Applications for Innovation Academy will be accepted until June 1, 2012.  The school has already received 277 applications from interested students.  Of those, 162 are current 5th grade students and 115 are current 6th grade students. Because the number of applications has surpassed the 160 available slots, students will be selected for the school through a lottery process.

Innovation Academy is a platform school that will provide an innovative approach to education through partnerships with East Tennessee State University, Eastman, Domtar, and other local businesses.  This partnership will help promote STEM programs throughout the region.  Innovation Academy has flexibility and many aspects of the program will be developed and tailored after the principal and teachers have been hired, which is projected to be within the month.  The curriculum will be fully-integrated and project-based with a special focus on advanced Science, Technology, Engineering and Math skills.  Several options for the school exist including the use of virtual courses as part of the curriculum.  Other decisions, such as specific transportation and home schools, are yet to be made.  

Facilities
Regarding the school facilities, the school will be housed in the existing Brookside Elementary building.  Furniture will be changed to accomodate middle school students.  Some rooms will have running water and cabinet systems added. Outside improvements will be minimal including a new sign and roadway patching.  The existing SMARTboards were purchased with Title funds and will be moved to other Title schools.  These will be replaced with the latest technology, possibly Apple TVs and LCD televisions.  This combination will allow students to share their work wirelessly from their iPad and costs significantly less than SMARTboards.