Graduation Information/Requirements

Rutherford County High School Graduation Requirements are here.

Graduating with Honors

Students who graduate with honors must score at or above ALL of the subject area readiness benchmarks on the ACT or equivalent score on the SAT.

English: 18

Math: 22

Reading: 22

Science: 23

Graduating with Distinction

Students must have a 3.0 GPA AND meet one of the following criteria:

Earn a nationally recognized industry certification (CTE Teachers will identify these students prior to graduation)
Earn statewide recognition or award at a skill or knowledge-based state tournament,
convention, or competition hosted by a statewide student organization, and/or qualify for national recognition by a national student organization (Student's who win one or more of these will need to provide proof of award to their school counselor)
Participate in Governor's School - https://www.tn.gov/education/instruction/tdoe-governors-schools.html
Participate in All State (Band and Choir)
Become a National Merit Semifinalist or Finalist (Only for students taking the PSAT) Students interested may start this process in their junior year
Earn a score of 31 or higher on your ACT
Earn a score of 3 or higher on 2 of your AP exams
Earn 12 or more college credit hours

Valedictorian/Salutatorian Information

Highest School Wide GPA
12 Honors, Advanced Honors, (AP) Advanced Placement, or Dual Enrollment Courses
Graduate with Distinction
In the case of a tie with GPA, the student with the highest Composite ACT Score will be awarded Valedictorian. This is based on your ACT Composite, not your super score. If more than one student ties for first place with both GPA and ACT Composite then we will have more than one Valedictorian.
The runner up to the top ACT & GPA Score(s) will be awarded Salutatorian

Per Rutherford County School Board Policy 4.602, this must be completed by the end of the student's 7th semester(by December) or before January 1st of their senior year.