South Carolina Grading Policy

As required by state law, the South
Carolina Uniform Grading Scale is used when awarding student grades for all classes.  

Letter Grade  

   SC Uniform Grading Scale  

 A  90-100

 B  80-89

 C  70-79

 D  60-69

 F 59 or below 

Click here to open the SC Uniform Grading Scale (SCUGS) Conversion Table for specific quality points awarded for each numeric grade.

In order to be awarded a high school diploma in South Carolina a student must have earned a minimum of 24 Carnegie Units in specific areas and pass both the English and Math sections of the SC High School Assessment Program (HSAP) exam. 

The unit requirements are distributed as follows:

 Subject

Units Required 

 English/Language Arts - 4

 Mathematics -4

 Science 1 -  3

 US History and Constitution -1

 Economics  - .5 

 United States Government - .5

 Other Social Studies -1 

 P.E. or Junior ROTC - 1 

Computer Science (including keyboarding) -1 

Foreign Language or Career & Tech Ed 2 -1 

Electives 3 -7

Total Units 4 - 24

Students planning on entering a 4-Year College//University after graduation are expected to earn 3 credits in courses designated as a “Lab Science”.  Physical Science is a foundational science and is critical for preparation with other science courses but is not designated as a “Lab Science” by the SC Commission on Higher Education and SC Colleges/Universities.

Students in a College Prep program must earn one unit in a foreign language.  However, most 4-Year colleges/universities in SC require at least two years of the same foreign language.  Some Colleges/Universities require 3 credits in a foreign Language.  Students in a Tech Prep Program must earn one unit in a Career and Technology Education (CTE) course.

1. Beginning with the class of 2011 colleges require that students earn at least one Fine Arts credit.

2. Must pass both sections of the exit examination (HSAP).

Credit Recovery is an option that can be used to assist students who are at risk of not graduating or delayed graduation due to a course failure.  The purpose of the program is to offer an opportunity for motivated students to recover lost credit by using an alternative instructional model (Stall uses the APEX computer-based program).

Credit Recovery is for students who have met the seat time requirement (120 hours for 1 unit and 60 hours for ½ unit) and earned a final grade of between 51-59.

There are other specific guidelines and limitations for participation in the Credit Recovery courses.  Students interested must see their guidance counselor to determine eligibility and to be scheduled to participate.