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Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements

Sevier County High School’s 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. 

* 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 Sevier County 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.

 

Top 10% & Valedictorian

Applicable for Graduating Class of 2027, 2028, 2029, and Previous Years

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

 

 

SCSS Weighted GPA & Latin Honors System

Requirements Beginning with Entering Freshmen 2026-2027

Beginning with freshmen entering in 2026-2027, the SCSS will utilize a weighted GPA and adopt the Latin Honor 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 course may be repeated for an alternate grade
  • Must meet CCR requirements (one of the following):
    • Meets 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 Tier 2 (Valued) IC and one other IC (any tier)
    • Earns one or more postsecondary credits (AP, CIE, CLEP, IB, SDC, DE, or 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.

 

Distinction Diploma

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)

 

Ready Graduate

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).

 

Honors Diploma

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