Parents Guide to Student Achievement (PGSA)

The following are the relevant State and local requirements for a child to be promoted to the next grade level. The relevant part of this link is found in Part 1A (pp. 15-28) regarding retention, promotion, alternatives to show reading proficiency, etc.: Grade Level Promotion

Nash County Public Schools Board Policy 3420 Promotion and Accountability Standards can be found by clicking here.  High school graduation requirements can be found by clicking here. More information about the student promotion standards can be found by clicking here. 

In North Carolina, all schools use the same Standard Course of Study, determined by the State Board of Education.  These standards are the knowledge and skills students should understand by the end of each grade/course. The NCDPI Office of Academic Standards website contains the standards for various subjects, such as Arts Education, Career Technical Education, Computer Science, English Language Arts, English Language Development, Student Success Standards, Healthful Living, Information and Technology, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, NC Foundations for Early Learning and Development and World Language. 

The North Carolina Extended Content Standards are designed for students who require substantial adjustments in the general education curriculum in order to benefit from instruction. It is important for students’ IEP teams to remember Extended Content Standards are taught at the appropriate grade level using chronological age appropriate contexts and materials in academic and functional settings for students with significant cognitive disabilities. 

NCDPI Extended Content Standards

Nash County Public Schools selects curriculum that is aligned to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. A curriculum is the courses and content offered or taught by a school. It is the intent of the NCPS Board of Education to make available to all students the best available instructional and supplementary instructional materials, as well as library media center resources.

 

Curriculum

The following link provides information related to curriculum in the Nash County Public Schools System:

NCPS Curriculum Implementation and Review

 

I. Selection of Instructional Materials (Policy 3100 Curriculum Development)

The Superintendent shall adopt a regulation accompanying this policy that sets forth the objectives and procedures for selecting library media center and supplementary materials. Pending review of instructional and supplemental materials for selection or objection, all materials shall remain in circulation unless or until a final decision has been made.

 

II. Parental Review of Instructional Materials (Policy Code: 3210 Parental Inspection of and Objection to Instructional Materials)

The Superintendent’s regulation shall establish a procedure for parents to learn about their child’s course of study and the source of any supplementary instructional materials. This policy and the Superintendent’s regulation shall be available for in-person review by parents at each school site. The Superintendent’s regulation shall establish a means for parents to object to textbooks and supplementary instructional materials consistent with the requirements of N.C.G.S. § 115C-98, and to object to library media center materials.

If a parent or guardian would like to inspect their child’s instructional materials or purchase a textbook for home, please contact the school’s principal. All core secondary content resources are digital and students as well as parents can access these materials through a NCPS issued device. 

 

Each district must also have a Literacy Intervention Plan (LIP).  The plan must include Reading Camps as an extension of what occurs during the school year. Parents and caregivers may view Nash County Public Schools’ Literacy Intervention Plan here (NCPS Literacy Intervention Plan).

Nash County Public Schools also offers courses in the area of Career and Technical Education (CTE).  These courses allow students to explore careers and earn credentials.  CTE Career Clusters, Pathways, Course Information, Credentials, and Course Standards may be found at this link: Course Management System

For more information on CTE, visit the website.

Nash County Public Schools communicates students' progress through various channels, including quarterly report cards, progress reports, parent-teacher conferences, and feedback on assignments/tests, including conduct evaluations. (Policy Code 3400: Evaluation of Student Progress).  

 

Assessments that are administered to Nash County Public Schools’ students are listed below:

ACCESS Test for Multilingual Learners: Parents will receive an individual student report(annually) with student scores that show his/her progress in the language acquisition process.

Preschool

• Teaching Strategies Gold

• NCPS Local Assessment-Preschool Early Literacy Indicators (PELI)

   

Grades K-2 

• mCLASS 

• North Carolina End of Year Summative Math Assessment

• NCPS Local Assessment-North Carolina Early Numeracy Skills Inventory (NCENSI)

   

Elementary (3-5)

• mCLASS (Grade 3 only)

• North Carolina Beginning of Grade 3 Reading Test (Grade 3 only)

   

• North Carolina Math Check-Ins

• North Carolina Reading Check-Ins

• North Carolina Science Check-Ins (Grade 5 only)

• North Carolina End of Grade Math Test

• North Carolina End of Grade Reading Test

• North Carolina End of Grade Science Test (Grade 5 only)

