Student Learning Opportunities

Advanced Placement (AP)

The Advanced Placement (AP) program offers college level courses and exams for secondary students in the areas of English, mathematics, social studies, and science.  Select second languages and arts classes may also be offered.  AP course offerings may vary at each high school.  AP courses may also be available through North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS).  In May, students are encouraged to demonstrate their proficiencies on the appropriate Advanced Placement examinations.  The exams are offered free to all students enrolled in an AP course.   Students may earn university course exemption and/or credit. These exams are scheduled, designed, and graded by the College Board.  Additional information can be found at http://www.collegeboard.org.

The chart below highlights Advanced Placement courses that can be taken in the place of North Carolina graduation requirements because of the similarity of the curriculums.  AP courses do provide students with a higher weighted grade point average than honors or standard level courses; however, Advanced Placement courses are very challenging and require significant amounts of outside reading and writing.  Please see a school counselor and/or an AP teacher for scheduling assistance.

For more information on specific AP course weight for your particular graduation cohort, please see the Enrollment and Graduation section of this handbook for determining class ranks and weights. 
 

AP Course as NC Standard Course of Study Replacement

Advanced Placement Course	North Carolina Course that AP Course Can Replace
AP English Language and Composition	English III
AP Literature and Composition	English IV
AP Environmental Science	Earth and Environmental
AP Chemistry	A Physical Science (5 Physical Science options)
AP Physics	A Physical Science (5 Physical Science options)
AP Biology *	Biology *
AP World History	World History
AP US History	American History
AP Government and Politics	Civic Literacy
AP Pre-Calculus	Honors Pre-Calculus

*Note: Students taking AP Biology in place of the NC created Biology course will still need to take the state required End-of-Course Exam for the NC Biology Course.
 

Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM)

The State Board of Education defines “mastery” as a student’s command of course material at a level that demonstrates a deep understanding of the content standards and the ability to apply his or her knowledge of the material.
 
Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM) is a two-phase process where a student can earn credit in a high school course without requiring classroom instruction or classroom seat time.  Phase One requires a level 5 on an EOC exam, where applicable, OR 90% accuracy on a cumulative exam or North Carolina Final Exam or locally developed final exam, OR proficiency on a World Language assessment, where applicable.  Phase Two requires a student artifact that demonstrates a deep understanding of the course content, and is evaluated by the school's CDM team.  The CDM process is available to any student in high school attempting to demonstrate mastery of a high school course available in New Hanover County, with the exception of those listed below.  Though students can receive credit for successfully completing the CDM process, they will not receive a grade on their transcript and it will not be factored into their GPA.
 
Students considering the CDM process can find the fall and spring timeline on the NHCS Instructional web page or contact the school counselor or Gifted Education Specialist for more information.

The following courses are excluded from Credit by Demonstrated Mastery:

• Career and Technical Education (CTE) work-based learning courses (co-op, internship, apprenticeship)
• CTE courses that have a clinical setting as a requirement of the course, such as ProStart, Early Childhood Education I/II and Nursing Fundamentals
• CTE Advanced Studies courses
• English Language Learner (ELL) courses
• Healthful Living required courses
• AP/IB Courses

For more information, please visit the North Carolina Credit by Demonstrated Mastery page at NC DPI. 

 

English as a Second Language (ESL)

English as a Second Language (ESL) classes or services are offered to students whose first language is a language other than English and whose academic English is not yet fluent.  ESL classes provide a content-based, academic context that supports the development of the English speaking, listening, reading, and writing skills necessary for academic success.

 

Striving to Achieve Excellence (STAE)
at Ashley, Hoggard, Laney, and New Hanover High Schools

Striving To Achieve Excellence (STAE) is designed to prepare students for the rigor of post-secondary education while increasing student achievement and developing overall success through empowerment. The STAE class provides students with academic, social, career, and college support as well as leadership development. The STAE student is one that has college potential, may be under-represented in four year colleges or may be a first-generation college student.  The STAE student has the potential to excel and go to college but needs extra support and guidance.  STAE will provide students with the necessary support to allow them to reach their greatest potential.
The student must meet the considerations of acceptance designated by the STAE criteria and must continue to meet those parameters in order to remain in the program.

See a school counselor or STAE coordinator for more details and information on applying for the STAE program.

