Dear NC 2015-16 High School Parents,

For high school students, grades and other competitive measures become very
important as they plan for their next steps after graduation. Over the past few years,
North Carolina parents, students and local superintendents have petitioned the
State Board of Education to require a statewide standard 10-point grading scale for
all high school students. Those advocating for this change in state policy noted that
North Carolina school districts differed in their grading scales and that students
would benefit from having a standard 10-point scale. This transition to a 10-point
scale helps students who move from one district to another and may put North
Carolina students in a more competitive position as they apply for admission to outof-state colleges and universities.
In October 2014, the State Board agreed and approved a standard 10-point grading
scale to begin with the 2015-16 school year. This scale will not include pluses or
minuses and it will be applied for coursework beginning with the 2015-16 school
year for students in grades 9, 10, 11 and 12. There will not be any attempt to
retroactively alter grades from prior years.
Local school districts are required to follow the new scale at the high school level
(grades 9-12), and they may use it in lower grades, if desired. It is not required in
lower grades, however.
Under the new scale grades and grade point average calculations will be applied as
follows:
A:
B:
C:
D:
F:

90-100 = 4.0
80-89 = 3.0
70-79 = 2.0
60-69 = 1.0
< 59 = 0.0

In addition to the grade scale change, another change is beginning in the 2015-16
school year. New standards for quality points will take effect for the ninth graders in
the fall of 2015-16 and all students entering high school after that year. This change
will not affect students who will be in grades 10, 11 or 12 in 2015-16.
The new quality points standard will provide an additional .5 quality point to
Honors courses and a 1.0 additional quality point to Advanced
Placement/International Baccalaureate courses, community colleges courses, or
four year university or college courses taken in high school. This eliminates
discrepancies between AP/IB and community college or college/university courses
and quality points and provides the same additional quality point to all college-level
coursework.

For example, a student who earns an A in an AP course would receive a weighted 5.0
grade for that particular course.
Also, student transcripts will now include numerical grades, in addition to the GPA
and letter grade.
The North Carolina State Board of Education is committed to helping all students
graduate high school prepared for success in college and careers. This recent policy
change is in line with this goal as it will make grading scales more consistent across
the state and will enable North Carolina students to better compete for admission to
colleges and universities across the country.

High School State Requirements and Grades

MARCH 2015

High School Graduation Requirements

North Carolinas high school graduation requirements are outlined below for students entering ninth grade in 2012-13 or later.
To make sure students stay on track for a high school diploma, please remember that every high school student must meet
state course and credit requirements in addition to any local requirements. Beginning with the 2015-16 school year, North
Carolina will have a standard high school grading scale and letter grades for students in grades nine through 12. This
information is below the requirements chart. (Requirements for students who entered ninth grade before 2012-13 are online:
http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/curriculum/home/graduationrequirements.pdf)
See your school counselor for additional information or assistance about reaching high school graduation.
FOR NINTH GRADERS ENTERING IN 2012-13 AND LATER Two Courses of Study Leading to One Diploma
CONTENT AREA

FUTURE-READY CORE Course of Study Requirements

FUTURE-READY OCCUPATIONAL
Course of Study Requirements

English

4 Credits
I, II, III, IV or a designated combination of 4 courses

4 Credits
OCS English I*, II*, III, IV

Mathematics

4 Credits
Math I, II, III and a 4th Math Course to be aligned with the
students post high school plans

3 Credits
OCS Introduction to Mathematics
OCS Algebra I*
OCS Financial Management

A student, in rare instances, may be able to take an alternative

math course sequence as outlined under State Board of Education
policy. Please see your school counselor for more details.

Science

3 Credits
A physical science course, Biology, Environmental Science

2 Credits
OCS Applied Science
OCS Biology*

Social Studies

4 Credits
American History: Founding Principles, Civics and
Economics; World History; American History I and American
History II OR AP US History or other college-level courses
that are appropriate**; additional social studies course**

2 Credits
OCS Social Studies I
(Government/US History)
OCS Social Studies II
(Self-Advocacy/ Problem Solving)

World
Languages

Not required for high school graduation. A two-credit minimum

is required for admission to a university in the UNC system.

Not required

Health and Physical

Education

1 Credit
Health/Physical Education

1 Credit
Health/Physical Education

Electives or other
requirements***

6 Credits required
2 elective credits of any combination from either:
Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Arts Education
World Languages
4 elective credits strongly recommended (four course
concentration) from one of the following:
Career and Technical Education (CTE)****
JROTC
Arts Education (e.g. dance, music, theater arts, visual arts)
Any other subject area (e.g. social studies, science,
mathematics, English)

6 Credits
Occupational Preparation:
OCS Preparation I, II, III, IV*****
Elective credits/ completion of IEP
objectives/Career
Portfolio required

CONTENT AREA

FUTURE-READY CORE Course of Study Requirements

FUTURE-READY OCCUPATIONAL
Course of Study Requirements

Career/Technical

4 Credits
Career/Technical Education electives

Arts Education
(Dance, Music,
Theatre Arts,
Visual Arts)

Recommended: at least one credit in

an arts discipline and/or requirement
by local decision

Total

22 Credits plus any local requirements

22 Credits plus any local requirements

OCS courses aligned with Future Ready Core courses in English I, English II, Algebra I/Integrated Math I, and Biology
(New Common Core State Standards and new NC Essential Standards implemented in the 2012-13 school year).
**
A student who takes AP US History instead of taking US History I and US History II must also take an additional social studies course
in order to meet the four credits requirement.
***
Examples of electives include JROTC and other courses that are of interest to the student.
**** For additional information on CTE courses that meet requirements for selected Courses of Study, refer to the
CTE Clusters chart located at: http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/cte/standards/careerclusters2012.pdf.
***** Completion of 300 hours of school-based training, 240 hours of community-based training, and 360 hours of paid employment.

High School Grading Scale, Grade Point Average Calculations

In October 2014, the State Board approved a standard 10-point grading scale to begin with the 2015-16 school year for all high
school students. This scale will not include pluses or minuses. Grades from prior years will not be altered retroactively.
Local school districts are required to follow the new scale at the high school level (grades 9-12). Although it is not required at
grades K-8, local school districts may use the scale in lower grades if desired.
Under the new scale, grades and grade point average calculations will be applied as follows:
A: 90-100 = 4.0
B: 80-89 = 3.0
C: 70-79 = 2.0
D: 60-69 = 1.0
F: < 59 = 0.0
Quality Points: In addition to the grade scale change, new standards for quality points also take effect in the 2015-16 school
year. These new standards affect only ninth graders in the fall of 2015-16 and all students entering high school after that
year. This change does not affect students who will be in grades 10, 11 or 12 in 2015-16.
The new quality points standard will provide an additional .5 quality point to Honors courses and a 1.0 additional quality point to
Advanced Placement (AP)/International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, community colleges courses, or four-year university or
college courses taken in high school. This eliminates discrepancies between AP/IB and community college or college/university
courses and quality points and provides the same additional quality point to all college-level coursework.
For example, a student who earns an A in an AP course would receive a weighted 5.0 grade for that particular course.
A student who earns an A in an Honors course would receive a weighted 4.5 grade.