• North Carolina Extend I (Reading, Math)

• North Carolina Extend I (Science-Grade 5 only)

• NCPS local assessment - Exact Path, North Carolina Early Numeracy Skills Inventory (NCENSI-Grade 3 Only)

Grades 6-8

• North Carolina Math Check-Ins

• North Carolina Reading Check-Ins

• North Carolina Science Check-Ins (Grade 8 only)

• North Carolina End of Grade Math Test

• North Carolina End of Grade Reading Test

• North Carolina End of Grade Science Test (Grade 8 only)

• North Carolina Extend I (Reading, Math)

• North Carolina Extend I (Grade 8 only)

• NCPS Local Assessment - Exact Path

High School (assessments taken based on course enrollment schedule)

• North Carolina Check-Ins (NC Math 1, NC Math 3, Biology, English II) 

• North Carolina End-of-Course Tests (NC Math 1, NC Math 3, Biology, English II)

• NC Extend 1 (English II, Biology, and Math 1)

• North Carolina Career-Technical Education Tests and Performance Based Measures (various courses)

• Advanced Placement Tests (various AP courses)

• International Baccalaureate Tests (various IB courses)

 

10th grade

• Pre-ACT®

11th grade attendance

• ACT® 

 12th grade

• ACT WorkKeys® (CTE concentrators only)

   

Attendance: 

Parents can access their student's grades and attendance by logging into Campus Parent.  They can create this account by visiting their child's school to obtain a printout containing directions and student access information.

 

Report Cards/Progress Reports
Parents of students from kindergarten through second grade will receive a paper progress report each quarter. Parents with students in third grade and above will have the option to sign into their Campus Parent account to review their child’s grades at their convenience.

 

Each quarter, report cards containing grades and attendance records are distributed. Students will receive an email notification, and their report card will be attached. These emails will be sent to their district email address. Additionally, parents have the option to access the student information system to review the report card information.

Review the school calendar(s) with information regarding grading periods.

Traditional Calendar

Cooperative HS Innovative Calendar
 

State Assessments:

Individual Student Reports (ISR) for end-of-grade/course tests and other state assessments (English language proficiency assessment) are accessible in the parent portal of the North Carolina student information system with paper copies being available for those who do not have access to Parent Portal. With the transition from PowerSchool in the 24-25 school year, all ISR will be paper and distributed by schools. 

 

In  NC, all students take end-of-grade assessments for reading and math in grades 3-8.  Students take end-of-grade science assessments in grades 5 and 8.  In high school, students take end-of-course assessments in English II, Biology, NC Math 1, and NC Math 3.

Students in Grade 10 take the Pre-ACT®.  Students in grade 11 take the ACT®. 

Students who are CTE Concentrators in Grade 12 take ACT WorkKeys®.  Those results are shared by ACT in the My ACT portal®.

 

North Carolina Board of Education (NCBoE) policy KNEC-002 (Statewide Implementation of Formative & Diagnostic Reading Assessments Grades K-3) requires that:

 

After each benchmark period, the school shall provide the parent of each individual K-3 student with program-generated written notification of the student's progress, including:

• assessment results,

• whether the student may not reach reading proficiency by the end of the third grade, and

• instructional support activities for use at home.

 

An Individual Reading Plan (IRP) shall be developed for any student in kindergarten through third grade demonstrating difficulty with reading.  An IRP will have specific strategies/ideas that can be done at home.

 

NCSoE policy TEST-001 states:

Nash County Public Schools shall report scores resulting from the administration of all districtwide and state-mandated tests to students and parents or guardians along with available score interpretation information within thirty (30) days from generation of the score at the Nash County Public Schools level or receipt of the score and interpretive documentation from the NCDPI.

North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) selected mCLASS DIBELS ® 8th Edition as the state’s K-3 Literacy Assessment. mCLASS is an integrated literacy system based on theScience of Reading. mCLASS has been revised and upgraded from the assessment NC districts have used in the past, based on the latest research and the Science of Reading. It is a valid and reliable assessment, supporting universal literacy screening, screening for risk of dyslexia, and progress monitoring.

Parents may look up your child’s teacher licensure status at this website Link to the licensure website.

The licensure look up webpage does not include current employment information. Parents may need additional information (i.e., middle name or license number) to identify the teacher accurately.  Substitute teachers (either short or long term) may not hold a NC teaching license.  

