High School Course Information Guide

Our Mission

To ensure all students are career ready and college prepared by designing and providing excellent and engaging learning opportunities.

Our Vision

To be an innovative school system committed to excellence for ALL.

Course Information

All courses offered by Franklin County Schools have been listed by subject area. To view all courses available in each area, please select the subject first and then view the courses offered.

Please note that some courses may only be offered on one high school campus and will be designated in the heading for the course.

Additional courses and programs are also offered through VGCC Career and College Promise.

Class Rankings & GPA

Quality points for rank and GPA

90-100 = A

80-89 = B

70-79 = C

60-69 = D

Below 60 = F

For information on Assignment of Students to Classes and Grade Levels please see Policy Code 4160.

For information on High School Course Credit please see Policy Code 3460

For information on Student Evaluation, Progression and Placement please see Policy Code 3420.

Weighted Courses

Standard courses – Course content, pace and academic rigor follow standards specified by the North Carolina Standard Course of Study (NCSCoS). 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 NCSCoS. 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. An 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-half (.5) quality point to the grade earned in Honors courses.

Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate (AP/IB) courses - Course content, pace and academic rigor are considered college-level as determined by the College Board or the International Baccalaureate (IB) program and are designed to enable students to earn high scores on the AP or IB test, potentially leading to college credit. These courses provide credit toward a high school diploma and require an EOC in cases where the AP/IB 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 one (1) quality point to the grade earned in an AP/IB course.

College courses (“dual enrollment”) - 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.

Courses eligible for weights include higher-level high school courses that fall into one of the following categories:

1. Honors sections of standard-level academic courses, including NC Virtual Public School courses and other on-line courses, that are in accordance with the philosophy, rubric, procedures, guidelines, and standards for curriculum, instruction, and assessment as described in the North Carolina Honors Course Implementation Guide. Such courses are assigned additional quality points in accordance with the Honors section above; it is not necessary to offer a standard level of a course to offer an honors level.

2. Pre-calculus, non-AP/IB calculus, mathematics courses beyond the level of calculus, and world language courses beyond the second-year level are considered inherently advanced and are assigned Honors-level weighting in accordance with the Honors section above.

3. Arts education courses meeting the standards for proficient and advanced dance, music, theatre arts, and visual arts are assigned Honors-level weighting in accordance with the Honors section above.

4. Project Lead the Way courses approved for college credit are assigned college-level weighting in accordance with College Courses section above.

Dual Enrollment

VGCC Registration & Application Process

Career and College Promise (CCP) Pathways are for qualified high school students who wish to pursue college courses while still in high school. Through Career and College Promise opportunities, students may enroll in college courses in order to accelerate completion of college certificates, diplomas, and associate degrees that lead to college transfer or provide entry-level job skills. In some cases, it is possible for students to meet all of the necessary requirements for certificate completion and award upon graduation from high school.

CCP College Transfer (CT) Pathways and the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Pathways offered through Vance-Granville Community College (VGCC). Students who wish to pursue a pathway in one of these areas should first contact their high school counselor. The school counselors are in the best position to determine a student’s eligibility and should be able to assist and guide both students and parents with the application and registration process.

Career & College Promise Transfer Pathway

The CCP Transfer Pathway is designed for high school juniors and seniors who wish to begin study toward an Associate degree and a baccalaureate degree. The Transfer Pathways are a structured set of courses, in the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement (CAA) between the University of North Carolina and the North Carolina Community College System, leading to completion of the Associate in Arts or Associate in Science degree. The courses in each pathway are selected from the Universal General Education Transfer Component (UGETC) component of the CAA. All UGETC courses in which the student earns a grade of “C” or better will transfer for equivalency credit at any of the UNC universities. The pathways require the completion of at least 30 semester hours of transfer courses including English, mathematics, and ACA 122. Eligible Students can select one of the following pathways:

College Transfer Enrollment Eligibility

1. Be a high school junior or senior;

2. Have a weighted GPA of 3.0 on high school courses; and

3. Demonstrate college readiness in English, reading, and mathematics on an assessment or placement test.

To Maintain Eligibility for Continued Enrollment, a student must:

1. Continue to make progress toward high school graduation, and

2. Maintain a 2.0 GPA in college coursework after completing two college courses.

A student who falls below a 2.0 GPA after completing two college courses will be subject to the college’s policy for satisfactory academic progress.

Graduation Requirements

NC Graduation Requirements

1. Local Requirements (English) (in addition to State requirements)

In addition to state requirements for English, FCS students will be expected to complete one unit of English Composition or other writing- intensive course prior to graduation.*

2. Electives: 7 units

Additionally, Franklin County has specified that the units for graduation will consistently add up to four units less than a student’s maximum potential. Under the block schedule, a student must earn 28 credits of 32 potential credits. * Students transferring into the Franklin County School system who are currently taking (or have already taken) English II are not required to take English Composition or other writing-intensive course. See Franklin County Schools Policy Code 3460 for additional specific information.

