TCS Touts Record 99.3% Of Graduates Leaving With Post-Secondary Plans

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Tuscaloosa City Schools says nearly every member of its Class of 2026 graduated with a confirmed plan for life after high school, setting a new district record.

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TCS says 99.3% of graduates left high school with confirmed post-secondary plans, up from 97.4% for the Class of 2025.

The city school district said confirmed post-secondary plans include enrollment in a college, university or training program, military enlistment, or full-time employment.

"Seeing 99.3% of our graduates leave high school with a confirmed next step is a testament to the hard work of our students, families, teachers, career coaches, counselors and school leaders," Superintendent Mike Daria said. "Our goal is not simply for students to earn a diploma, but to graduate with a clear pathway to success. Whether that pathway leads to college, military service or the workforce, we want every student to have a plan and the support needed to follow through on it."

The district said it continues tracking graduates for at least a year after commencement and has found that students who leave high school with a confirmed plan are far more likely to remain on that path.

In addition to the post-secondary planning milestone, the Class of 2026 also established a new district record for earning college credit before graduation.

TCS reported that nearly half of all graduates, 49.7%, earned college credit through dual enrollment programs, compared to 41.3% of graduates in the Class of 2025.

TCS officials also noted that the district's dual enrollment participation rate exceeds the national average.

According to data from the National Alliance of Concurrent Enrollment Partnerships that was provided by the school system, approximately 34% of U.S. high school graduates earn college credit through dual enrollment before graduating.

Tuscaloosa City Schools officials credited the increase in part to expanded opportunities through the City of Tuscaloosa's ELEVATE scholarship program.

Through this program, eligible students can complete up to nine dual enrollment courses through the Early College program at the University of Alabama at no cost or earn up to 12 credit hours through Shelton State Community College or Stillman College.

TCS leaders said the program allows students to complete the equivalent of a full year of college coursework while tuition, fees and textbooks are fully covered.

The district also reported that 100% of graduates earned at least one College and Career Readiness Indicator, or CCRI, before graduation.

CCRI benchmarks include earning college credit, achieving qualifying scores on college or workforce readiness assessments, completing career technical education pathways, or obtaining industry-recognized credentials.

"The success of our students is measured not only by graduation day, but by what comes next after they walk across that stage," Daria said. "These results show that our students are leaving our schools ready to pursue meaningful opportunities and build successful futures."

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