Please contact your district’s Human Resources office to verify an educator’s licensure status.

Parents’ Right to Know (English)

Parents’ Right to Know (Spanish)

The following are statutory school entry requirements, this includes required immunizations:  

• Admission requirements:  GS_115C-364.pdf (ncleg.gov)

• Immunization records:  GS_130A-155.pdf (ncleg.gov)

• Immunization requirements:  GS_130A-152.pdf (ncleg.gov) (*this law was amended but is not reflected on the current GA page; see SL2023-134.pdf (ncleg.gov), Section 5.8(e) on page 64”)

• NC Immunization Rules and Laws

 

Physical Exam/Health Assessments:

Effective July 1, 2016 General Statute 130A-440; 10A NCAC09.3005 states that every child entering in NC public schools shall receive a health assessment. The health assessment shall be made no more than 12 months prior to the date of school entry. The parent, guardian, or responsible person shall have 30 calendar days from the first day of attendance to present the required health assessment transmittal form for the child. The state health assessment must be on the current NC Health Assessment Transmittal Form. Additional information is available on the NCDHHS website.

 

Immunizations:

All students enrolling in school must submit an immunization record within 30 calendar days of enrollment. Information on required immunizations for students are available through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS).

NCDHHS Immunizations Resource

• Recommended Immunization Schedules

  • Pre-Kindergarten Entry Vaccine Requirements -4 years or older (in child care only)

  • Kindergarten Entry Vaccine Requirements

  • Seventh Grade Entry Vaccine Requirements

  • Twelfth Grade Entry Vaccine Requirements 

  • Immunization Exemptions

 

North Carolina law allows for 2 types of exemptions from required immunizations. They are medical and religious.

 

NCPS Kindergarten Admission Requirements

 

Early Admission to Kindergarten:

Consideration for a four-year-old child to be granted early admission to kindergarten, the child must meet the following Admission Criteria:

1. The child must have had his/her fourth birthday by April 16 of the current year.

2. The child must be tested (at parent's expense) by a licensed psychologist for aptitude (intelligence) and achievement in reading and/or mathematics. Testing must occur after April 16th of the current year.

3. The child must score at 98th percentile on the aptitude test and the 98th percentile on either the reading or mathematics achievement test.

4. A completed early admissions application should be submitted to the school principal no later than 3:00 p.m. one week prior to the first day of school.

5. The parents (or guardians) and the child must be interviewed by school staff members.

For more information please visit our website: Early Admission to Kindergarten

Understanding what your child is doing in school each day is pivotal to the learning process.

• Ask questions daily about your child’s school day.

• Inquire about topics and assignments they are learning.

• Connect with teachers to understand your child’s progress.

• Ask the teachers how you can help your child learn.

• Attend different events at your child’s school to stay connected and learn how to support them.

• Schedule a conference with your child’s teacher to discuss their progress and how to ensure their growth.

• Review your child’s report cards and progress reports.

• Obtain access to Campus Parent to monitor your child’s progress. 

• Connect to your child’s school and classroom teacher by downloading the Rooms app.

• Download the NCPS District Calendar. 

Parent Guides for Academic Standards:

The following grade level guides contain information to support

parents and caregivers with understanding the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.  The purpose of these guides is to inform parents about the standards, as well as provide useful strategies to incorporate at home.

• ELA Parent Guides

• ELD Parent Guide

• Math Parent Guides: K-5, 6-8

• Social Studies Parent Guides (coming soon)

• Science Parent Guide (coming soon)

• Parenting Partners (Pre-K Parenting Curriculum)

• Si4- Parenting Curriculum 

• Connect-Inform-Engage

• Middle Grades Course Selection Guide

• High School Course Selection Guide

 

Reading and Literacy Support:

This following site provides resources for families to practice and reinforce important literacy skills with their children who are being assessed with mCLASS reading assessments: Amplify Parent Resources

 

North Carolina Board of Education  policy KNEC-002 (Statewide Implementation of Formative & Diagnostic Reading Assessments Grades K-3) requires that:

After each benchmark period, the school shall provide the parent of each individual K-3 student with program-generated written notification of the student's progress, including:

• assessment results,

• whether the student may not reach reading proficiency by the end of the third grade, and

• instructional support activities for use at home.

