Enrollment and Graduation

Through the yearly enrollment process, New Hanover County Schools strives to offer a meaningful high school curriculum that meets the changing needs of our students and community.  Therefore, it is highly recommended that each student determines his or her course selections in relation to long-term goals of higher education and/or meaningful employment.

Parents/guardians, teachers, advisors, and counselors should work together to assure that appropriate courses are selected to ensure each student’s success.

Each student must carry a full course load (4x4=8 classes per school year).  Permission from the principal or counselor is also required for a student to drop/add a course(s) after school begins. A student cannot drop any semester-long course(s) after the tenth day of the semester if it has an End-of-Course (EOC) test.  A student taking a year-long course(s) cannot drop after the twentieth day if it has an End-of-Course (EOC) test. A failing grade may be included on a student’s record if the principal approves the request to drop the course. 

Students enrolled in New Hanover County high schools that fail a course and desire to attend any non-New Hanover County school credit recovery program, may only do so after seeking pre-approval from the principal in order for that remedial course to be considered for credit. 

Only with the principal’s permission may students take a course for credit at a non-New Hanover County school.  Students wishing to transfer credit from any non-public high school must meet the requirements of New Hanover County Schools in order to receive credit.

Students currently enrolled at a New Hanover County School may not take a required high school course for the first time from an educational agency not approved by the school system and the principal.
 

END-OF-COURSE (EOC) TESTS

End-of-Course tests are given for the following courses:
•    NC Math 1
•    Biology
•    English II
•    NC Math 3
Note:  Each EOC counts twenty percent of a student’s final grade and students may not be exempted from any state required End-of-Course test. For students on the OCS path, in alignment with State Board of Education Policy Test-003, this component of the EOC has been waived for students in OCS English II, OCS NC Math I, and OCS Biology. Those students will take the EOC for school accountability purposes only.

Note:    The principal may authorize course credit as having participated in the End-of-Course test based on comparable coursework for any student who has transferred from out of state or from a non-public school.

CAREER TECHNICAL EDUCATION END-OF-COURSE ASSESSMENT
All students who follow the Standard Course of Study for a Career Technical Education course must take a state End-of-Course post assessment.  The post assessment will count twenty percent of the student’s final grade in the course.

Note:  Transfer students may be given credit for passing each of the three End-of-Course tests based on their comparable coursework at other schools at the discretion of the principal.
 

Note:  If a student successfully completes a high school course while in middle school, that student will receive course credit toward high school graduation. 

Students must have the following credits for grade-to-grade promotion:

9th to 10th grade: 6 credits
10th to 11th grade: 12 credits*
11th to 12th grade: 20 credits**

*Student's must update their Career Development Plan for 11th grade.
**Students who are identified for College Ready Graduate Course (CCRG) will complete the required courses in their senior level math and English IV courses.

Note: Transfer students will have their course credits and promotion requirements evaluated at each school.  Students transferring from schools that were not on the block schedule may be eligible for graduation credit adjustment.  Please see your school counselor for the total number of credits a transfer student will need to graduate.
 

In accordance with NHCS Policy 3460, NHCS recommends students graduate with 28 credits to align with the Future Ready Core Course of Study. If students are in the Occupational Course of Study or if they seek to graduate in less than 4 years with a 22 credit diploma, a graduation plan must be completed with a school counselor per State Board of Education Policy GRAD-006 and GRAD-001.

Students interested in participating in college athletics at the NCAA Division I or Division II level must meet the NCAA freshman eligibility standards.  Initial eligibility is determined by the NCAA from three high school factors: core course completion, test scores, and grade-point average.   NCAA Division I and II require 16 core courses – ten of which need to be completed before the start of a student’s seventh semester. Detailed information regarding freshman eligibility criteria is available on the NCAA Eligibility Center website.

The primary responsibility of a high school in relationship to a freshman athlete’s certification is to

ensure that the school’s list of approved core courses is accurate and up-to-date. Only courses in the areas of

English, mathematics, science, social studies and world language can be considered for core course approval.

In Pass/Fail grading situations, the NCAA Eligibility Center will assign your high school’s lowest passing grade for a course in which you received a Pass grade. For most high schools, the lowest passing grade is a D, so the NCAA Eligibility Center generally assigns a D as a passing grade.

 Note:  The NCAA has very strict guidelines regarding credit for courses taken online.  Some online and credit recovery courses may not be approved by the NCAA.  Be sure to consult with your high school’s athletic director and your school counselor to determine if the online course that you are considering is approved for credit by the NCAA.

 Note:  A modified, shortened summer course will not meet NCAA eligibility requirements.

