Northwestern High School - Rock Hill School District

PROMOTION AND RETENTION
Northwestern follows a promotion system based upon earned credits. This system gives students and
parents a more realistic assessment of the student’s progress toward earning a state high school diploma.
The requirements meet the minimum state defined level and are as follow
Sophomore
4credits
1 English
1 math
1 science and/or
1 social studies
1 elective in a program of study
Junior
10 credits
2 English
2 math
1 science
1 social studies
4 electives in a program of study
Senior
16 credits
3 English
3 math
2 science
2 social studies
6 electives in a program of study
Students that fail required classes are strongly encouraged to retake them in credit recovery programs
provided in order to stay on track for promotion and graduation. Contact your counselor for complete
information.
REQUIREMENTS FOR STATE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA
In grades 9-12 and in accelerated courses in the 8th grade, students earn one Carnegie unit for
each one block course successfully completed. Courses such as Health and Driver’s Ed. are nine
weeks courses. Students must complete both of the courses in the “set” they select. Completion
will earn one full credit. In order to receive a state high school diploma, a student must attend the
district school issuing the diploma for at least the semester immediately preceding graduation
(except in the case of a bona fide change of residence where the sending school will not grant the
diploma) and have earned a minimum of 24 Carnegie units which are distributed as follows:
17