Home activities, printables, and games to support reading and literacy are also available at North Carolina’s Digital Children’s Reading Initiative (DCRI).  These activities include the following topics, Pre-K-Grade 5:

(1) Phonemic awareness

(2) Phonics

(3) Vocabulary

(4) Fluency

(5) Comprehension

(6) Oral language

Printable activities will be made available for students who do not have digital access at home and may be provided to all students as a supplement to digital resources. For paper copies, please contact your child’s school to access DCRI Printables for Families

NCPS collaborates with local libraries through the NC Kids Digital Library program.  Students are able to borrow ebooks and are provided with a student account.

Tar Heel Reader is a collection of free, easy-to-read, and accessible books on a wide range of topics. Each book can be speech enabled and accessed using multiple interfaces, including touch screens, the IntelliKeys with custom overlays, and 1 to 3 switches to support accessibility options for students.

Nash County Public Schools believes that parents should be involved in every aspect of their child’s learning (Nash County School Board Policy 1310). NCPS embeds Portrait of a Graduate skills in the classroom and school setting.  These durable skills were developed by NCDPI and will support a child’s understanding of citizenship, social skills and respect for others.

Portrait of a Graduate and SEL Competencies

POG and SEL Framework

 

D.A.R.E - The Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) program instructs fifth-grade students annually in Nash County and the city of Rocky Mount elementary schools. Deputies and police officers serve as the D.A.R.E. Officers for the Nash County Sheriff's Office and Rocky Mount Police Department. These deputies and officers serve as positive role models for our children while ensuring that D.A.R.E. messages are delivered effectively and professionally.

 

D.A.R.E. is a collaborative effort by law enforcement, educators, students, parents and communities to offer an educational program in the classroom to reduce and prevent drug abuse and violence among our youth.

 

Educating Kids About Gangs and Gun Violence (EKG^2) - EKG^2 training curriculum engages 7th grade students through a two-hour/two-day interactive classroom presentation by a uniformed police officer from Rocky Mount Police Department for 7th grade students within the city limits of Rocky Mount. EKG2 teaches students about the legal, medical, and emotional consequences of youth gun possession, substance abuse and related gun violence.

Day 1:

• The officer will introduce themselves to the class and begin a causal relationship with the students. With parent permission, the class will be given a “presurvey” to evaluate their understanding of gun violence, gang violence, peer pressure and negative choices. A movie called “Choices” will then be shown to the class. The video challenges youth to consider safe options when facing potentially violent situations. 

   

Day 2:

• The same officer will facilitate a classroom discussion about the poor decisions made in the video. EKG2 normalizes discussions of a once taboo topic and builds relationships between students and law enforcement officers. Upon completion of the EKG2 program the students will receive a certificate and an e-booklet on a USB containing prevention material on subjects such as substance abuse, gun and gang prevention. 19

   

Grade level specific resources, including developmentally appropriate milestones can be found in the following resource repository

NC Portrait of a Graduate - Durable Skills.  

Exceptional Children’s Assistance Center (ECAC) serves as North Carolina's Parent Training & Information Center (PTI) for children with disabilities and special healthcare needs.

Nash County School Board Policy 1310

 

Model Lifelong Learning: 

• Demonstrate and discuss your commitment to your own learning and personal development. 

• Share your experiences of acquiring new skills or knowledge. 

   

Discuss With Your Child The Different PossibilitiesAvailable After Graduation:

• Take your child to visit local colleges.

• Take advantage of local community agencies who offer career exploration.

Goal-Setting:

• Discuss and establish  both short-term and long-term goals.

• Include a time and way to monitor progress on both short and long term goals.

• Create a vision-board together.

   

Provide a Support System that is Encouraging: 

• Discuss with your child that learning includes successes and failures.

• Encourage independence and self-motivation.

• Offer guidance and support without imposing unrealistic expectations.

 By implementing these strategies of this nature, parents can contribute to their child's understanding of high expectations and instill a lifelong love of learning. Adapt strategies of motivation and life-long learning based on your child’s interests.

Nash County Public Schools uses the following platforms for communication between home/school:

• Rooms serves as a dual-function communication and messaging utility that seamlessly integrates with the NCPS application and its corresponding online platform, establishing a consolidated framework for all pertinent communications. This tool is accessible to parents, students, and staff, including teachers, administrators, and coaches. It facilitates the efficient distribution of class assignments, messages, dining menus, sports timetables, and information pertaining to various extracurricular activities, thereby enhancing the overall communication flow within the educational community. 