Ideal Candidate and Pre-Requisites	Academics	Extra-Curriculars	Additional Requirements
Students that have college potential & desire to attend with support; academically motivated; under represented at colleges.	Focus on study skills, time management, organization, leadership, college application process, and career exploration; additional help with general ed classes.	College visits and other community based activities determined by student need and interest.	Application, student interview.

 

Online Learning

Online learning is offered at all secondary schools in New Hanover County. Students may request online learning through their school counselor. Online courses are accessed on a case-by-case basis, based on a conversation with the school’s online learning team. Online courses are offered through North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS), North Carolina School of Science and Math (NCSSM), and Edgenuity.

NORTH CAROLINA VIRTUAL PUBLIC SCHOOL (NCVPS)

NCVPS provides online courses to public school students throughout North Carolina, and is the primary provider for high school online coursework in NHCS.  Students who are enrolled with NHCS may access these web-based courses from anywhere at any time.  Credits and/or grades earned throughout NCVPS become part of a student’s academic record as the student works toward graduation goals.  Course registration occurs at each school through the Virtual Academy Coordinator (VAC).  While this is an exciting opportunity for all students, it is important to consult with school counselors, teachers, and school administrators for course selection and scheduling advice. Online coursework is an option for middle school students under extenuating circumstances.

Students participating in an NCVPS course will be required to take any state mandated assessment, including End-of-Grade and End-of-Course exams associated with that course. 

To increase student success in online coursework, schools have implemented a Virtual Academy support model to assist students with navigation, communication, progress monitoring and goal setting.  This support is provided to all students taking online courses, both those scheduled in the lab and those working from home.  Additional information about NCVPS can be found at http://www.ncvps.org/ or on the NHCS Online Learning webpage https://sites.google.com/nhcs.net/onlinelearning/home.

NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS (NCSSM)

The North Carolina School of Science and Math (NCSSM) offers online courses to students throughout North Carolina.  The courses are science and math focused and may be offered as synchronous or asynchronous classes.  Online dual enrollment with NCSSM is also an option for New Hanover County Schools’ students in 11th and 12th grades.  Please contact your school counselor to learn more about enrolling in NCSSM courses.

EDGENUITY

Edgenuity is the online provider for our fully virtual middle school students and high school students in need of a credit recovery course.

FULLY VIRTUAL OPTION

NHCS seeks to assist middle and high school students in need of unique enrollment situations.  Students wishing to be considered for fully virtual status begin by discussing this option with their school's online learning team. Once accepted for fully virtual status, a student will access NCVPS or Edgenuity courses from home with support from their zone school’s online learning team. For more information, contact Jean Hall, Supervisor of Innovative and Special Programs (jean.hall@nhcs.net). 

SUMMER SCHOOL

High school students may participate in summer coursework online to recover credits or to accelerate their learning with new coursework (typically, no more than one summer course tends to work best for students).  Multiple lab locations are available throughout the district to support students with summer coursework.
 

High School Courses for Middle School Students

With principal approval, middle school students may participate in select high school courses via an NHCS-approved online provider.  

Upon successful completion of a high school content course, middle school students will earn a high school credit towards graduation and this course will appear on the student’s transcript; however, the actual grade from this coursework taken in middle school will not count toward the high school Grade Point Average (GPA).

Note:  Middle school students taking high school courses will not have an honors designation on their high school transcript. The North Carolina Student Information System does not differentiate between honors and on-level courses at the middle school level.  Please see your school counselor for more details.

High School Courses for Middle School Students: FAQ

1.    Will the grades earned in high school courses taken in middle school appear on the high school transcript?
Yes. The grade will be listed on the transcript under Grades 6, 7, or 8 with one unit of credit.

2.    Will the grade earned be included in the student’s grade point average (GPA)
No. Only courses taken during the high school years will be included on the student’s grade point average.

3.    Can a student repeat a course for credit at the high school level?
No.

4.    Which world language course(s) must students successfully complete in order to earn one unit of high school credit?
Students earn credit based on their AAPPL score for World Language taken in Middle School.

5.    Is there a math placement exam?
No. Students who successfully complete mathematics courses may be placed in the next level of mathematics based on middle school math placement guidelines.

6.    Are students required to take a standard exam for math course(s)?
Students taking NC Math 1 must take the NC Math 1 End-of-Course (EOC) test. Students taking NC Math 3 must take the NC Math 3 End-of-Course (EOC) test. Students taking other high school math courses will take a teacher-made exam.