Curriculum Course Guide Handbook
The go-to-resource for High School Students and Families as they navigate learning opportunities, specialty programs, graduation requirements, and course registration.
The information contained here reflects the 2025 - 2026 School year.
Over the past few years, with the various changes in state policies and course offerings, the NHCS Curriculum Course Guide has become a vital source of information for both parents and students. This course selection guide was developed to assist students and their parents in outlining a high school course of study. All students and parents should read this information carefully and give deliberate thought to the student’s interests and plans for the future.
Parents and students also should be aware that all courses may not be available at the student’s home school. The final school schedule is based on student requests. Some courses may not be taught if there are insufficient student requests.
In addition to this Handbook, you can find searchable list of our available courses at our Digital Course Catalog.
North Carolina State Board of Education Vision
Every public school student in North Carolina will be empowered to accept academic challenges, prepared to pursue their chosen path after graduating high school, and encouraged to become lifelong learners with the capacity to engage in a globally-collaborative society.
New Hanover County Schools Mission Statement
The mission of New Hanover County Schools, in collaboration with our parents and the community, is to strive to provide children with an opportunity for a superior education in a safe and positive learning environment where they are prepared with the skills to succeed.
Use the following table of contents to navigate through the key information contained within the Curriculum Course Guide Handbook:
- Student Learning Opportunities
- Includes: Advanced Placement, Credit by Demonstrated Mastery, English as a Second Language, Striving to Achieve Excellence, Online Learning, and HS Courses for Middle Students
- Includes: Advanced Placement, Credit by Demonstrated Mastery, English as a Second Language, Striving to Achieve Excellence, Online Learning, and HS Courses for Middle Students
- North Carolina Career and College Promise
- Includes: Dual Enrollment opportunities at CFCC and UNC-W
- Includes: Dual Enrollment opportunities at CFCC and UNC-W
- Explore High School Specialty Programs
- Enrollment and Graduation
- Includes: Enrollment Process, Testing, Graduation Requirements, Accelerated Pathways for Early Graduation, College Admissions Requirements, Establishing Rank, High school Diploma Endorsements, and NCAA Eligibility Requirements.
- Includes: Enrollment Process, Testing, Graduation Requirements, Accelerated Pathways for Early Graduation, College Admissions Requirements, Establishing Rank, High school Diploma Endorsements, and NCAA Eligibility Requirements.
- Repeating a Course/Credit Recovery/Transfer Credit
Discrimination and Harassment Prohibited by Federal Law
The board acknowledges the dignity and worth of all students and employees and strives to create a safe, orderly, caring, and inviting school environment to facilitate student learning and achievement. The board prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, disability, or age (over 40), and will provide equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups as required by law. The board will not tolerate any form of unlawful discrimination or harassment in any of its education activities or programs.
Contacts for Inquiries
The superintendent has appointed individuals to coordinate the school system’s efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under federal nondiscrimination laws, including investigating any complaints communicated to school officials alleging noncompliance with those laws. Inquiries about the application of the nondiscrimination laws addressed in this policy may be referred to the designated civil rights coordinator and/or the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights in the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education.
The contact information for the designated civil rights coordinators (Section 504 – Students, ADA & Section 504 – Employees, Age Discrimination, Other Nondiscrimination Laws) is as follows:
Office Address: 6410 Carolina Beach Rd, Wilmington, NC 28412
Phone Number: (910) 254-4200
Email Address: titleix@nhcs.net
TITLE IX NONDISCRIMINATION ON THE BASIS OF SEX
The school system does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education programs or activities and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 and federal regulations to not discriminate in such a manner. This requirement extends to admission and employment. The board will not tolerate discrimination on the basis of sex, including any form of sexual harassment as that term is defined under Title IX, in any program or activity of the school system.
Note: A very special thank you to all of the various departments that have helped Instructional Services with the writing, revision, and publishing of this Curriculum Course Guide. Please contact Joshua.Bailey@nhcs.net if you have further questions or suggestions for this document.