All Future Tuscaloosa City Schools Graduates Must Meet New Requirements

All students graduating from city schools in Tuscaloosa will have to meet new requirements focused on demonstrating readiness for life after high school, a district spokesperson announced Tuesday.

Lydia Avant, Tuscaloosa City Schools' Director of Public Relations, said the new requirements reflect updated guidelines from the Alabama State Department of Education.

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All students who are graduating with a general education high school diploma must earn a College and Career Readiness Indicator to do so. That could mean a qualifying ACT Exam score, completing an in-school apprenticeship, being accepted into a branch of the US Military and more.

TCS has already focused on making sure graduates have a post secondary plan - enrollment, employment or enlistment - and will now require one to earn a diploma.

“The combination of the state CCRI requirement and our local mandate for confirmed postsecondary plans ensures that our graduates don’t just cross the stage — they step into a future they have planned for and are ready to navigate,” said Kathleen Norstrom, director of college and career readiness for Tuscaloosa City Schools. “This is about meaningful outcomes, not just diplomas.”

Avant said the school system has already launched proactive outreach efforts to educate students and parents alike on the new graduation criteria.

For individualized help understanding the requirements, help planning life after graduation, students and parents can contact their high school counselor or career coach.

For more education news for students in west Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.