• Rooms facilitate seamless school communication. It operates on data from our student information system, enabling parents to join their child's specific room. Parents can access an array of information within Rooms, including the stream, behavior data, and teacher messages. You can choose which student's room to view. Messages and interactions within Rooms are documented, which creates a record of communication that can be referenced when needed, enhancing accountability. Parents can access the Nash County Public Schools app via a web version of Rooms from a desktop or laptop. The app allows parents to engage with teachers and staff in real-time. Over 10k downloads and 6k active users.

• "Connect. Inform. Engage. (C.I.E.)" is an initiative implemented by Nash County Public Schools Communication, Planning, and Engagement Department to strengthen the bonds between the educational community and the families it serves. Central to this initiative is the mission to establish a platform that ensures inclusivity and accessibility, where each individual's voice is heard, and their concerns are systematically addressed. Through 'Connect. Inform. Engage.', Nash County Public Schools commits to reducing the communication gap between educators and families, fostering an environment conducive to open dialogue, informed decision-making, and robust community engagement. 

• This initiative underlines several key objectives: 

  • Enhance Relationships: Strengthen the interactions between the school system and the families, ensuring dynamic and reciprocal communication. 

  • Ensure Inclusivity: Develop a platform that makes every community member feel recognized and valued, actively addressing diverse perspectives.

  • Boost Community Engagement: Encourage active participation from the community in the educational process to cultivate shared responsibility and cooperative efforts. 

  • Promote Open Communication: Facilitate open and transparent dialogue to improve mutual understanding and collaboration among stakeholders. 

  • Support Informed Decision-Making: Guarantee that a comprehensive appreciation of all stakeholders' diverse needs and concerns informs decisions impacting the educational community. C.I.E. sessions are conducted monthly from September through April of each academic year.

     

• Parents can view students’ grades within our student information system, Infinite Campus - Campus Parent, for students in grades 3 through 13. Parents can also view individual assignments in the student’s learning management system. See the how to videos below: 

  • How Parents Connect to Google Classroom

  • How Parents Become an Observer in Canvas

  • How Parents Connect to Campus Parent (Parents can request login information from schools).

 

The following are NCDPI developed parent guides that provide suggestions for building strong relationships with your child’s teacher and supporting communication between home and school. 

Building Strong Relationships with Your Child’s Teacher (NC Rethink Education Program)

How You Can Use Questions to Support Your Child’s Learning (NC Rethink Education Program)

 

Additional general parent guides and parent resource webinar recordings can be found at the following website.

NCPS Student-Parent-Teacher Compact (Elementary-Middle)

NCPS Student-Parent-Teacher Compact (Traditional and Alternative High Schools)

School Counseling:

Nash County Public Schools’ counselors promote student success through the implementation of a comprehensive counseling program that addresses the needs of students in the areas of personal-social growth, educational planning, and career and vocational development. School counselors use a multi-tiered system of support, providing core counseling services for all students, supplemental services for select students, and data-driven programs to improve learning and behavioral outcomes. Our mission is to enhance student success through relationship building, goal setting, collaboration, advocacy, and stakeholder consultation, focusing on equitable, data-driven interventions for attendance, behavior, and achievement. 

School counselors align their efforts with the current state content standards: Guidance Essential Standards.

NCPS School Counseling Program

 

Mental Health Supports:

NCPS Mental Health Resources

NCPS aims to promote student mental health and well-being through universal prevention, early intervention, and stakeholder engagement to address the whole child. NCPS has partnered with community stakeholders to make counseling readily and quickly available to all students by reducing financial barriers to care and integrating effective treatment options into systems of support. Some of the available resources in the area can be explored on the website.  

 

Tutoring: 

NCVPS EdVantage Tutoring offers virtual statewide wraparound support to middle and high school students in NC public schools. Tutoring is available in Math, Science and ELA, and is offered via a personalized partnership with district/school leadership to best meet the needs of selected students each semester.

 

The Village: Males to Men Mentoring Program:

We aim to build young males’ social and leadership capital to increase graduation rates, post-secondary enrollment, and career readiness and lower drop-out rates by instilling high moral values and assisting them in gaining the necessary tools, resources, and knowledge to maximize their opportunities for a viable future.

What is The Village: Males to Men Mentoring Program?

