Horry County Schools’ 10^th graders improved performance on the High School Assessment Program (HSAP) examination and continue to outpace the state average on the test.

This year, 81.9 percent of Horry County Schools’ 10^th graders passed the state’s high school exit exam on their first attempt in spring 2007, a 1.2 point increase from 80.7 percent who passed in 2006. Of those who did not pass on the first attempt, 9.2 percent missed on English/language arts, an improvement over 12.5 percent who did not pass in 2006. In the area of mathematics, 15.7 percent did not pass, compared to 13.7 percent who did not pass last year.

Statewide, 77.1 percent of 10^th graders passed the state’s high school exit exam on their first attempt in spring 2007, a 2.4 point increase from 74.7 percent who passed on their first attempt in 2006. Of those who did not pass on the first attempt, 11.9 percent missed on English/language arts and 20.4 percent missed on mathematics.

Public high school students must pass the English language arts and mathematics sections of the new High School Assessment Program (HSAP) to qualify for a South Carolina diploma.  The tests are initially administered in grade 10, and students who do not qualify have additional opportunities to retake the test in later grades.  About half of the states require high school students to pass an exit exam, in addition to earning the state-mandated number of course credits, to earn a diploma. South Carolina also requires students to earn 24 high school credits to graduate; some states require as few as 14.

In addition to functioning as South Carolina’s high school exit exam, HSAP scores also factor into high school Adequate Yearly Progress ratings under the federal No Child Left Behind law, which requires that all students score Proficient or higher by 2014.  According to South Carolina’s NCLB plan, Proficient is equivalent to a score of 3 on HSAP’s four-level scale.  

In the area of English language arts, 63.9 percent of HCS students scored 3 or higher, a 4.3 point increase from 2006. Fifty-seven percent scored 3 or higher in mathematics, a 2.6 point decrease from 2006. Statewide, 59.8 percent of students scored 3 or higher in English language arts and 52.3 percent scored 3 or higher in mathematics.

HSAP is based on South Carolina’s academic standards, which became law in 1998 and which have been rated among the nation’s best.  Students get their first opportunity to pass HSAP during their second year of high school and have additional opportunities to retake the exit examination.

The following is a list of district high schools, the percent of 10^th grade students who passed both sections on their first attempt, and the percent who scored 3 or higher on English language arts and mathematics:

• Aynor High School: 82.1 percent passed both sections, an increase over 73.4 percent last year; 63.6 percent scored 3 or higher in English/language arts; and 53.8 percent scored 3 or higher in mathematics;
• Carolina Forest High School: 84 percent passed both sections, an increase over 82.7 percent  last year; 68 percent scored 3 or higher in English/language arts; and 62.1 percent scored 3 or higher in mathematics;
• Conway High School: 77.6 percent passed both sections, an increase over 77.2 percent last year; 55.4 percent scored 3 or higher in English/language arts; and 52.7 percent scored 3 or higher in mathematics;
• Green Sea Floyds High School 81.5 percent passed both sections, an increase over 76.2 percent last year; 54.3 percent scored 3 or higher in English/language arts; and 56 percent scored 3 or higher in mathematics;
• Loris High School: 75.2 percent passed both sections, a decrease from 75.6 percent last year ; 55.4 percent scored 3 or higher in English/language arts; and 41.5 percent scored 3 or higher in mathematics;
• Myrtle Beach High School: 82.7 percent passed both sections, a decrease from 85.8 percent last year; 65 percent scored 3 or higher in English/language arts; and 58.2 percent scored 3 or higher in mathematics;
• North Myrtle Beach High School: 84 percent passed both sections, an increase over 77.7 percent last year; 66.4 percent scored 3 or higher in English/language arts; and 57.8 percent scored 3 or higher in mathematics;
• St. James High School: 80.2 percent passed both sections, a decrease from 82.9 percent last year; 65.4 percent scored 3 or higher in English/language arts; and 56.3 percent scored 3 or higher in mathematics; and
• Socastee High School: 86 percent passed both sections, a decrease from 85.8 percent last year; 70.6 percent scored 3 or higher in English/language arts; and 64 percent scored 3 or higher in mathematics.