South Carolina at a glance
- Kindergarten: Must turn 5 on or before Sept. 1.
- Compulsory school age: 5 to 17.
- Required instructional time: 180 days.
- Statewide grading scale: yes — high school credit courses (grades 9-12), since 2016-17.
- Remote learning instead of snow days: no statewide rule identified.
Kindergarten entry age
In South Carolina, a child can typically start kindergarten if they are Must turn 5 on or before Sept. 1. A child born just after the cutoff usually starts a year later — which is why two children born weeks apart can be a full grade apart.
Use the What Grade Am I In? calculator to turn a birthday into a grade level, or compare all states in our kindergarten cutoff table. Source: Education Commission of the States.
School year and attendance
| Rule | South Carolina | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory school age | 5–17 | ECS |
| Minimum instructional days | 180 | ECS (2023) |
| Minimum instructional hours | Not specified | ECS (2023) |
Instructional-time rules decide how many missed days must be made up — the reason a winter with several snow days can push the last day of school later. Count down to yours with the Days Until Summer tool.
Grading scale
South Carolina sets a statewide scale that applies to high school credit courses (grades 9-12), since 2016-17.
| Letter | Percent range |
|---|---|
| A | 90–100 |
| B | 80–89 |
| C | 70–79 |
| D | 60–69 |
| F | 0–59 |
Uniform Grading Policy: State Board adopted a 10-point scale on April 12, 2016, effective 2016-17. Quality points come from the SC conversion chart (numeric grade -> points, weighted by CP/Honors/AP-IB), so per-letter points are left null. Letter bands are the standard 10-point bands (search snippet confirmed 60 = D, 59 and below = F). ed.sc.gov refused connections during research; confirmed via search-indexed content plus a district copy of the SBE presentation (https://spart5.schoolboard.net/sites/sc.spart5.schoolboard.net/files/Uniform%20Grading%20Policy%20SBE%2012%20April%202016_D5Board.pdf). Source. See the South Carolina grading scale page for GPA points and a converter.
Snow days and remote learning
Not verified in this research pass (official site blocked or not reached).
Estimate tomorrow's odds with the Snow Day Calculator.
SAT and ACT scores in South Carolina (class of 2026)
South Carolina's class of 2026 averaged 1021 on the SAT with 54% of graduates tested, and 18.8 on the ACT with 31% tested. Nationally the averages were 1045 (SAT) and 19.2 (ACT).
| Measure | South Carolina | U.S. | Rank (of 51) |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT participation | 54% | n/a | 19 |
| SAT average total | 1021 | 1045 | 38 |
| SAT Reading & Writing / Math | 524 / 497 | 528 / 517 | — |
| SAT total, class of 2025 | 1017 | 1029 | — |
| ACT participation | 31% | 38% | 26 |
| ACT average composite | 18.8 | 19.2 | 39 |
Participation in South Carolina is partial on both tests, so each average reflects a mix of students who chose to test. Compare scores only with states that have similar participation. The SAT and ACT scores by state study shows this participation effect across all 50 states and DC. To see where a single score lands, use the SAT score calculator or the ACT score calculator.
Sources: College Board SAT Suite of Assessments Annual Report (South Carolina, 2026); ACT 2026 average scores by state. Ranks are among the 50 states and DC.
Free tools for South Carolina families and teachers
- High school GPA calculator and final grade calculator
- AP score calculator for May exams
- EZ Grader and report card comments for teachers
- Homework planner and the 10-minute homework rule
State rules change. Facts were checked against the linked sources on October 14, 2026; confirm with your district or state education department.