Exit Examination
All 10th grade students are required to take an exit examination. Passage of the exit examination is a condition for the receipt of a state high school diploma. This requirement also applies to students in an adult education program who are seeking a diploma. Students who do not pass the exit examination must receive academic assistance in the area(s) not passed.

**Starting with the Class of 2006, students will be required to pass the HSAP test instead of the Exit Exam to earn a South Carolina High School Diploma.**

Early Graduation
It is the policy of District One Schools to discourage early graduation. However, students in District One may graduate in three years provided that their program is properly planned and they have received the permission of the principal. Students desiring to graduate early with a State High School Diploma may take junior English during summer school provided they have a non-weighted overall academic average of 85.00 or higher. Students must make application for early graduation no later than April 1 of their sophomore year, and written permission must be obtained from the parent following a conference with the recommendations of their teachers and principal to graduate early.
Students graduating in three years will be ineligible to serve as valedictorian, salutatorian or honor graduate of the graduating class. Refer IHC, IHD.

Grade Point Average
All subjects taken and all grades earned will be used in determining the grade point average of an individual student. Beginning with the Class of 2004, high school subjects taken at the eighth grade level will NOT be included in determining grade point averages.
Additional points to be used in the computation of the grade point average (weighted point) will be granted to a student who takes certain accelerated or advanced courses in the areas of math, science, social studies, English, and other courses designated by the District that meet state guidelines for honors credit.
The grade point average shall be calculated by dividing the total of quality point by the total numbers of units attempted.

Rank in Class
Rank in class will be calculated by placing students in order beginning with the student having the highest grade point average and continuing until all eligible students have been ranked. 
To be included in the class rank, a student must be pursuing a diploma.

Honor Graduate
To be an honor graduate, the following requirements must be met:

1. Students must be in the process of earning 30 units.

2. Have completed eight semesters of high school work with two senior year semesters of residency in the respective school; and

3. Have earned a grade point average of 3.62 or above at the end of his/her eighth semester; and

4. Have all grades during his/her senior year 70 or above.

Junior Marshall
To be a Junior Marshall, the following requirements must be met:

A junior must:

1. Be in the process of earning 23.5 units

2. Have completed five semesters of high school work with two sophomore year semesters and one junior year semester of residency in the respective school.

3. Have earned a grade point average of 3.62 or above at the end of his/her fifth semester. A students must rank in the top 10% of the junior class and have earned an overall grade point average of 3.62.

4. Have all grades during his junior year above 70 (excluding weighted points).

Valedictorian
The senior class valedictorian will be a honor graduate with the highest grade point average at the end of eight semesters.

Salutatorian
The senior class salutatorian will be an honor graduate with the second highest grade point average at the end of eight semesters.

Criteria for Grade placement in grades 9 - 12

All students entering high school for the first time and those who have been in the high school for one year but who have not met the requirements needed to be placed in a tenth grade homeroom will be classified as ninth graders. Grade classifications will be made at the beginning of the school year based upon units earned and will not be changed during the course of the school year.

To be placed in a tenth grade homeroom, a student must have:
>> Completed one year of high school and
>> Earned five units of credit including the following:

One credit of English and one credit of mathematics and two units from the following areas: science, social studies, physical education or ROTC.

To be placed in an eleventh grade homeroom, a student must have:
>> Completed two years of high school and
>> Earned twelve units of credit including all of the following: two units of English, two units of mathematics, one unit of science, one unit of social studies and one unit of physical education or ROTC.

To be placed in a twelfth grade homeroom, a student must have:
>> Completed three years of high school and
>> Earned a minimum of sixteen units credit and
>> Be able to complete all units needed for graduation by the end of second semester.
>> See Board Policy IHF for requirements for early graduation. All disabled students as defined by law and regulation shall be subject's individual education plan (IEP) defines alternative goals and promotion standards.

Class Rankings
Class rankings shall be computed at each of the following points:

1. At the end of the 4th semester

2. At the end of the 6th semester

The senior class will be ranked at the end of the eighth semester for the purpose of determining the class's valedictorian, salutatorian and honor graduates. To be eligible for valedictorian or salutatorian, a student must have completed eight regular semesters, excluding summer school, and met all requirements as specified for an honor graduate as identified in policy IHD.

The junior class will be re-ranked at the end of the fifth semester for the purpose of determining junior marshalls.

With the exception of valedictorian and salutatorian, class ranks will be reported by percentage groups only (i.e. top 20%). Class ranks will not be published.

In order to be included in class rankings, a student must be enrolled in a diploma program.