High School Instruction

KCS offers students the opportunity to earn college credit while still in high school through Advanced Placement (AP) and Dual Enrollment (DE) courses. These advanced academic options provide a challenging curriculum that helps students prepare for college and career success.

• Advanced Placement (AP) Courses: These high school classes follow a rigorous, college-level curriculum. Students earn high school credit and may qualify for college credit by achieving a qualifying score on an optional final assessment given by the CollegeBoard.
• Dual Enrollment (DE) Courses: DE courses allow students to take college classes while still in high school, earning both high school and college credit upon successful completion.

Through careful course selection, some students can even graduate high school with an Associate’s degree, giving them a head start on their college education.

For a full list of available AP and DE courses at your school, visit your school’s website or talk to your school counselor.

Global Courses

Global courses allow students to explore their interests, develop new skills, and personalize their high school experience. The State of Tennessee requires each student to choose an Elective Focus that consists of three related and progressing courses. 

At KCS, the 865 Academies pathway a student chooses will serve as the Elective Focus requirement. The three courses will align with their chosen career pathway, providing hands-on learning opportunities in fields such as healthcare, business, engineering, and more.

In addition to career-focused global courses, students can use elective credits to take additional fine arts courses such as band, choir, or visual arts. For students interested in advanced academics, global courses can also be used to take more challenging courses, including Advanced Placement (AP) and dual enrollment classes, allowing them to earn college credit before graduation.

It’s important to note that if a student fails a required course, they will need to use an elective slot to retake it.

KCS offers a wide range of global courses that differ from school to school. To learn more about the options available at your school, visit your school’s website or talk to your school’s counselor.

Fine Arts

Knox County Schools offers a dynamic Fine Arts program that fosters creativity, self-expression, and artistic growth. Students have access to a wide range of opportunities in music, theater, and visual arts, including—but not limited to—band, choir, musical theater, drawing, painting, and sculpture. Intended to develop talents and inspire new forms of creative expression, these programs encourage artistic exploration, build confidence, and promote collaboration.

For more information on Fine Arts opportunities at a specific school, visit the school's website or speak with a guidance counselor.

World Languages

Knox County Schools also offers World Languages that prepare students to communicate confidently across cultures and communities. With courses in ASL, Chinese, French, German, Latin, and Spanish, students develop real-world language skills through authentic, high-quality instruction. Supported by more than 80 dedicated educators, these programs promote global awareness, cultural understanding, and meaningful connections beyond the classroom.

For more information on World Language opportunities at a specific school, visit the school's website or speak with a guidance counselor.

Driver Education is a class available to students who are at least 15 years old prior to beginning the course in grades 10-12. The instructional phases consist of classroom, simulation, driving range, and on-street driving instruction.

This course is a one-unit class that includes ample instructional time with a driver education teacher and covers important safety education topics. While a learner's permit is not required to take the course, we strongly recommend obtaining one. Having a permit allows parents to practice driving with their student at home, building on the skills and experience they gain in class to better prepare for the driving test.

KCS follows the graduation requirements set by the Tennessee Department of Education to ensure students are prepared for success after high school. To earn a diploma, students must complete a specific number of credits in core subjects such as English, math, science, and social studies, along with additional requirements in areas like fine arts, physical education. These requirements are designed to provide a well-rounded education and align with state standards for college and career readiness.

To graduate, students must earn 22 credits across various subjects, as outlined below. In addition to completing these courses, students must:

• Have a satisfactory record of attendance and discipline;
• Take the ACT, SAT, or other postsecondary assessment in their junior year;
• Take all required End-of-Course (EOC) exams; and 
• Pass a U.S. Civics test.

For more details on graduation requirements or to explore the  course offerings at a specific school, visit your school’s website or contact your school counselor.

Early Graduation: The Move on When Ready Act authorizes public high school students in any county not excluded by T.C.A. § 49-6-8103 the opportunity to graduate high school early and enter a postsecondary institution. A document from the Tennessee Department of Education with more information about this program including requirements and answers to frequently asked questions can be found here.