Tuscaloosa City Schools To Implement New Graduation Requirements

TUSCALOOSA, AL — All Tuscaloosa City Schools (TCS) high school seniors will be required to meet new state and district graduation requirement, starting with the 2025–26 school year.

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The changes will follow updated guidelines from the Alabama State Department of Education, with students pursuing the general education Alabama high school diploma now required to earn a College and Career Readiness Indicator (CCRI) to be eligible to graduate.

Tuscaloosa City Schools will also require all seniors in the Class of 2026 to have a confirmed postsecondary plan before receiving 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,” TCS Director of College and Career Readiness Kathleen Norstrom said. “This is about meaningful outcomes, not just diplomas.”

Norstrom says the CCRI is designed to ensure Alabama graduates demonstrate readiness for college, the workforce or the military.

TCS said students may meet this requirement through a variety of achievements, including:

• Earning industry-recognized credentials
• Receiving qualifying ACT scores
• Completing dual enrollment courses
• Successfully participating in advanced career and technical education programs

Along with the state’s CCRI requirement, TCS’s new local requirement aims to emphasize the importance of every graduate having a clear, postsecondary path.

These postsecondary plans include:

• Enrollment in a two- or four-year college
• Acceptance into a registered apprenticeship program
• Enlistment in military service
• Verified employment in a career-aligned job

TCS says to support this initiative, the district will continue its “What’s Your E?” campaign — a districtwide effort to help students identify and prepare for their post-graduation path: enrollment (college), enlistment (military) or employment (career).

The school system said the campaign equips students with the resources, guidance and support they need to take the next step with confidence.

TCS also said it has already launched outreach efforts to help students and families understand the new graduation criteria, with counselors, career coaches and administrators collaborating to provide individualized support, CCRI guidance and postsecondary planning assistance.

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