Five-year review finds one charter struggling and another on track; district staff outline corrective steps
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Summary
District staff told the board that Chattanooga Charter School for Excellence Elementary (CCSE) is 'severely off track' on multiple academic indicators and not on track for renewal, while Montessori Elementary at Highland Park (MEHP) is on track with strong financial and governance metrics but an enrollment variance to monitor.
Hamilton County Schools staff presented the district’s five-year interim charter review, saying it is required under Tennessee law and is designed to evaluate academic, financial and organizational indicators. The presentation covered two schools: Chattanooga Charter School for Excellence (CCSE) Elementary and Montessori Elementary at Highland Park (MEHP).
The review rated CCSE Elementary as "severely off track" academically, with declines in growth and achievement, consecutive low state ratings, TCAP proficiency low (noted increases from about 6.6% to around 11% but still low), elevated suspension rates that fluctuated (peaking near 37% and most recently around 20%), and chronic absenteeism concerns. Staff said CCSE has met some operational standards but governance and organizational structure require corrective action; the review team concluded CCSE is currently not on track for renewal in the next five years and recommended a corrective action plan.
By contrast, the committee found MEHP to be on track: it showed strong retention and personnel systems, governance with diverse expertise and active committees, positive financial indicators (presenters cited a current ratio of 29.2, 223 days of cash on hand, a fund balance near 50% of operating expense and a three-year margin around 16%), and steady enrollment growth (currently 364 students with a projection to reach 450 within 18 months), though staff flagged a recent enrollment variance (actual enrollment at about 87% of projections) as an area of focus.
The presenter cited Tennessee Code Annotated (review requirement) and said the district will work with CCSE to develop a corrective action plan with progress monitoring. Board members asked for additional financial detail about CCSE’s reported surplus increases and comparative chronic absenteeism metrics; staff offered to provide exact figures and follow-up reports.
Why it matters: Five-year reviews inform renewal decisions and can trigger targeted interventions; staff’s recommendation that CCSE is not on track for renewal could lead to a corrective process and closer district oversight.
What’s next: Staff will collaborate with CCSE on corrective actions and return to the board with requested financial and absenteeism data; no renewal or revocation action was taken at this meeting.
