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Graduation Requirements

Seymour High Schools graduation requirements are determined by the Sevier County Board of Education and the State of Tennessee. 

 

Required Courses

  

 

English I, II, III, IV

4 credits

Math (including Alg I, Geom., Alg. II)

4 credits

Science (including Biology & Chemistry)

3 credits

Lifetime Wellness

1 credit

World History 

1 credit

U.S. History 

1 credit

U.S. Government

1 credit

Economics/Personal Finance

1 credit

Foreign Language I & II

2 credits

Fine Arts

1 credit

Physical Education

½ credit

Computer Science (Class of 2028 and beyond)  

 1 credit

Elective Focus/Program of Study

3 credits

 

28 Total Credits (including the required credits above) are required to graduate according to the Sevier County School System for the Class of 2024-2027.

29 Total Credits (including the required credits above) are required to graduate according to the Sevier County School System for the Class of 2028 and beyond.

* Students are required to enroll in a math course each year.

* Foreign Language and Fine arts may be waived for 11th or 12th grade students not attending a four-year college or university and must be replaced with an equal number of courses designed to enhance and expand the Elective Area of Focus/Program of Study. Parents must meet with the counselor or principal to sign a waiver form. 

* The additional 1/2 credit in P.E. may be met by completing a Physical Education course or by substituting documented participation in an approved school sponsored activity such as band or a Gatlinburg-Pittman High School sport. 

* The Elective Area of Focus/Program of Study must focus on a particular area of concentration (Fine Arts, Career and Technical Education, Humanities, Math and Science) and is made up of three courses in a cluster. 

* Students must take the ACT test at least once in order to earn a high school diploma.

  • Students must meet the below requirements to qualify for Top 10% and Valedictorian:

    • English – minimum of 4 credits that are Honors/DE/AP
    • Mathematics - Honors Geometry, Honors Algebra II, and one credit of Pre Calculus, Statistics, or above
    • Science – 4 credits, one must be: Honors Biology II, Honors Chemistry II, Honors Human Anatomy, or an DE/AP science
    • Social Studies - minimum of 1 credit that is Honors/DE/AP
    • Must meet Ready Graduate requirements (21 ACT or EPSOs)
    • GPA must fall within the top 10% of graduating class
    • May not waive fine arts or foreign language requirements

    *Only 1 DE/AP/Honors course may be repeated for a higher grade

    *Graduation Years: 2027, 2028, 2029

  • For students to be considered Ready Graduates, they must meet at least one of the following four Ready Graduate criteria (students can only be “counted” once):

    1. Score of 21 or higher on ACT (or 1060 or higher on the SAT); or
    2. Complete 4 early postsecondary opportunities (EPSOs); or
    3. Complete 2 EPSOs and earn an industry credential; or
    4. Complete 2 EPSOs and earn a score indicating military readiness (i.e., 31 or higher) on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT).

  • 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. 

  • College and Career Readiness – CCR – Class of 2030 and Beyond

    • Meet or exceeds a composite of 21 (ACT) or 1060 (SAT)
    • Earns a qualifying score on teh 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)

  • Students who score at or above all of the subject area readiness benchmarks on the ACT or equivalent SAT will earn an Honors Diploma. 

    The ACT benchmarks are:

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

  • Students will be recognized as “Graduating with Distinction” by attaining a B average (3.0 GPA) and completing at least one of the following:

    • earn a nationally recognized industry certification
    • participate in one of the Governor’s Schools
    • participate in one of the state’s All State musical organizations
    • be selected as a National Merit Finalist or Semifinalist
    • attain a score of 31 or higher composite score on the ACT
    • attain a score of 3 or higher on at least two advanced placement exams
    • earn 12 or more semesters of transcripted postsecondary credit (this includes dual enrollment)