Rutherford Choice

A COMMITMENT TO CHOICE

School choice means giving families access to a variety of K-12 education options for their students.

Rutherford County Schools is committed to ensuring we are responsive to our families’ needs, that our families are engaged as partners, and that students have access to a variety of options. Our school choices include high-quality community schools, specialized academic programs and academic magnet schools, a virtual school program, an MTSU laboratory school, and personalized learning environments.

We encourage you to learn more about our academic offerings, enrichment opportunities, and exceptional choices through this School Selection Guide. Please use this resource to explore all that Rutherford County Schools has to offer.

For more information about school choice in Rutherford County email [email protected] or follow on Twitter @RCSchoice.

Final round of choice schools / zone exemption applications for 2024-2025

The following table shows the list of remaining open seats for the 2024-2025 school year. Any Rutherford County family can apply for one of these seats using the link below. The deadline to apply is April 1, 2024, and then a lottery will be held to determine who gets the seats.

ELEMENTARY	K	1	2	3	4	5
Brown's Chapel					5
Christiana					3	5
David Youree		4
Lascassas		5		5
Rockvale					2	28
Smyrna Primary		9			7
Walter Hill			5
Wilson			6		10	23


MIDDLE	6	7	8
Oakland		6	16
Rocky Fork			5
Smyrna		20	20
Whitworth-Buchanan	10	7	6

HIGH	9	10	11	12
Eagleville				20
Siegel		8	10	20

IMPORTANT DEADLINES

Priority Deadline: Requests for all academic magnet schools, advanced academic schools and open choice schools were accepted from Dec. 1, 2023 through Jan. 31, 2024. Except for the academic magnet programs, which use ranking systems, a random lottery of all complete and qualified applications will be conducted to determine which applications are accepted. For information about sibling priorities, please see the frequently asked questions section at the end of this guide.

Secondary Deadline: Requests were accepted for any remaining seats at open choice and advanced academic schools through April 1, 2024. Parents have until April 15 to confirm they are accepting a seat for a student.

2024-2025 CHOICE SCHOOL GUIDE - Applications deadline is Jan. 31, 2024

Rutherford County Schools has published the following guide for parents to learn more about choice school options for 2024-2025 — including academic magnet schools, advanced academic program schools, open choice schools, a virtual school and a charter school. Applications begin Dec. 1, 2023 and the deadline is Jan. 31, 2024.

This guide provides important information for parents regarding how to apply, including a list of schools and their available openings, how to apply, important deadline, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Choice School Guide (ENGLISH)

Choice School Guide (SPANISH)

Choice School Guide (ARABIC)

FILES

PARENT INFORMATION SESSIONS

We have several parent information sessions for the 2024-2025 school year concerning academic magnet schools and RCS choice schools with open seats available.

Central Magnet, McFadden School of Excellence and Thurman Francis Arts Academy will hold individual sessions for parents this week, and then all choice schools (including the magnet schools) will be available to talk with parents at our RCS Choice School Fair being held Dec. 14 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at Rocky Fork Middle School.

Applications for the magnet schools and other RCS Choice Schools will be accepted Dec. 1, 2023 through Jan. 31, 2024 (This process includes any zone exemption requests for the 2024-2025 school year). Check out the RCS Choice School guide HERE for more information. You can also check out our #RCSSundayMessage video from yesterday for more information.

MAGNET / CHOICE SCHOOL PARENT INFO SESSIONS

Central Magnet School - Nov. 27 - 6 p.m.
McFadden School of Excellence - Nov. 28 - 6 p.m.
Thurman Francis Arts Academy - Nov. 30 - 6 p.m.
Smyrna High Cambridge International - Nov. 30 - 6 p.m.
RCS Choice School Fair (all schools, including magnets) - Dec. 14 4:30-6:30 p.m., Rocky Fork Middle School
Oakland High International Baccalaureate - Dec. 18 - 6 p.m.