Tennessee Christian Preparatory School will pay $10,000 after a former student sued the private school over her suspension and graduation ban.
A final judgment order was entered Monday, June 22, 2026, in Chancery Court for Bradley County, Tennessee.
The order resolved the lawsuit filed by Morgan Armstrong and her parents. Armstrong was an 18 year old graduating senior when the dispute began in 2025.
Armstrong publicly came out as gay in an April 23, 2025, social media post. The post included photos of Armstrong and her girlfriend, according to court claims reported by People.
Days later, Armstrong said she was called to an administrator’s office and given a suspension letter. The letter barred her from campus and school events, including graduation.
The lawsuit alleged that the school punished Armstrong because she came out as gay. The school disputed that claim and said the disagreement over its policies remains unresolved.
Under the agreement adopted by the court, Armstrong’s suspension has been rescinded.
The order also bars Tennessee Christian Preparatory School from making disparaging remarks about Armstrong to colleges and universities.
The school will pay a $10,000 judgment. The lawsuit is now over.
In a statement to WTVC, the school said both sides still disagree about whether Armstrong violated school policies.
The school said the disagreement remains unresolved and both sides have agreed to move forward. It said no further comments would be made.
Armstrong’s lawsuit also alleged that the school threatened to withhold her diploma and hurt her college admissions process if she spoke publicly about the case. The court order said the school had not contacted colleges to disparage her.
Daniel Horwitz, an attorney for Armstrong and her family, said schools should be places where students feel welcome and supported.
Horwitz told People that administrators should not discipline or threaten students for being gay. He also praised Armstrong’s decision to challenge the school’s actions.
The case drew attention because it centered on a private school, a social media post, and a student’s right to finish senior year without being barred from graduation.
Armstrong told The Washington Post in 2025 that other students posted about their boyfriends or girlfriends. She said she wanted to do the same.
The settlement does not decide every disputed claim between the two sides. But it does clear Armstrong’s suspension, protects her from negative comments to colleges, and gives her a financial judgment.
For Armstrong and her family, the order closes a legal fight that began with one post and grew into a national debate over school discipline, LGBTQ students, and fairness.