For more information, please see a school counselor and visit the official NCAA eligibility website:  http://www.ncaa.org/student-athletes/play-division-i-sports

Grading Scale (NHCS-BP 3400, beginning January 2021)

A   (90 - 100)     4.0 points per unit
B   (80 - 89)       3.0 points per unit
C   (70 - 79)       2.0 points per unit
D   (60 - 69)       1.0 points per unit
F   (59 - 50)       0.0 points per unit
INC                   Incomplete

Note: The weighted course scale applies only to students that entered high school in or after the start of the 2015– 2016 School year.

 Note:  NCDPI recommends that school districts use the following conversion chart for courses taught outside of NC school districts or for courses that did not issue a numeric grade (this could apply to community college courses). 

Letter Grade		Numeric Grade
A, A+, A-	=	95
B, B+, B-	=	85
C, C+, C-	=	75
D, D+, D-	=	65
F	=	55

 

The courses listed below are weighted.  A weighted method is used by all high schools in New Hanover County to compute class rank.  Schools calculate rank at the end of each school year.  Final rank for all graduates includes all courses attempted during high school.  Upon successful completion of these courses, the appropriate additional points are added.  With the exception of arts education courses, weighted credit is only granted the first time a student takes an honors or AP course.  The following scale is used for the computation of class rank:

GPA Calculation for Community College and University Courses  Note:  This weighted grade scale for college courses applies only to students that entered high school in or after the start of the 2015 – 2016 School year.  Courses approved under the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement for Transfer Courses and taken at any accredited college or university will receive the equivalent of one quality point per course taken (equal to an Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate Course).  Note:  Most CTE Pathway courses do not count as weighted credit toward the student’s high school Grade Point Average (GPA), but some do.  Please see a school counselor for exact details.

 

GRADE POINT AVERAGE WEIGHTED TABLE  

Standard	0
Honors	.5
Advance Placement  / IB	1
Community College / UNCW	1

 

Most CTE Pathway courses do not count as weighted credit toward the student’s high school Grade Point Average (GPA), but some do.  Please see a school counselor for exact details.

Per State Board of Education Policy GRAD-007, Students in North Carolina public schools may receive one or more endorsements on their high school diploma. These endorsements indicate that students have completed specific course concentrations preparing them to be ready for college or careers. The five endorsements are:

Students planning to attend college after graduation from high school should consult school counselors, college and university websites, and college admission officials concerning requirements for admission.

• Appalachian State University
• East Carolina University
• Elizabeth City State University
• Fayetteville State University
• NC Agricultural & Technical State University 
• North Carolina Central University
• North Carolina School of the Arts
• North Carolina State University
• University of North Carolina Asheville
• University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
• University of North Carolina Charlotte
• University of North Carolina Greensboro
• University of North Carolina Pembroke
• University of North Carolina Wilmington
• Western Carolina University
• Winston‑Salem State University

UNC System Admission Requirements

Four (4) credits in language, including · Four (4) credits in English emphasizing grammar, composition, and literature, and

Four (4) credits in mathematics* in any of the following combinations: For students entering high school in 2012-13 and beyond: · NC Math 1, NC Math 2, NC Math 3, and one credit beyond NC Math 3 *It is recommended that prospective students take a mathematics credit in the twelfth grade.

Three (3) credits in science, including: · At least one (1) credit in a life or biological science (for example biology), · At least one (1) credit in a physical science (for example, physical science, chemistry, physics), and · At least one (1) laboratory course

Two credits in social studies, including: · One (1) credit in United States history** **An applicant who does not have a credit in U.S. history may be admitted on the condition that at least three (3) semester hours in that subject will be passed by the end of the sophomore year.

Two additional academic courses from English, mathematics, science, social studies, world languages, or computer science. (Note: these courses should be selected in alignment with a student’s academic and career objectives. Completion of two sequential world language courses is recommended.)

Note:  Students completing the Future Ready Core Course of Study along with two additional courses in English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, World Languages, or Computer Science and having a 2.5 GPA or higher, will meet the minimum admission requirements for any of the University of North Carolina System Schools.

 Each university may require other courses in addition to these requirements; therefore, prospective students should refer to the catalogs and contact the admissions offices of any universities to which they plan to apply.  In determining the admissibility of each applicant, institutions also consider factors other than courses completed, such as high school grades, rank in class, scores on college entrance examinations, and recommendations.

 The requirements for admission to UNC System schools do not apply to the community colleges in North Carolina.  Community colleges have their own admission requirements.  Many have agreements with universities to allow students to apply for transfer from a two-year to a four-year program.

For general information on how to plan, apply and pay for college, please visit the following web address: https://www.cfnc.org/index.jsp