College Credits While in High School
Kershaw County School District students may obtain college credits through the following programs:
Advanced Placement courses are designed for students ready for the rigors of college-level academic work. This program is operated by a national organization, the College Board, which defines course curriculum, provides teacher training, and administers a national standardized examination for each course. By South Carolina regulation, students enrolled in an Advanced Placement course funded by the State must take the Advanced Placement examination administered by the College Board. Most colleges award college credit to students who earn at least a rating of “3” out of a possible “5” on the examination while others require a score of “4”. Some colleges require successful completion of Advanced Placement courses for admission to the college and do not award credits toward the college degree. Parents and students are advised to check with colleges and universities for details. The student’s grade for a high school Carnegie unit will be based on the teacher’s course grades and the course grade will receive an additional weighting on the South Carolina Uniform Grading Scale.
Dual Credit courses are those courses for which the student has been granted permission to earn both Carnegie units (high school) and college credit. Students must meet the entrance requirements specified by the college. Students are responsible for verifying any college or university’s acceptance of credits earned as dual credit. Enrollment in a dual credit course does not guarantee college or university acceptance. Only courses applicable to baccalaureate degrees, associate degrees, or certificates offered by accredited institutions in South Carolina may be accepted for dual credit. Lottery tuition scholarships pay for the tuition for students enrolled in six or more college hours at Central Carolina Technical College. Books and other college course fees shall be at the expense of the student or his or her parents or legal guardians. A college course shall transfer as a 1.0 Carnegie unit at the high school. These courses receive an additional weighting on the South Carolina Uniform Grading Scale. Dual credit classes may be taken beginning at the completion of the 10th grade year. For classes to count as dual credit, they must be taken at the institution with which KCSD has a Memorandum of Agreement. Currently that institution is Central Carolina Technical College.
The Teacher Cadet Program is a college-level dual credit course intended for students interested in pursuing a career in education. Opportunities are provided for students to gain factual information about teaching as a profession as well as to observe and experience teaching activities in various school settings. Students are responsible for verifying any college or university’s acceptance of credits earned for completing the Teacher Cadet Program. Enrollment in the course does not guarantee college or university acceptance. Any fees or costs of the program are the responsibility of the student or his or her parents or legal guardians.