When grades become available, students can check if they pass over the internet. After passing both sections of the CHSPE, the student receives a Certificate of Proficiency from the State of California. In addition, the student may order an official, verified transcript from the Sacramento County Office of Education stating that the student has passed the CHSPE.
Typically, to leave school early, all that is required is that the student and his or her parent or guardian bring the original certificate to the student's school principal or vice principal's office, where they may require that they photocopy the certificate for their files. At this time, the student can get an official, verified, and sealed transcript from the high school, which is necessary if the student wants to attend a 4 year university later.
Similarly, showing the certificate to college officials (or photocopy, if they are some distance away) is typically sufficient to demonstrate high school graduation. However, some schools may require a transcript showing the student passed CHSPE status.
Also, some students head directly to community college, and because they can complete a year's worth of high school coursework in a college semester, or less, and within 3 semesters with summer work (for easier majors, majors such as engineering and science majors typically require about 6-8 semesters of Math for people who didn't finish high school), can apply to ANY four year college/university as a transfer student (not freshman) or normally. This method is for very intelligent students who cannot stand high school. As for the over 16/sophomore rule, you can challenge this, as Levi Meir Clancy did.