Early Release Requirement & College and Career Readiness
Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, for a student to be considered for an early release or an abbreviated schedule as a senior, they must be college and/or career ready (CCR) OR have a concrete plan in place to obtain principal approval. Additionally, any student who qualifies as CCR, will earn an orange and white cord to wear at graduation. Here, all the information can be found on how to earn your CCR certification so that by the time you are a senior, you are already qualified.
Updated Early Release Requirement Letter to Students and Parents
If a student is NOT college and career ready prior to their senior year, they must complete the principal approval form in order to obtain early release/abbreviated schedule. Read through some example scenarios that would be approved.
Why is this important?
Greenville County Schools was innovative in their “Graduation +” initiative by making it a goal that every student not only graduate, but graduate as college and career ready with something beyond a diploma that they can take with them. This initiative was later adopted by the state and is now an integral part of graduating seniors’ and state high schools’ accountability and rating system.
College and Career Ready Requirements
College Ready
AP Exam of 3 or Better - AP courses at Mauldin High School are a great way to qualify as CCR. Performing well can earn you college credit based on the end of course examination. Visit our Special Programs webpage for more information. Additionally, the College Board website has valuable information regarding AP courses, testing, and preparation.
Pass 6 Dual Enrollment Hours w/ a C or Better - Similar to AP courses, dual enrollment classes are college classes that you can earn both HS and college credit for. We share a partnership with local universities. These courses are tuition free and are taught by MHS teachers. Students who meet entrance requirements (via the Accuplacer test), and pass 2 courses (or 6 hours) with a C or better, qualify as CCR and earn college credit. Visit our Dual Enrollment webpage for more information. Ulike AP courses, there is no “exam” in order to earn college credit.
ACT Score of 20 or Better - The ACT test is one of the tests offered to third year students and is generally used for entrance into 4 year universities. MHS offers one of the college entrance exams to each third year student free of charge. Learn more about how you can prepare for the ACT. Students are also welcome and encouraged to take these tests on their own outside of the free MHS offering.
SAT Score of 1020 or Better - The SAT test is one of the tests offered to third year students and is generally used for entrance into 4 year universities. MHS offers one of the college entrance exams to each third year student free of charge. Learn more about how you can prepare for the SAT. Students are also welcome and encouraged to take these tests on their own outside of the free MHS offering.
Career Ready
Completes a State Approved Work-Based Learning Program - Work-based learning (WBL) is a school-coordinated, sponsored, coherent sequence of workplace experiences that are related to students’ career goals and/or interests, are based on instructional preparation, and are performed in partnership with local businesses, industries, or other organizations in the community. WBL enables students to apply classroom instruction in a real-world business or service-oriented work environment. Learn more about the ten WBL methods of instruction currently recognized in South Carolina.
CTE Completer w/ Certification - Beginning last year, students will be asked to complete a pathway within their elective credits required for graduation. Each semester students can take courses within their pathway to become a completer. Most pathways have two required courses and then the students can pick from one additional (within the pathway) to become a completer. By doing this, and earning a certification (offered within one of the three courses during the pathway) the student qualifies as a completer. This does NOT require any additional testing, just completion of the coursework (which is done during the typical HS experience when followed) Our counselors are well versed in helping our students decide on and stick with a pathway. Mr. Bradford can field any questions regarding CTE courses.
Earn Silver, Gold, or Platinum on the WIN Test - The WIN: Ready to Work assessment, which replaced the “work keys” assessment is an employability test that is required for ALL 3rd year students. This is by far the most attainable way to qualify as CCR. Learn more about WIN Testing. Considering this is given in a student's 3rd year of HS and is required, this is an excellent way to qualify prior to senior year.
ASVAB Score of 31 or Better - The ASVAB test, commonly thought to be for armed forces enlistment, is a valuable career exploration tool. We offer the ASVAB at several points throughout the year. Our students, who elect to take it, perform well and are provided their results with a free interpretation to identify career paths aligned with their strengths. The taking of the ASVAB does not commit them to anything relating to the armed forces. Learn more about the ASVAB.