Jim Catanzaro

High school students in Hamilton and surrounding counties now can earn an associate’s degree in engineering while they work toward their secondary diploma.

Officials with Hamilton County Schools and Chattanooga State Community College on Thursday announced a new partnership to create the Technical Academy at Middle College High School.

“Our community and our nation is waking up to the fact that we need people who are not just generally educated but specifically educated,” Chattanooga State President Jim Catanzaro said Thursday at a news conference announcing the program.

Hamilton County’s Middle College program already was partnered with Chattanooga State to offer its high school students access to college coursework, mostly with a liberal arts focus. While earning their high school diploma, students receive dual credit and can transfer those credits to another college or earn an associate’s degree.

The new academy is an expansion of that concept, allowing students to have the option of taking college classes with a more career and technical focus.

“We’re giving more youngsters the opportunity to take courses that prepare them for the work world that we face,” county schools Superintendent Jim Scales said.

Last year, Middle College, which is housed at Chattanooga State, enrolled about 175 students. Dr. Scales said once the new academy begins this fall, he’d like to see at least 200 students.

Middle College Coordinator Angela Daniel called the new Middle College a “dual-focus” program, since students still can earn the liberal arts transfer credits.

Hamilton County Board of Education Chairman Kenny Smith, long a supporter of career and technical education, called the new academy a good “first step.”

For years he has supported the idea of a completely separate career and technical high school, an idea for which he says he still will advocate.

“This will be a success, but when I say career and tech, I’m think more the building trades, cosmetology, automotive, medical. This is a different type of program,” he said. “I think this will help us lead to (a stand-alone school).”