SC and Horry County Honors and Award Criteria

SOUTH CAROLINA ACADEMIC HONORS AWARD

Receive a minimum grade of “B” for each semester course through the 7th semester
Achieve either a score of 710 on the SAT verbal OR a score of 690 on SAT math or an ACT score of 30 on English OR 33 on Math
OR Verbal and Math SAT TOTAL of 1400 ORACT composite score of 31

HORRY COUNTY SCHOOLS HONORS DIPLOMA (must meet ALL of the following)

GPA = or > 4.0
Sat V + M = or > 1000 or ACT Composite = or > 22
5 or more math courses
4 or more credit bearing science courses
Three or more courses at the AP, IB, or Dual Credit level.
3 or more courses in the same foreign language or four courses in two different foreign languages
At least 28 high school credits, meet requirements for a State High School diploma
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.

 Graduating with Honors and Class Rank

High Schools uniformly determine the class rankings of students based on the Grade Point Ratios
(GPRs) of students in grade twelve. GPRs are calculated after seniors’ grades are finalized at the end of 
the school year. GPRs will be used to determine honor graduates at the graduation ceremony. HCSD 
uses the Latin honors system as follows:

Summa Cum Laude – GPR of 4.750 or higher on the SC uniform grading scale.
Magna Cum Laude – GPR of 4.250 or higher, but less than 4.750 on the SC uniform grading scale.
Cum Laude – GPR of 3.750 or higher, but less than 4.250 on the SC uniform grading scale.

The GPR will also be used to determine the Valedictorian (senior with the highest weighted GPR) and 
the Salutatorian (senior with second highest weighted GPR). Preliminary Class Ranking of seniors for 
college admissions and/or scholarships will occur on the 135th day of school. To determine Junior 
Marshals for a Horry County Base School graduation ceremony, eleventh graders will be preliminarily ranked on the 
135th day of school. Tenth and eleventh graders will be ranked after the 180th day of school when all 
grades have been finalized to be considered for initial eligibility for SC Palmetto Fellows Scholarship.

PALMETTO FELLOWS SCHOLARSHIP

GPA = or > 3.5 OR GPA = or > 4.0
SAT 1200 (V+M) or ACT composite 27 OR SAT 1400 (V+M) or ACT composite 32
Rank in top 6% of class at end of 10th, 11th or 12th
LIFE SCHOLARSHIP*

MUST MEET 2 OF THE FOLLOWING 3 CRITERIA AT THE END OF THE SENIOR YEAR WITH THEIR FINAL TRANSCRIPT:

3.0 GPA (This is the only criteria needed to use LIFE at a 2 year school)
Rank in top 30% of class
1100 SAT (V+M) OR 24 ACT

HOPE SCHOLARSHIP*

3.0 GPA
*Students will be recognized for LIFE and HOPE at the awards program based on current GPA, however, the actual award is based on the final transcript. Please visit www.che.sc.gov/StudentServices/scholarship_brochure.pdf for further information.