• It is an achievement program that began in the fall of 2022, targeting 9th-grade male scholars with the intent of offering them personalized support from their freshmen year through their high school graduation. 

What are the benefits for the males who are involved in this program?

• These young men are surrounded with positive outlets that affirm and celebrate who they are as talented, gifted, and contributing members of the community. As a result, they determine who they are & what they can become rather than having society define their value and their worth. 

What is the objective of the program?

• The program's objective is to adequately prepare these young men with the tools needed to secure viable employment, create entrepreneurial opportunities for themselves, and be driven by high moral and ethical values. 

   

Social Workers:

School Social Workers serve as liaisons between schools and families to remove academic barriers for students. They assist other school staff and student families in identifying and helping students experiencing difficulties academically, emotionally and socially.

Components of the Social Work Program:

• Addressing Student and Family Needs

• Promoting Home/School Communication

• Collaborating With and Supporting School Staff

• Establishing Partnerships with Community Resources

• Implementing Prevention Programs

• Providing Crisis Intervention

   

Parents in need of school supplies or emergency food can contact the Williford Family Resource center at (252)462-2861.

Additional NCPS Parent Resources

Nash County Public Schools encourage parents to join their school’s parent organization. This opportunity provides parents an avenue to make a positive impact and contribution to the school.  Parents/Guardians can also apply to be NCPS- FamAmbassadors. The Fam-Ambassadors are parents who collaborate to ensure student success throughout the school district.  Fam-Ambassadors may be asked to sit on the Textbook adoption committee to provide input on adopting new instructional material. They also serve as Parent Advisors to the Superintendent.  Click here to access the application.

 

The district offers two curriculums for parents. These curriculums are Parenting Partners and Successful Innovations, Si4.  Parents of our Pre-K students have Parenting Partners.  Parenting Partners is a series of face-to-face workshops that allow parents to learn, collaborate, and build a support system with each other.  Parents of students in grades K-13, have Successful Innovations (Si4). Si4 is an online platform that addresses different topics with a focus on elementary, middle and high school. Throughout the school year Si4 provides webinars specific to the needs of parents and students. To access Si4 Click Here.

 

Parent  involvement expectations are  outlined in the NCPS School Board Parental Involvement Policy and Title 1 Parent and Family Engagement.

 

For information on existing parent and family engagement opportunities under Title I, please contact your child’s school.

For additional support regarding your concerns, questions, needs, to use the parent resource center for internet access and to request workshops, contact Williford Family Resource Center at (252) 462-2851.

Nash County Public Schools offers a variety of options for students to pursue their interests, skills at their academic level. 

Career and Technical Education (CTE):

NC has made a significant investment in developing students and programs to meet the needs of the future workforce.  Through Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, public schools offer opportunities for students to develop career awareness in 5th grade, explore careers in grades 6-8, and experience leadership, career development, and career-aligned content in grades 9-12.  

Nash County Public Schools CTE Continuum 

In Nash County Public Schools, Grades 6-8 students are able to explore career pathways. Nash County utilizes Career and College Modules, which allow students the opportunity to explore a wide array of careers.  Theses include:

• Employability Skills

• Health Info Management

• Hospitality & Tourism

• Intro to Child Development

• Intro Health Science

• Life Nutrition & Wellness

• Nursing

• Personal Finance

• Pharmacology

• Veterinary Medicine

• CADD

• Computer Graphic

• Design & Marketing

• Emergency & Fire Mgmt

• Emergency Medical Tech

• Intro Computer Science

• Intro to Culinary

• Intro to Eng. & Design

• Mental Health

• Sports Medicine

• Alternative Energy

• Digital Manufacturing

• Electricity & Electronics

• Energy & Power

• Forensic Science

• Home Maintenance Fundamentals

• Home Maintenance Systems

• Occupational Health & Safety

• Robotics

• Structural Engineering

In Nash County Public Schools, students are able to experience leadership opportunities, career development, and career-aligned content from grades 9-12:

• Specific Career Aligned Pathways Course Management System

• Industry-Recognized Credentialing

• SchooLinks (Career Development Plan Electronic Platform) Grades (6-12)

• Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO)

• Advanced Studies, Internships, and Pre-Apprenticeships

   

For more information on CTE in NC, and to learn about Career Clusters, Pathways, and Course Information, Standards, and applicable Credentials please visit: Course Management System.

