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SCHOOL FACTS

Promotion and Graduation Requirements

Under statewide Student Accountability Standards, students in the third, fifth and eighth grades must demonstrate grade-level proficiency in addition to meeting local requirements in order to be considered for promotion to the next grade level. Local districts also may impose similar requirements at other grade levels.

High school students are required to meet statewide graduation standards in addition to local graduation requirements in order to receive a high school diploma. The standards, also called gateways, have been revised to meet the demands of a more challenging post-graduation environment. Until 2009-10, entering freshmen are required to meet different standards based on when they enter high school. Following is a brief explanation for the requirements for each gateway:

Gateway 2005-06 - For those entering ninth grade for the first time in 2005-06 or before, students must:

• Meet existing local and state graduation requirements.
• Successfully complete one of four courses of study that lead to a diploma: Career Preparation, College Technical Preparation, College/University Preparation, or Occupational.
• Achieve a passing score on a computer skills test (not required of Occupational Course of Study students).

Gateway 2006-07 - For those entering ninth grade for the first time in 2006-07, students must:

• Meet existing local and state graduation requirements.
• Successfully complete one of four courses of study that lead to a diploma: Career Preparation, College Technical Preparation, College/University Preparation, or Occupational.
• Students who are following the Career Preparation, College Technical Preparation, or College/University Preparation courses of study also must meet the following exit standards*:
  • Achieve a passing score on the following five end-of-course assessments: Algebra I, Biology, English I, Civics and Economics, and U.S. History.
  • Achieve a passing score on a computer skills test.
  • Successfully complete a graduation project.

Gateway 2009-10 - For those entering ninth grade for the first time in 2009-10, students must:

• Meet existing local and state graduation requirements.
• Successfully complete the Future-Ready Core Course of Study, which requires that students earn a minimum of 21 units of credit (4 mathematics units, 4 English units, 3 social studies units, 3 science units, 1 health and physical education unit, 6 elective units - 4 of which should be concentrated). The concentration enables students to participate in a rigorous, in-depth and linked study. The Occupational Course of Study will continue to be available for those students with disabilities who are specifically identified for this program.
• Students who are in the Future-Ready Course of Study also must meet the following exit standards*:
  • Achieve a passing score on the following five end-of-course assessments: Algebra I, Biology, English I, Civics and Economics, and U.S. History.
  • Achieve a passing score on a computer skills test.
  • Successfully complete a graduation project.

* Students who do not score at proficiency on the referenced end-of-course tests, but who pass the course, are given the opportunity to retake the assessment. If the student does not score at proficiency on the retest, school officials shall apply a review process to provide focused intervention, a second retest opportunity, and a review of the student’s documentation to determine whether the student has met the exit standard for the course. The principal makes the final decision as to whether the student has met the exit standard.

What Students Study

North Carolina students in kindergarten through 12th grade study English/language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, the arts, guidance, healthful living, library/media/computer skills, second languages, and workforce development subjects. The State Standard Course of Study outlines for teachers the competencies and objectives students should master.

To measure how well students are learning the curriculum, local school districts test students at a minimum in grades 3, 5, and 8 in reading, writing (grades 4 and 7) and mathematics. High school tests are given in Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, English I, US History, Biology, and Civics and Economics. Workforce development courses also have statewide assessment through VoCATS.

Did You Know?

There are 2,338 public schools in North Carolina including 93 charter schools.

North Carolina was the first state to require students to study Algebra I.

Public schools in North Carolina are governed by local board of education. Currently, there are 115 school systems in the state. These boards set policies ranging from local graduation standards to discipline to the school calendar.

The State Board of Education is appointed by the Governor and is charged with supervising and administering "the free public school system and education funds provided for its support." There are 13 board members who meet on a monthly basis.

The State Superintendent of Public Instruction is elected by popular vote of North Carolina citizens. He or she serves as chief administrative officer of the State Board of Education.

North Carolina public schools receive 65 percent of their funding from the state, 25 percent from local revenue, and 10 percent from the federal government.