2015 South Carolina Code of Laws
Title 59 - Education
CHAPTER 39 - HIGH SCHOOLS
Section 59-39-100. Issuance of uniform diplomas by accredited high school; units required.

(A) Diplomas issued to graduates of accredited high schools within this State must be uniform in every respect and particularly as to color, size, lettering, and marking. The number of units required for a state high school diploma is twenty units as prescribed by the State Board of Education. Beginning in the 1986-87 academic year, a minimum of three units must be earned in mathematics and a minimum of two units must be earned in science.

(B) One unit in computer science, if approved by the State Department of Education for this purpose, may be counted toward the mathematics requirement.

(C) 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. Career and technology programs operating on a 3-2-1 structure may count pre-career and technology education as one of the six required units.

(D) Beginning with the ninth grade class of school year 1997-98, the number of units required for a high school diploma is twenty-four units as prescribed by the State Board of Education by regulation, with one additional unit required in mathematics, science, and computer science to include keyboarding. For students in a college preparatory track, as defined by the state board, one additional unit must be earned in a foreign language; and for students in a track designed to enter the work force, as defined by the state board, one additional career and technology unit must be earned. Beginning with the ninth grade class of school year 1997-98, if a student counts one unit of computer science toward his mathematics requirement as permitted above, one additional unit of computer science must be earned.

(E) Nothing in this section prohibits local school boards of trustees from awarding recognition to students who complete additional units and credits beyond those required by this section.

HISTORY: 1962 Code Section 21-630; 1952 Code Section 21-630; 1942 Code Section 5415; 1933 (38) 164; 1984 Act No. 512, Part II, Section 9, Division II, Subdivision A, SubPart 1, Section 1; 1997 Act No. 155, Part II, Section 6; 2005 Act No. 49, Section 11, eff May 3, 2005.

Effect of Amendment

The 2005 amendment designated subsections (A) to (E); in the second sentence of subsection (C), substituted "Career and technology" for "Vocational" and "pre-career and technology" for "pre-vocational"; in the second sentence of subsection (D), substituted "career and technology" for "vocational"; and made nonsubstantive language changes in subsections (C), (D) and (E).