WELCOME TO CARY HIGH SCHOOL!

Open House 2015-16

Overview of Presentation• CHS Policies and Procedures• Graduation Requirements• Promotion Requirements• Testing Information• Grading Scale and Weighted Quality Points• How to help your student be an involved, academically successful

Imp

About THE Cary High School• First public school in NC• Campus Size• 2413 students enrolled• 193 staff

CHS Procedures• Calendar

• Early Release• Block Schedule• SMART Lunch

• Off-campus lunch passes• Opportunities

• Attendance• Absence procedures• Excused/Unexcused absences• College visits• Tardy program

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Total of 26 credits requiredCore academic and elective credits

Math – 4 Credits• Math I, Math II, and Math III• 4th Math Course to be aligned with the student's post

high school plans• AP Statistics, AP Calculus AB and AP Calculus BC

English – 4 Credits• English I, II, III, & IV• AP English III is offered in 11th grade• AP English IV is offered in 12th grade

Science – 3 Credits• Biology• Earth/Environmental Science• Physical Science (Physical Science, Chemistry or Physics)• AP Biology, AP Chemistry, AP Environmental, AP Physics

Social Studies – 4 Credits• World History • American History I• American History II• Civics and Economics• AP European, AP Human Geography, AP Psychology, AP US History,

AP US Government, AP World History

Health and Physical Education – 1 Credit• Health and PE is the required course for graduation• Pre-requisite for all other PE courses

Electives – 6 Credits• Elective Credit – Any course that is not otherwise listed as a

required course• Two elective credits of any combination from either Career and

Technical Education, Arts Education or Second Languages. Four elective credits strongly recommended from one of the following: Career and Technical Education, Arts Education or any other subject area (Math, Science, Social Studies, English.)

World Languages• French, German, Latin, and Spanish• Not required for graduation, but required for admission to the UNC

system• World Language is generally not recommended for 9th graders

unless they started a world language in the 8th grade or scored a level 4 on their 8th grade EOG

• Two credits must be in the same language• Levels III and IV are only offered at the honors level• AP French, AP Spanish, and AP Latin

Career and Technical Education (CTE)• Students are encouraged to use four elective credits to

concentrate in an area of interest.• To qualify as a CTE Cluster Completer for graduation, students

must earn four credits within one of the career clusters.• We offer certification exams in the following areas: Adobe,

Certiport, Comptia A+, ServSafe, NCEER, Lead Teacher Certification, and new ones each year.

Arts Education• Instrumental Music (marching and concert bands, orchestra, and

guitar)• Theatre Arts• Visual Arts• Vocal Music• Beginning, Intermediate, Proficient, and Advanced levels in all

areas• Students are strongly encouraged to explore areas of interest, not

required for graduation

Dual Enrollment Options• Typically taken by 11th and 12th graders in addition to current

classes and/or during the summer.• Wake Tech• NCSU• NCVPS• Other online providers• Schedule an appointment with your student’s counselor for more

detailed information.

Promotion RequirementsHigh school students shall be promoted by attaining credits that are earned through successful completion of specific required courses as illustrated in the following Note: The appropriate English credit is required for promotion each year.

From Grade

Promotion Criteria Credits

9 English I,2 credits from the areas of math, science, or social studies, and 3 additional credits

6

10 English II, 1 credit in math, 1 credit in science, 1 credit in social studies, and 2 additional credits

12

11 English III and enrollment in a program which, if successfully accomplished, will result in the completion of graduation requirements

18

Final Exams• Testing Windows:

• Fall Semester: January 11-15• Spring Semester: June 3-9• Test day attendance

• End of Course (EOC) tests are required for:• Math I• Biology• English II

• EOC’s count as 25% of the final course grade• Post-Assessments are the state-mandated final exams

for CTE courses and count as 20% of the final grade• Teacher-made final exams count as 20% of the student’s

final grade

Other Testing• PSAT

• Wednesday, October 14• All 10th graders are automatically registered• 9th and 11th graders may register and pay $15• Thursday, September 24 is the last day to register

• PLAN• Wednesday, October 21• All 10th graders are automatically registered

Other Testing• ACT

• Tuesday, March 1• All 11th graders are automatically registered• 12th graders register and pay $56.50 through actstudent.org for other test dates

• SAT• Redesigned test begins March 2016• More information about the redesigned test can be found at collegeboard.org• Register and pay $54.50 through collegeboard.org

• ASVAB• Tuesday, September 22• 11th and 12th graders may sign-up in Student Services• Free for CHS students

What is the grading scale?In accordance with NCDPI and WCPSS policies, the grading

scalebelow is reflected on all progress reports for all instructional programs:

A= 90-100B= 80-89C= 70-79D = 60-69F= Less than 60

Students and parents/guardians can monitor academicprogress through their PowerSchool accounts.

GPA & Quality Points -(New to NC. This weighting scale is geared to first year 9th grade cohort class of 2019)-Classes ’16,’17,’18 weighting grandfathered to traditional scale, AP 6 points, Honors 5 points

Grade Standard Honors AP Courses

A 4 4.5 5

B 3 3.5 4

C 2 2.5 3

D 1 1.5 2

F 0 0 0

COLLEGE PLANNING CHECKLIST

Athletic Eligibility: • All incoming freshmen are eligible for athletics fall semester of

their freshman year. • After first semester of their freshman year, students are eligible if

they pass three of their four classes during the semester previous to the sport they wish to play.

• All students participating in athletics must have been in attendance for at least 85% of the days in the previous semester.

How can I support my student? Set goals with your student for each quarter and/or semester Discuss assignments with your student Set a regular time and place for homework Assist your student with time management strategies Communicate with teachers through email Monitor academic progress on PowerSchool Provide daily encouragement Encourage school involvement

Clubs and Organizations• Academic Organizations:

• National Honor Society• National Technical Honor Society

• Service Organizations:• Key Club• Ambassadors

• Special Interest Clubs:• Harry Potter Club• Film Club

• Parent/Student Clubs:• PTSA• Cary High Band Boosters• IMP Booster Club• NJROTC Booster Club

• Check the CHS website for a comprehensive list. Students start clubs every year. See an administrator for more information.

Contacting Teachers• Email is best. • Check PowerSchool for updates.• Encourage your student to speak with their teacher and follow-up

with an email.

*Like you, we want our Imps to practice advocating for themselves.

Scheduling a Parent Conference• Contact your student’s teacher to schedule a meeting involving one or

two teachers. Contact your student’s counselor to schedule a meeting with all teachers.

• The student is required to attend the meeting.• Prepare questions in advance.• Approach the conference as an ally.• Work together to find the best solution for your student.• Be prepared to talk and listen.• Before you leave, be sure a plan of action is in place.• After the conference, follow-up to monitor progress.

Academic Assistance•SMART Lunch•NHS Tutors•Schedule time with teachers before or after school

•AMP Opportunity (3 days)

Other Supportive Staff•Counselors •Administrators•School Resource Officer •Career Development Coordinator•School Nurse•School Psychologist•Media Specialists•Attendance Office•Clerical Assistance

DO YOU SPEAK IMP?

PTSA

THANK YOU