ACT or SAT for Regular Education Diploma
Students enrolled in a Tennessee public school during their 11th grade year shall take either the ACT or SAT to receive a regular high school diploma. ACT or SAT scores are only submitted to postsecondary institutions at the student's discretion. All juniors take the ACT on the state testing date in the spring. All students are encouraged to participate in the ACT or SAT, the graduation requirement only applies to students earning a regular education diploma.

United State Civics Test
All high school students must pass a United States Civics test composed of questions from the Civics Test administered by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. A school in which all seniors receiving a regular diploma score 85% or higher on the United States Civics test shall be recognized on the Tennessee Department of Education’s website as a United States Civics All-Star School for that school year.

Project Based Assessment
All high school students must participate in at least one project-based assessment that engages students in learning essential knowledge and skills through a student-influenced inquiry process structured around complex, authentic questions, and carefully designed products and tasks. 

Top 10% Requirements Beginning with Entering Freshmen 2022-2023

• DE/AP/Honors English – minimum of 4 credits 
• Mathematics - Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra II, and one credit of Pre Calculus or Statistics or above
• Science – 4 units: The following courses will fulfill the additional fourth credit requirement for science that is in addition to the 3 units needed to meet the state graduation requirement:  Honors Biology II, Honors Chemistry II, Honors Physics, Honors Human Anatomy and Physiology, AP/DE 
• DE/AP/Honors Social Studies - minimum of 1 credit
• May not waive fine arts or foreign language requirements
• Only one DE/AP/Honors course may be repeated for an alternate grade
• Must meet Ready Graduate requirements
• GPA must fall within the top 10% of graduating class

Students must meet the above requirements to qualify for Top 10% and Valedictorian Status.

SCSS Weighted GPA & Latin Honors System

Beginning with freshmen entering in 2026-2027, the SCSS will utilize a weighted GPA and adopt the Latin Honors System. 

GPA Requirements for Latin Honors System: 

• Summa Cum Laude (Highest Honor) – GPA of 4.0 and above
• Magna Cum Laude (Great Honor) – GPA of 3.8-3.99
• Cum Laude (With Honor) – GPA of 3.6-3.79

In addition to the GPA requirements, students must meet the following to qualify for recognition: 

• A minimum of ten (10) core subject area courses (English, Math, Social Studies, and Science) must be at the Honors level or higher 
• May not waive fine arts or foreign language requirements
• Only one weighted (DE/AP/LDC/SDC/Honors/etc.) course may be repeated for an alternate grade
• Must meet CCR Requirements:
  • Meet or exceeds a composite of 21 (ACT) or 1060 (SAT)
  • Earns a qualifying score on the ASVAB AFQT
  • Earns a Tier 3 (Preferred) IC
  • Earns a Tiers 2 (Valued) IC and one other IC (any tier) 
  • Earns one or more postsecondary credits (AP, CIE, CLEP, IB, SDC, DE, LDC)

*When needed for scholarship and/or financial aid purposes, schools will provide rank information to colleges, universities, scholarship programs, and the like. 

**Schools will continue to calculate unweighted GPA for lottery scholarship purposes. 

Graduation with Distinction Diploma
Tennessee graduates who maintain a B average and complete an additional approved credential will graduate with distinction.  Approved credentials include:

• Nationally recognized industry certification
• Tennessee Governor’s School
• All State Musical Organization
• National Merit Finalist or Semifinalist
• A composite score of 31 or higher on the ACT
• A core of 3 or higher on two AP Exams
• 12 or more hours of post-secondary credit by transcript

Honors Diploma ACT Minimum Requirements

• English: 18
• Reading: 22
• Math: 22
• Science: 23

*Subject to change yearly.