TAP offers real teaching experience long before graduation. Students work with community partners - including Skillern Elementary and the Creative Discovery Museum - and teach their peers indoors and out. Each year, TAP students host Skillern Elementary scholars on our campus for a Fall Animal Festival. Students study human development, communication, and the art of leadership - skills that prepare them not only to teach, but to lead in any profession they choose.
More Than a Diploma
Ivy pairs its pathways with the kind of college-and-career support that sets students up for life after graduation:
In-person, on-campus dual enrollment (not just online) through Chattanooga State - including Environmental Science, English Composition I & II, Theatre, College Algebra, and College Statistics - plus TCAT-aligned courses like Turf & Land Management, a dual-credit Bible course, and AP Access for All.
Work-Based Learning (WBL) that lets juniors and seniors gain paid, real-world career experience during the school day.
School Grounds, our student-run coffee shop, where students build business, customer-service, and leadership skills.
A dedicated support team: two full-time school counselors, a college advisor (college visits, applications, grants, and FAFSA nights), and a Career Connections advisor for job shadowing and apprenticeships.
Our students consistently show strong academic growth and often outperform state and county averages in tested subjects - because at Ivy, we meet each learner where they are and challenge them to go further.
Life Beyond the Classroom
There's a place for everyone at Ivy. Students can take part in athletics such as rock climbing, cross country, track and field, wrestling, and archery (with additional sports available through our partnership with Sale Creek), and join a wide range of active clubs — including our award-winning Green Prix racing team, Robotics, Student Government, Beta Club, FFA, Yearbook, and Esports. And with a state park just outside our doors, learning and adventure are always close at hand.
Schedule Your Visit
We'd love to show you what makes Ivy different. Come see our campus, meet our teachers, and picture your student here.
Jennifer Tripp (423) 305-7494 ✉️ jtripp@ivyacademychattanooga.com | 8520 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379
Did you know Ivy Academy has an elementary program?
Learn more: Skillern Elementary