North Carolina requires students to meet state standards for high school graduation.
High school preparation begins the minute a student enters grammar school. North Carolina has requirements for graduation from high school that are meant to prepare students for entrance into the working world, a community college or a university.
Entrance Year
High school graduation requirements for students in North Carolina are based on when the student entered into the ninth grade for the first time. There are different requirements for students entering into ninth grade before 2009 because the state school board made changes to their requirements starting with the 2009-10 school year.
Choosing a Program
From the 2000-2001 school year through the 2008-2009 school year, students who entered into the ninth grade in the NC high school system had to choose one of three paths of preparation for life after high school. These students could choose to prepare for going straight to work, entering a community or technical school or going on to a college or university. All students entering during this period were required to have four credits of English, three credits of science and math, and one credit of health to graduate, but students on the college and university path also had to complete an additional credit of math and two credits of a foreign language. Career path and technical school students also had to take two general electives, four occupational electives and four electives of either JROTC or the arts. College-bound students had to take two credits of general electives and were recommended to take electives in technical fields and the arts.
As of the 2009-10 school year, the NC Board of Public Education revamped their high school graduation program to prepare all students for an academic and business career after high school. The new program requires all students to take the same number of courses: four credits of English and math, three credits of history and science and one credit of health, regardless of their future intentions. Students are also require to take two credits of general electives, with the option to take up to six credits along with four credits of career-oriented electives. The program does give students the option of taking foreign language courses, as the UNC college system requires two credit of a foreign language for entrance into college.
Students with an Individual Education Program (IEP) due to mental disabilities must take courses that will prepare them for an occupation in order to graduate from high school in North Carolina. Standard courses include four credits of occupational English, three credits of occupational math and life skills science, two credits of social studies and one credit of health, as well as six general electives and four career-oriented electives.
Taking Tests
North Carolina students have to pass several comprehensive tests at the end of the required courses. Students must successfully pass tests in English 1, algebra 1, biology, civics and economics, and U.S. history. Some students' IEPs may exempt them from testing.
Double-checking
Students are encouraged to check with individual school counselors about graduation requirements in their county, because the state board of public education requires that in addition to all state standards, students meet any county requirements for graduation from high school.
Tags: North Carolina, four credits, general electives, school year, college university, credit health, electives four