Rutherford County Schools serves nearly 45,000 students and employs about 5,200 teachers, administrators and support staff throughout its 47 schools and central office. Rutherford County is the fourth largest district in Tennessee, recently surpassing Hamilton County (Chattanooga). Its mission of empowering today’s students to grasp tomorrow’s opportunities is evidenced throughout every school. With a 2017 graduation rate of 95.3%, the school system exceeds both state and national averages and receives strong community support for education. The district was recently named “Exemplary” by the Tennessee Department of Education, the highest designation available for schools in Tennessee. Rutherford County Schools is known for its robust Career and Technical Education programs and has been used as a model for other districts across Tennessee and beyond for its workforce development partnership with the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce. The district is also home to Central Magnet School, which was ranked the best public high school in Tennessee by U.S. News and World Report.