States recognize that a workforce skill shortage exists and have started educational initiatives to prepare students for workforce readiness and postsecondary success. There is a growing consensus among states that the goal of our education system is to prepare students for a career, college, or the military by providing all students with experience that they will use to build the knowledge and skills necessary for entry into and success. According to Kreamer et al. (2014), more than half of the states in the U.S. use career-focused readiness indicators. One of those indicators is a way to prepare students for future success through a high school college and career readiness program that offers Industry Recognized Credentials (IRC), providing for stackable credentials that enable several opportunities (Stone, 2017). To fully prepare students to meet these skills demands, Texas Governor Abbott instituted House Bill 3 (HB3) of the 86th Legislature. HB3 supports the State of Texas' mission to prepare every student for success in college, career, or the military. The Texas Education Agency (TEA) has supported this bill by including College, Career, and Military Readiness (CCMR) in the yearly school Texas A-F Accountability system. CCMR earnings and State Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR) assessments account for 40 percent of a school's yearly report card. CCMR is an effort to prepare students with skills that are critical. CCMR administrators of rural schools include Superintendent, Principal, or CTE administrator. This basic qualitative study sought to understand administrators' perceptions regarding college, career, and military programs in high school and to determine the characteristics that comprise a successful college, career, and military readiness program. Ten Texas top ranking school CCMR administrators were interviewed. Administrators' interviews were transcribed and sent to administrator for approval and correction. Themes and sub themes that emerged include dual credit classes, college preparation, certifications, programs of study, college, TSI, CCMR, accountability higher education, industry partners, employability skills, explore, track students, scheduling, early start, individual plan, personnel, and finance. The research findings of the study revealed best practices and processes that the district used to earn CCMR status that resulted in the district as a top-ranking Texas CCMR rural school. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]