Max Fischer, a tenth grade scholarship student at Rushmore Academy, falls in love with Rosemary Cross, a widowed elementary school teacher, but his friendship with Herman Blume, an unhappy, wealthy industrialist, suffers when Blume falls for Miss Cross as well.

RUSHMORE chronicles a year in the life of Max Fischer, a student at Rushmore Academy, one of the finest schools in the country. Max loves his prestigious school. He is the editor of the newspaper and yearbook; founder of the debate team, the dodgeball society, and the Max Fischer Players; and president of the French club, German club, chess club, and practically everything else. Max is applying for early admission to Oxford. Harvard is his safety. However, he is also one of the worst students in the school. Threatened with expulsion, Max begins a new pursuit: falling for a first-grade teacher. But when Max’s tycoon mentor starts an affair with the teacher, it triggers a war between Max and his friend.