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Giles County High School

Early Graduation, Ready Graduate, & EPSOs

What is Early Graduation and a Ready Graduate?

High school students shall be permitted to complete one of the two early graduation programs. Option 1 is the LEA Early Graduation Policy as outlined below and in board policy 4.605 or Option 2 is the TDOE Move on When Ready as outlined below.

LEA Early Graduation Policy

In order to graduate early under the LEA Early Graduation policy, students must complete the requirements listed below.

1. Meet all state and local graduate requirements

2. Meet Ready Graduate Requirements

3. Must declare intent no earlier than spring semester of their junior year

4. Administrator discretion for extenuating circumstances along with director of schools’ or designee’s approval

TDOE Move on When Ready Policy 

Students intending to graduate early shall inform the school principal of this intent prior to the beginning of 9th grade or as soon thereafter as the intent is known. This is the TDOE Move on When Ready policy.

In order to graduate early, students must meet the following requirements:

1.  Earn the required seventeen (17) credits;

2.  Achieve a benchmark score for each required end-of-course exam;

3.  Attain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale;

4.  Meet the minimum ACT or SAT benchmark score;

5.  Obtain a qualifying benchmark score on a world language proficiency assessment; and

6.  Complete at least two (2) types of the following courses:

a.   AP;

b.   Dual enrollment

A Ready Graduate is a high school graduate who successfully meets milestones that increase the probability of seamlessly enrolling in post-secondary education and securing high-quality employment. To qualify to be an Early Graduate (graduating in December versus May), the student must complete the following and be a Ready Graduate:

  • Complete all 26 required credits.
  • Must have taken the ACT and Civics Test 

To be a Ready Graduate, students are encouraged to meet one or more of the following indicators:

  • ACT Composite score of 21 or higher 

  • SAT score of 1060 or higher

  • Four Early Post Secondary Opportunities, or EPSOs

  • Two EPSOs & pass an industry certification

  • Two EPSOs & a 31 on a military entrance exam - the Armed Forces Qualification Test (AFQT) and the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

****EPSOs are dual enrollment courses, or AP courses.  To count toward Ready Graduate you must have received a passing grade in the course.****

What is an Early Post Secondary Opportunity?

An Early Post Secondary Opportunity, or EPSO, is a high school course or program that allows a student to gain college credit or industry certification. To earn an EPSO, the student must take the exam corresponding to the course or program, and in some cases, the student must earn a passing score on the exam to earn an EPSO.
Giles County Schools offers the following EPSOs in our academic programming:

  • Advanced Placement Courses (must complete the course and attempt the exam to earn an EPSO)
  • Dual Enrollment Courses (must complete the course to earn an EPSO)
  • Industry Certification Exams (must earn a passing score on an exam or complete licensure requirements)

Students will create an EPSO and 6-year course plan in the 8th grade and will update it annually with their school counselor.