Course Rigor and Course Levels
Students should take the most rigorous courses possible. Academic challenge is the best preparation for post-secondary opportunities. Strength of a student’ s academic schedule is the most important factor in being accepted to and being successful in college. Taking into consideration each student’ s individual strengths, classroom performance and testing profile, students are encouraged to take difficult courses in one or more areas of study.
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Standard Courses
Course content pace and academic rigor follow standards specified by the Common Core Essential Standards. Standard courses provide credit toward a high school diploma and require the end-of-course test for those courses identified as such in the NC accountability program. Quality points for the GPA calculation are assigned according to the standard 4.0 scale and receive no additional quality points.
Honors Courses
Course content, pace, and academic rigor place high expectations on the student, demanding greater independence and responsibility. Such courses are more challenging than standard level courses and are distinguished by a difference in the depth and scope of work required to address the Common Core. These courses provide credit toward a high school diploma and require the end-of-course test for those courses identified as such in the NC accountability program. A Honors review process shall be followed as outlined in the latest edition of the North Carolina Honors Course Implementation Guide. The state course weighting system awards the equivalent of one( 1) quality point to the grade earned in Honors courses. Effective with the freshman class of 2015-16, the weighting for Honors courses shall be one-half(. 5) of a quality point.
Advanced Placement( AP) Courses
Course content, pace, and academic rigor are considered college-level as determined by the College Board and are designed to enable students to earn high scores on the AP test, potentially leading to college credit. These courses provide credit toward a high school diploma and require an EOC in cases where the AP course is the first course taken by a student in a subject where an EOC is required by the NC accountability program. The state weighting system awards the equivalent of two( 2) quality points to the grade earned in an AP course. Effective with the freshman class of 2015-16, the weight for AP courses shall be one( 1) quality point. Students registered for AP courses will not be allowed to drop the course or its pre-requisite after the first business day of August prior to the beginning of the school year. The following is the Cleveland County Board of Education policy 3540 regarding payment for AP exams.
Board of Education Policy 3540 G. S. 115C-36; State Board of Education Policy HSP-A-008 The Cleveland County Board of Education encourages the inclusion of appropriate Advanced Placement courses in the High school curriculum. Students who take Advanced Placement courses are required to take the corresponding Advanced Placement examinations. Students who do not take the AP exam will be penalized one letter grade. Parents will be responsible for the costs of Advanced Placement examinations. The superintendent or designee shall establish establish procedures to assist eligible students to obtain available fee reductions and waivers for Advanced Placement examinations. In cases where students are economically disadvantaged, the Board of Education will assume the cost of the exams. The Board will reimburse the cost of any Advanced Placement exam on which the student scores a“ 3” or higher.
� College & Career Promise( CCP)
Course content, pace, and academic rigor are, by definition, college-level for these courses. College courses, which may be delivered by a community college, public university or private college or university, provide credit toward a high school diploma and may satisfy a graduation requirement or provide an elective course credit. The state weighting system adds the equivalent of one( 1) quality point to the grade earned in community college courses included on the most recent Comprehensive Articulation Agreement Transfer List and for courses taught at four-year universities and colleges.
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