This is one of the ways Hamilton County Schools has been teaching foundational skills to some of its youngest students, and it’s been a success. Kindergarteners who attended the district’s pre-K performed better than their peers who did not attend on the universal reading screener this school year, according to district data. Photos and video by Robin Rudd Photo 1 / Teacher Shaquita Ruiz helps Journi McNealy with a letter, as Denver Evans works on his project. The Times Free Press visited Shaquita Ruiz’s pre-K classroom on April 2, 2025 at Hardy Elementary. Hamilton County Schools’ pre-kindergarten program preforms better academically, regardless of demographics, than their peers who did not. Photo 2 / A child raises his hand. The Times Free Press visited Shaquita Ruiz’s pre-K classroom on April 2, 2025 at Hardy Elementary. #chattanooga #tennessee #nooga #mychatt #timesfreepress #local #community #prek #kindergarten #education #earlyeducation #hcde #hamiltoncounty #learn #learning