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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