The South Carolina Junior Scholars Program was developed by the South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) during the 1985-86 school year to reflect the statewide effort to improve education in South Carolina and to provide for the needs of students possessing exceptional academic talent. The purpose of the program is to identify these students and to provide opportunities that will facilitate their intellectual growth, broaden their individual interests and promote their scholastic achievement.
The program includes a process for screening a potential talent pool of students, identifying and recognizing those students with exceptionally high scholastic achievement and intellectual ability, and sponsoring summer opportunities in collaboration with participating South Carolina colleges, universities, and the Governor’s School for Science and Math.
Students who qualify for this special recognition will receive an Award of Merit certificate and a Junior Scholar bumper sticker from the South Carolina Department of Education. If parental release forms are received, students are invited to attend summer opportunities at participating South Carolina colleges, universities and the Governor’s School for Science and Math.
- Students must be enrolled in the eighth grade in a public, private, or home school in South Carolina.
- To participate, home-schooled students must meet provisions in the state law (S.C. Code Ann.§59-65-40, §59-65-45, and §59-65-47).
- Students who score 550 or higher on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing subtests of the PSAT/NMSQT
- Students who score 530 or higher on the Math subtest of the PSAT/NMSQT
For more information about the South Carolina Junior Scholars Program, please contact the school’s guidance counselor.
2026-2027 Resources for Schools and Districts
Junior Scholars Program Directions and Composite Form
Directions for Submitting Junior Scholars for the 2026-2027 School Year
- Complete all of the information requested in the spreadsheet for each student. Group students by the schools attended. Include PSAT/NMSQT scores.
- Include only students qualifying by eight-grade PSAT/NMSQT scores of 550 or higher in Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing or 530 or higher in Mathematics. Scores must be provided on this spreadsheet.
- Do not change the formatting on the Excel spreadsheet. Districts must return this Excel spreadsheet. Google forms are not accepted.
- Please submit the completed form through Formstack no later than January 29, 2027, using this link.
- Please review all information before submitting it for accuracy.
- All permission forms must be retained in the school district/private school/association office.
Composite Form