3. 22 Credit High School Diploma Program

The 22 Credit High School Diploma Program will target at-risk students who are experiencing difficulty meeting the specified local requirements of 28 credits for graduation. The rationale of the program is to provide another avenue for Franklin County Schools’ students to earn a high school diploma.

Franklin County Schools’ policy 3460 specifies the following numbers of course units to determine classification:

28 units to graduate

20 units to be a senior with a schedule that qualifies for graduation

12 units to be classified as a junior

6 units to be classified as a sophomore

NOTE: In the event of conflict between State requirements and FCS Board (Policy 3460), the State requirements shall prevail; however, FCS can and does have requirements in addition to State requirements for promotion and graduation.

NCHSAA Eligibility Requirements

To participate in high school athletics, a student must have passed a minimum load of work during the preceding semester to be eligible at any time during the present semester. A minimum load is defined as three courses on a block schedule. A senior must take a minimum load of two classes during the spring semester to be eligible to participate in spring sports.

NCHSAA

COLLEGE LEVEL ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY

NCAA FRESHMAN-ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS

Core Courses

NCAA Divisions I and II require 16 core courses. See the charts below.

Beginning August 1, 2016, NCAA Division I will require 10 core courses to be completed prior to the seventh semester (seven of the 10 must be a combination of English, math or natural or physical science that meet the distribution requirements below). These 10 courses become "locked in" at the start of the seventh semester and cannot be retaken for grade improvement.

Beginning August 1, 2016, it will be possible for a Division I college-bound student-athlete to still receive athletics aid and the ability to practice with the team if he or she fails to meet the 10 course requirement, but would not be able to compete.

Test Scores

Division I uses a sliding scale to match test scores and core grade-point averages (GPA). The sliding scale for those requirements can be viewed here.

Division II requires a minimum SAT score of 820 or an ACT sum score of 68.

The SAT score used for NCAA purposes includes only the critical reading and math sections. The writing section of the SAT is not used.

The ACT score used for NCAA purposes is a sum of the following four sections: English, mathematics, reading and science.

When you register for the SAT or ACT, use the NCAA Eligibility Center code of 9999 to ensure all SAT and ACT scores are reported directly to the NCAA Eligibility Center from the testing agency.

Test scores that appear on transcripts will not be used.

Grade-Point Average

Be sure to look at your high school’s List of NCAA Courses on the NCAA Eligibility Center's website (www.eligibilitycenter.org). Only courses that appear on your school's List of NCAA Courses will be used in the calculation of the core GPA.

Division I students enrolling full time before August 1, 2016, should use Sliding Scale A here to determine eligibility to receive athletics aid, practice and competition during the first year.

Division I GPA required to receive athletics aid and practice on or after August 1, 2016, is 2.000-2.299 (corresponding test-score requirements are listed on Sliding Scale B here.

Division I GPA required to be eligible for competition on or after August 1, 2016, is 2.300 (corresponding test-score requirements are listed on Sliding Scale B on Page No. 2 of this sheet).

The Division II core GPA requirement is a minimum of 2.000.

NCAA Student-Athlete Eligibility

SAT, ACT, Financial AID Resources for College

Informed Choice Registration

High schools operate under a parent/student informed choice open registration. The decision to enroll in any course offered is the choice and responsibility of the student and his/her parents. Parameters, of course, exist such as proper course sequence and those courses required for graduation. Although school personnel may make recommendations concerning level of difficulty (for example, academic, honors, and so forth), the parent and student should weigh all options and be part of the final decision. Every effort is made to place a student in the desired classes, but there are times when some changes must be made. Class schedules are generally received by the student several weeks prior to the beginning of the school year. Please note the designated drop/add dates and times. It is most important that any schedule changes take place during those times to ensure desired classes are obtained and no class time is missed.

Course Selection

Parents and students are encouraged to consider upper level courses that will offer more rigor and challenge to students. Franklin County Schools has a wide selection of courses taught at the Honors and Advanced Placement levels. Colleges and universities look closely at the level of work on a student’s transcript. Students earn an additional quality points for taking classes at the Honors and the Advanced Placement (AP) levels. Most colleges and universities will accept AP test scores earned in high school and apply them as college or university level credits. For additional information, contact your school counselor.

Course Load

All students are expected to take a full load (four) of courses each semester. Under certain circumstances a student may be considered for less than a full load. For this, the principal must approve, as well as the parent and student, with the appropriate form completed and on file in the student’s permanent school folder.

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