High School Frequently Asked Questions:
Printable Flyer with this information: Click HERE
Record-keeping and transcripts:
Transcript assistance and preparation is included in SC TOP fees. In cooperation with the policies of the Commission on Higher Education (CHE), SC TOP ranks all students in the 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th grades. See Ranking policy in the handbook: Click here for Handbook
All High school students must submit grade reports as part of their end-of-year documentation along with the 180-day report—Due: June 5th. Yes, this is more than the minimums required in the code of law. But, your student will need a transcript for the doors of opportunity to open beyond high school.
The SC uniform grade scale is complicated. Contact SC TOP director with any questions or clarifications about this policy or to request official copy of your student’s transcript. SC TOP is here to help you prepare a professional quality transcript. We want all of our grads to have every opportunity available.
Click here for transcript assistance
Special Needs:
Students working on an alternate diploma track for life skills and jobs will not be ranked and will not be required to do transcripts.
Testing:
The PSAT should be taken in the 10th or 11th grade. Certain scholarships are awarded based on the 11th grade PSAT scores. You must register for the PSAT through a local school. This test is given only in October of each school year, but check with the school ASAP for directions on registering.
SAT/ACT: Students should take the SAT or ACT in the fall and spring of the junior year. It is vitally important for two reasons: 1) it makes students eligible to apply for scholarships, and 2) it gives students the opportunity to practice taking the test(s) so that they have time to improve their scores during the senior year. Please refer to any requirements for a specific scholarship you are seeking.
The SAT or ACT can be taken again in the fall of the senior year. Seniors could take it again in the spring if they would like another opportunity to raise their scores. The SAT counts the highest score attained in each segment.
You can register for the SAT on-line at www.collegeboard.com or by calling 1-800-728-7267. You can register for the ACT on-line at www.act.org or by calling 1-800-525-6926.
Please use the SC TOP code for College Board when registering PSAT/ACT/SAT: 410034
Workkeys is test for students who are planning to go into the workforce rather than to college. South Carolina is leading the nation in businesses that utilize the test scores from Workkeys to match applicants to jobs. Find out more at ACT.org
DMV permits and licenses:
Your official membership letter with student names should be sufficient proof for school compliance with DMV. However, each location may implement additional requirements of recent date on the letter. If your student is planning to go to the DMV, SC TOP can issue you an alternate letter that expounds on the law and includes some additional wording and the date they may require. We can issue these, upon request. Please give 24 hours’ notice so we can email it to you.
Curriculum Planning:
You are responsible to pick the curriculum and designate grades for each course credit. You can create your own courses/credits without a curriculum. Real life learning also counts in High school.
Read more about High School requirements for graduation, click here.
Read more about creating your own high school credit, click here.
Kim is available to offer advice and encouragement for your high school planning so that the doors of opportunity open for your student after graduation.
Personal Consultation appointment schedule: click here
Co-op/Resource Center Classes:
Parents are allowed to outsource some of the learning with individual or group tutoring–either as a supplement to the learning at home or as the framework to build on with additional assignments at home. It is the parent’s role to determine the value of the tutoring course as a credit and relay this to SC TOP for their student’s transcript.
Dual enrollment:
3-hour classes count as a full year of high school credit. Colleges may require a letter from SC TOP stating that we allow students to take college courses. SC TOP can issue these letters and sign permission slips, upon request. Please give 24 hours’ notice so we can email it to you.
Virtual SC:
This is a public-school program where homeschool students may take ala carte courses for credit. They are very good at enrolling and working with homeschool students and parents. Please bear in mind when you enroll in these courses, that you must abide by the drop-out policies and the course credits that are earned do count toward official GPA as part of what you report to SC TOP. Final exams (that are not state mandated End of Course Exams) are administered by a certified teacher. If you need assistance obtaining a proctor, SC TOP director can help you locate one. Click here for more about VirtualSC
Eta Omicron Honor Society:
Qualifications for SC TOP’s honor society: 1200 on SAT or 26 (ACT) or 180 (PSAT), plus 3.0 GPA on 4.0 scale. Must provide transcript and test score copy along with application. 10 hours community service and an induction ceremony is required for participation. More info, click here
Palmetto Fellows and other scholarships:
In order to qualify for Palmetto Fellows, students score 1200 SAT or 27 ACT and rank 1or 2 in SC TOP during 10th, 11th or 12th grade. Please contact Kim for more information about getting your records in order to apply for this scholarship. Be sure to have SAT/ACT scores sent to Palmetto Fellows when you register for the exam. SC TOP director must apply for this during the student’s senior year. Your SC TOP (or parent made) transcript may/may not qualify for LIFE or HOPE scholarships instead.
College Board Opportunity Scholarship: Register at College Board to follow steps to college admissions for a chance to win scholarship money. Click here for more details.
FAFSA: If your student is senior, parents should complete the FAFSA application in October. FAFSA is a free application for government aid/loans, awarded on a first come first serve basis. Click here for the FAFSA forms.
End of the Year program/Graduation:
SC TOP hosts an end of the year program to honor our seniors. This program is fun and memorable—a truly unique senior celebration. All SC TOP members are encouraged to attend. So plan to attend and invite family and friends.
Graduates may wear cap/gown, if they wish or just dressy-casual attire of their choice. We need a current photo (and optional baby photo) of the graduate along with a paragraph (or 2 or 3) of the student’s homeschool experience, accomplishments and plans for the future. Every graduate has an interesting story that serves to inspire younger homeschoolers toward the end goal—as they follow the examples of excellence. Contact SC TOP director for more information and to help us plan for a celebration that serves as a meaningful milestone.
Remember the deadline:
Deadline for the grades is June 5th. This ensures that we can calculate High School GPA’s and set ranking reports in compliance with CHE. GPA and rank will be assigned, even if you miss the deadline. Any grades submitted after June 15th count toward next year’s GPA and rank.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact me. I believe we hold each other accountable for maintaining standards of excellence. I am here to help you.
Thanks for choosing SC TOP!
~Kim Andrysczyk
SC TOP director
[email protected]
803-307-4880
Go to High School Info for more help: 