Mccormick High School

High School Profile 2016-17 MCCORMICK HIGH SCHOOL 6981 US HWY 28 S MCCORMICK, SC 29835 CEEB Code: 411415 Main Office: (864) 443-0040 Counseling Office: (864) 443-0043 Website: mccormick.k12.sc.us Principal: Mr. J. Steven English School Counselor: Dr. Velma Alicia Williams

Community With 9,706 people, McCormick County is the 45th most populated county in the state of South Carolina out of 46 counties. In terms of population, Allendale County is close behind with 9,433 people.

The largest McCormick County racial/ethnic groups are Black (49.2%) followed by White (48.4%) and Hispanic (1.1%).

In 2014, the median household income of McCormick County residents was $38,919. McCormick County households made slightly more than Laurens County households ($38,300) and Saluda County households ($38,216). However, 21.6% of McCormick County residents live in poverty. The median age for McCormick County residents is 51.0 years young.

School Set in a rural setting, McCormick High is a comprehensive four-year public high school enrolling 197 students in grades 9-12. The population of our students is as follows: 80%- African-American; 11%- White; .5%- Asian; 2%- Hispanic or Latino. Eighteen percent of our students are first-generation college students; and the percentage of students who eat free or reduced lunch is 100%. Twenty-eight percent of this year’s class plans on attending a 2-year college; Seventy-two percent plan on attending a 4-year college; Ten percent of students plan on entering the military. This year’s graduating class of 2017 is the smallest in recent history with 39 students eligible to receive a diploma. The high school is a part of the educational complex, which houses McCormick Elementary and McCormick Middle School. Curriculum The academic program is organized on a block schedule. Eight credits per semester is the maximum course load; students take four 90-minute block classes. Block scheduling was instituted during the 2015-2016 school year. The following classes are AP/ Dual Enrollment classes offered through the partnership between Piedmont Technical College and McCormick County School District: ENG 101 English Composition 1 ENG 102 English Composition 2 ENG 209 World Literature MAT 110 College Algebra MAT 120 Probability and Statistics BIO 101 Biological Science 1 BIO 102 Biological Science 2 HIS 201 American History: Discovery 1866 HIS 202 American History: Discovery 1877 ECO 210 Macroeconomics PSC 201 American Government SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology PSY 101 General Psychology SPC 205 Public Speaking SPA 101 Elementary Spanish 1 COL 101 College Skills ART 101 Art History and Appreciation CPT 101 Introduction to Computers

Honors classes are also offered in English, Math, Science and History. In addition, the Career and Technical Education programs are Business Education, Health Science, Building Construction and Education and Training. An ROTC program is offered for students interested in pursuing a career in the military.

Weighting of Grades and Class Rank The state of South Carolina has implemented a ten-point grading scale for all students, as shown on the table below, beginning with the 2016-2017 academic school year. McCormick County School District utilizes a system of weighting courses when determining class rank. This system indicates the degree of difficulty of the courses. All grades earned after July 1, 2016 will be weighted as outlined on the 4.0 weighted scale below. Class rank will be calculated with the PowerSchool computer system using grade point averages based on the scale below for all students who entered high school for the first time in August 2016 and beyond. Class rank for students entering high school for the first time prior to that date will be computed as outlined in the Program of Study that corresponds to their ninth grade academic year. Grading Scale for All Grades Earned after July 1, 2016 Grade Numerical Value A 90-100 B 80-89 laboratory science for which biology, chemistry, physics and/or C 70-79 earth science is a prerequisite. D 60-69 Courses in general or introductory science for which one of these four F 0-59 units is not a prerequisite will not Grade Point Average (GPA) meet this requirement. It’s strongly is calculated using the following recommended that students desiring formula: GPA = sum of quality points to pursue careers in science, x units Sum of units attempted mathematics, engineering or technology take one course in all four fields: biology, chemistry, A minimum of 24 credits is required physics, and earth science. for graduation. South Carolina. Some colleges require 4. TWO UNITS OF THE SAME courses in addition to those listed below WORLD LANGUAGE: Two units (see college catalogues for admission with a heavy emphasis on language requirements). Note: The Commission acquisition. on Higher Education requirements may 5. THREE UNITS OF SOCIAL be adjusted at a later date to reflect SCIENCE: One unit of U.S. changes in diploma requirements. History, a half unit of Economics, and a half unit of Government are 1. FOUR UNITS OF ENGLISH: All required. World History or four units must have strong reading Geography is strongly (including works of fiction and recommended. nonfiction), writing, communicating, and researching 6. ONE UNIT OF FINE ARTS: One components. It is strongly unit in appreciation of, history of, or recommended that students take two performance in one of the fine arts. units that are literature based, This unit should be selected from including American, British, and among media/digital arts, dance, World Literature. music, theater, or visual and spatial arts. 2. FOUR UNITS OF MATHEMATICS: These units 7. ONE UNIT OF PHYSICAL must include Algebra I, Algebra II, EDUCATION OR ROTC and Geometry. A fourth higher-level One unit of physical education to mathematics unit should be taken include one semester of personal before or during the senior year. fitness and another semester in 3. LABORATORY SCIENCE: Two lifetime fitness. *Exemption units must be taken in two different applies to students enrolled in fields of the physical, earth, or life Junior ROTC and for students sciences and selected from among exempted because of physical biology, chemistry, physics, or earth disability or for religious science. The third unit may be from reasons. the same field as one of the first two units (biology, chemistry, physics, 8. TWO UNITS OF ELECTIVES: or earth science) or from any Two units must be taken as electives. A college preparatory 1. Foundations in Algebra and course in Computer Science (i.e., Intermediate Algebra may count together one involving significant as a substitute for Algebra I if a student programming content, not simply successfully completes Algebra II. No keyboarding or using applications) is strongly recommended for this other courses may be substituted for the elective. Other acceptable electives three required mathematics courses include college preparatory courses (Algebra I, Algebra II, and Geometry). in English; fine arts; foreign languages; social science; 2. Each institution may make exceptions humanities; mathematics; physical in admitting students who do not meet education; and laboratory science all of the prerequisites, limited to those (courses for which biology, individual cases in which the failure to chemistry, physics, or earth science meet one or more prerequisites is due to is a prerequisite). Total Units: 24 circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the student. NOTES