• HSAP measures student achievement in English language arts and math. Students who do not pass HSAP must receive academic assistance in the area(s) not passed and will have the opportunity to retake the test they missed up to two times each year.
• Students are required to take HSAP in the spring of the second year of high school after their enrollment in ninth grade, whether or not they qualify as sophomores.
• HSAP has four achievement-level scores: Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4. To graduate, students must score a Level 2 or higher. Level 3 is considered Proficient by the federal No Child Left Behind Act. Level 2 qualifies for graduation, but doesn’t count toward the school meeting AYP.
• A South Carolina High School Certificate will be awarded to students who do not pass HSAP. The certificate will show the number of credits earned and grades completed.

• English/Language Arts: 4 units
• U.S. History and Constitution: 1 unit
• Economics (1/2 unit) & US Government (1/2 unit): 1 unit
• Other Social Studies: 1 unit
• Math: 4 units
• Natural Science: 3 units
• Computer Science (includes keyboarding): 1 unit
• Physical Education or JROTC: 1 unit
• Electives: 7 units
• (Other )*1 unit

• At least 50 percent of the instructional time in English I, II, III, IV and in any other course used to meet the language arts requirement for graduation must be devoted to the teaching of composition and grammar.
• Students who earn one unit in science and six or more units in a specific occupational service area will meet the science requirements for a state high school diploma. Vocational programs operating on a 3-2-1 structure may count prevocational education as one of the six required units.
• Students who otherwise meet the requirements for a state high school diploma must demonstrate proficiency in keyboarding and computer literacy as a condition for the receipt of a high school diploma.
• At least one time during the four years of grades 9 through 12, each student will receive a program of instruction in comprehensive health to include the specified curriculum and minutes of instruction as outlined in the Comprehensive Health Education Act of 1988 and the regulations of the SC Board of Education.

Participating in graduation
Students must meet all requirements to be eligible to participate in high school graduation ceremonies. If a student has not passed the exit exam, the student may participate in his/her high school graduation if he/she:

• has completed 24 course credit requirements for a diploma,
• is eligible to receive a State or District certificate; or
• has completed a prescribed program of special education which makes the student eligible to receive an exit document.

When a student has completed the requirements to graduate but commits a Level II or Level III violation of the student behavior code during his/her last semester, the principal may choose to deny the student the privilege of participating in the graduation ceremony. The student and parent will be given due process and may appeal the decision as outlined for student suspensions. The student will receive the diploma or certificate, but not
during the graduation ceremony.

High school diplomas and certificates

During graduation ceremonies, students are presented with exit documents that signify the end of their public school education. Depending on the requirements met by the student, he/she may receive an HCS Honors
Diploma, South Carolina State High School Diploma, HCS Occupational Diploma, South Carolina State High School Certificate, or an HCS High School Certificate. Below is an explanation of the requirements for each of these documents:

State High School Diploma:
A student must earn 24 required units and pass all parts of the HSAP.

HCS Honors Diploma:
A student must surpass the minimum requirement for graduation and meet the additional following criteria:

• A Grade Point Average of 4.0 or higher;
• A composite SAT score of 1000 or higher (Critical Reading & Math) or a composite ACT score of 22 or higher;
• Five (5) or more math courses and four or more (4) credit-bearing courses in science;
• Three (3) or more courses at the Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), or Dual Credit level. Two (2) of three (3) must be at the AP or IB level or earned through the Scholars Academy. 
• At least three (3) courses of the same foreign language or four (4) courses in two (2) different foreign languages
• At least 28 high school units, meet requirements for a State high school diploma, or participate in Scholars Academy.
• Show evidence of participation in at least one school sponsored organization during grades 10-12, or complete 50 hours of approved community service during high school.

Eligibility for the Honors Diploma will be made after the 135th day of school in the semester of graduation. Students with serious behavioral offenses may be denied an Honors Diploma.

HCS Occupational Diploma:
Special Education students with an Individualized Education Plan who do not meet requirements for a State high school diploma may earn an Horry County Schools Occupational Diploma. The following is a summary
of requirements for this diploma.

Students must meet at least the minimum requirements for attendance as set by Board policy, earn a minimum of the equivalent of four units of English reading, the equivalent of four units of math, complete 16 additional units, complete a Career-Life Planning Portfolio, and independently
develop and give a multimedia presentation to demonstrate accomplishments. In addition, students meet of the following criteria:

• Grade level equivalency of 6.0 or above in reading and writing or a minimum score on the HSAP as set by the District, or demonstrated annual growth in English language arts shown through diagnostic testing;
• Grade level equivalency of 6.0 or above in math or a minimum score on HSAP as set by the District or demonstrated annual growth in math shown through diagnostic testing;
• Completion of an internship, apprenticeship, or job experience earning 360 or more hours with the same employer;
• Ability to show work, personal, interpersonal, and selfmanagement skills;
• Understand how to use public transportation and know how to get a driver's license;
• Understand how to use the computer to find, process, and publish information;
• Complete at least 20 hours of community service;
• Understand daily living skills needed for independent living; and
• Show self-advocacy skills by leading and/or participating in own IEP meetings.

Such students are required by the SC Department of Education to take the HSAP; however, they are not required to pass the HSAP in order to receive the occupational diploma.

South Carolina High School Certificate:
Students who complete required units for graduation and do not pass one or more tests on HSAP may receive a South Carolina High School Certificate. Additional opportunities to take HSAP are available to students if enrolled
Adult Education.

HCS High School Certificate:
Students who attend high school for four years and do not earn the required units of credit and/or do not pass all parts of HSAP may receive an Horry County Schools High School Certificate. More information is available through high school guidance counselors.

Additional graduation provisions for students with disabilities

• A student with disabilities, who receives a certificate and later wants to re-enter high school to pursue a diploma, may do so if he/she is age 21 or younger.
• Parents of high school students with disabilities must be informed through the IEP of the type of credit a student is receiving for courses taken and whether the course counts toward a diploma or certificate.
• As specified by the SC Department of Education, a State high school diploma or a certificate designed and issued by the school district shall be awarded students who complete a program of prescribed special education. If a Special Education student is trying to earn a diploma the following two alternatives are available: