The South Carolina Department of Education (SCDE) is proud to announce that this year there were 3,545 South Carolina Junior Scholars from all public, private, and home schools. The South Carolina Junior Scholars Program (SCJSP) was developed by the SCDE during the 1985–86 school year to identify eighth grade students with exceptional academic talent and to develop strategies for inclusion into special programs. 

The program includes a process for screening a potential talent pool of students by identifying and recognizing those students with exceptionally high academic achievement and intellectual ability. SCJSP identification criteria include the following: 

Students who scored 550 or higher on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing or 530 or higher on the Math portion of the PSAT/NMSQT; or

Students who participated in Duke University's Talent Identification Program (TIP) during their seventh-grade year, who met the eligibility requirements as outlined by that program, and were identified and recognized by Duke TIP at the State Recognition or Grand Recognition ceremony

The purpose of the program is to identify students and provide opportunities that will facilitate their intellectual growth, broaden their individual interests, and promote their academic achievement. The program includes summer opportunities in collaboration with participating South Carolina colleges and universities. Students can also list this special recognition on their applications to colleges and universities.