Grade 8.5 to be introduced at S.C. school

CLOVER, S.C., Feb. 3 (UPI) -- Administrators of a South Carolina school district say they will add grade 8.5 by next fall to help struggling students navigate from middle to high school.

The level between eighth and ninth grades in the Clover, S.C., school district would be for students who do poorly on state testing coming into high school, WCNC-TV in Charlotte, N.C., reported.

"We want to bring you to Clover High School but we want to put you in a math or English class that is at your level," said Principal Ron Wright.

Wright said the new grade level will allow students to stay with kids their own age and test back into ninth grade after one semester, rather than being held back.

"You are not really in ninth grade even though you are at the high school but you are not retained in eighth grade. So, we think it has a much positive aspect to it," Wright added.

School officials said grade 8.5 could increase the number of graduates by reducing dropout rates.