Grade 9- In order to be classified as a 9th grade student, the individual must have met the requirements of the 8th grade promotion standards

 Grade 10- 6 total credits- 1 Math credit and 1 English credit 

Grade 11- 11 total credits- 2 Math credits and 2 English credits 

Grade 12- 18 total credits- 3 Math credits, 3 English credits, 2 Science, and 2 Social Studies credits 

*Designation as a senior is not a guarantee that graduation requirements will be successfully met. 

Official Class Rank vs. Unofficial Class Rank

Official Class Rank will be determined for tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders on the 180th day of school. Students and parents may request an official transcript, which will include an official rank after the 180th day of school following the students’ tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade. Horry County Schools does not rank ninth graders. 

Unofficial Class Rank may be determined at any time during the school year for tenth, eleventh, or twelfth graders. Unofficial class ranking is only a snapshot of where the student is ranked at the time the transcript is printed. It does not take into account any dual enrollment courses for which the student is currently enrolled, new students who have moved into the school but do not have historical grades, or students who may enroll or leave the school before the end of the school year. All transcripts that are printed with an unofficial class rank will be labeled “Unofficial Transcript”. 

The rank in class for high school students will be computed according to the guidelines included in the S.C. Uniform Grading Policy. The district reserves the right to make changes in its policy concerning the structure for determining class rankings and grade point ratios. 

Preliminary class ranking of seniors for college admissions and/or scholarships 

Preliminary class rank will be uniformly determined on the 135th day of school for twelfth graders based on the students’ weighted GPAs for the following two purposes: 

* To provide preliminary class rank information that seniors need for scholarships and other awards; 

*To provide preliminary class rank information that seniors need for admission to postsecondary programs. 

Note: Preliminary class ranking of seniors may not include all courses in which the student is currently enrolled, such as dual enrollment courses. 

Note: January graduates will not be ranked with the graduating class. 

Ranking of tenth and eleventh graders for South Carolina Palmetto Fellows Scholarship eligibility. 

In order for students in grades ten and eleven to be considered for initial eligibility for South Carolina’s Palmetto Fellows Scholarship, calculation of GPAs and determination of class ranking for tenth and eleventh graders will occur after the 180th day of school when all grades have been finalized. 

Preliminary class ranking of juniors for selection of Junior Marshals 

For the sole purpose of district high school graduation ceremonies, high schools will calculate the class rankings of eleventh graders, based upon their GPAs, on the 135th day of school, in order to identify junior class marshals. This 135th day ranking of eleventh graders is used only for the purpose of identifying junior class marshals. 

Note: Preliminary class ranking of juniors may not include all courses in which the student is currently enrolled, such as dual enrollment courses. 

To determine honor graduates, using the Latin honors system as follows: 

Summa Cum Laude graduates Students with a weighted GPA* of 4.750 or higher on the S.C. uniform grading policy

Magna Cum Laude  graduates Students with a weighted GPA* of 4.250 or higher, but less than 4.750 on the S.C. uniform grading policy

Cum Laude graduates Students with a weighted GPA* of 3.750 or higher, but less than 4.250 on

    the S.C. uniform grading policy 

*Weighted GPA calculations are based upon the S.C. Uniform Grading Policy’s three decimal-point scale, and computations will not be rounded to a higher number. 

Honors graduates will be recognized at each district high school graduation ceremony in the following manner: 

- A notation indicating honor status (i.e., Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Cum Laude) will be inserted by the graduate’s name in the high school’s graduation program. 

- The high school will announce the honor graduate’s level of recognition (i.e., Summa Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Cum Laude) when the graduate walks across the stage. 

- District-wide, a uniform color-coding system will be used for the honor cords awarded to honor graduates. 

The color coding is as follows:

Summa Cum Laude school color + gold 

   Magna Cum Laude     school color + silver 

   Cum Laude     school color + bronze 

- Academic regalia such as honors cords will be worn by a graduate during the ceremony provided that the student is: 

- Eligible for Latin honors recognition, 

- A member of a chartered honor society, or 

- Entering the military. 

- Honor cords or other regalia may not be worn by students in graduation ceremonies to signify a student’s membership or enrollment in an  academy/club/organization/program, a student’s completer status, and/or a student’s winning a competitive event. 

To determine students who will speak at district high school graduation ceremonies: 

The Valedictorian (the senior with the highest rank) will speak at his/her school’s graduation ceremony. 

The Salutatorian (the senior with the second highest rank) will speak at his/her school’s graduation ceremony. 

A third senior, who has earned magna or summa cum laude recognition, will be selected through election by his/her peers in the     magna/summa cum laude student group to speak at his/her school’s graduation ceremony.