In our district, there are the following programs available that are more rigorous and challenging than the standard content for students:

Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted (AIG): 

In NC, school districts must identify and serve academically or intellectually gifted (AIG) K-12 students. These are students who are performing, or have the potential of performing, at high levels of accomplishment in intellectual and/or specific academic areas, such as reading and/or math when compared with other students of their age, or in their grade level, experience, or environment. 

The Nash County Public Schools Local AIG Plan outlines specific opportunities for differentiated, rigorous instruction and accelerated programs. You can find the plan at  AIG Plan

The Nash County Public Schools has developed an AIG Identification Flow Chart to help parents better understand the AIG program.  This describes how students will be identified and served across grades K-12.  Visit NCPS AIG for parent information.  

In Nash County Public Schools,students are often provided the following ervices:

• Differentiated curriculum and instruction with flexible student groups;

• Accelerated opportunities (subject and/or grade acceleration, credit by demonstrated mastery (CDM), AP/IB/CIE courses, dual enrollment courses;

• Enrichment experiences, which may be during the school day or beyond, and may be within the regular calendar year or may include summer opportunities; and 

• Other opportunities for extension of content standard.

   

Services for AIG students may be provided by AIG personnel or within the regular classroom by teachers trained to meet the needs of gifted students.  

Contact the district/school AIG Coordinator (Wendy Hinson) with questions at wdhinson@ncpschools.net. 

Honors Level Courses:

In Nash County Public Schools, students have access to a variety of honors level courses in high school.  These courses are available in the course catalog located at NCPS HS Courses.

Honors level courses typically have a faster pace than standard level courses.  They offer additional rigor, complexity, and creativity than standard level courses.  

 

Career and College Promise (CCP): 

Nash County Public Schools partners with Nash Community College to offer dual enrollment opportunities through the CCP program. If your high school student qualifies, students may earn high school credit by completing community college coursework.  

CCP courses may be taken in the College Transfer or Career and Technical Education pathway.  These courses count for both high school and college credit.  Tuition is free for families. 

To learn more about this program, contact your child’s school counselor.

Additional information is available on the NCDPI CCP website.

 

Innovative High Schools (add links)

 

Advanced Placement (AP) Courses: 

Advanced Placement (AP) is a program developed by the College Board to offer college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. 

In North Carolina, 40 Advanced Placement courses are offered in public high schools. Nash County Public Schools offers 17 AP courses and the AP Capstone Diploma opportunity in the following schools: 

Nash Central High School, Northern Nash High School, Rocky Mount High School, and Southern Nash High School.

Several AP courses satisfy graduation requirements for NC students as outlined in  State Board of Education policy. 

AP exams are free for NC public high school students enrolled in these courses. If a student registers for an exam late, there will be a $40 per exam fee in addition to the exam fee.

Colleges and universities may offer college credit for these courses if your child scores a 3 or above on the exam. All of the colleges in the UNC System offer credit.

More information is available on the NCDPI AP website.

 

International Baccalaureate Programs/Cambridge International Education programs:

Nash County Public Schools offers  International Baccalaureate (IB)  at Rocky Mount High School. Several IB/CIE courses satisfy graduation requirements for NC students as outlined in State Board of Education policy. IB and CIE exams are free for NC public high school students enrolled in these courses. If a student registers for an exam late, there will be a $150 fee.  

Colleges and universities may offer college credit for these courses if your child receives a high-level score. All of the colleges in the UNC System offer college credit if there is a 4 or higher on IB exams or an “E” on a CIE exam.

More information is available on the NCDPI Advanced Coursework website.

 

Accelerated Access

NCVPS:

North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) is NC’s state supplemental program and leader in online education, providing inclusive learning opportunities for students across the state. Founded in 2007, with a strong commitment to ensuring quality education for all students, regardless of location, NCVPS has over 16 years of experience serving diverse learners.

Students may enroll in NCVPS courses for a variety of reasons. Work with your child’s school counselor if you are interested in enrolling them in NCVPS courses. Nash County Public Schools offers the following courses through NCVPS:

Students interested in taking courses through NCVPS are referred to their counselor.  The counselor and principal inform the Executive Director for Secondary Education for district approval for the registration.

Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM):

Nash County Public Schools offers opportunities for students to earn credit for a high school course without enrolling in the course.  All high school courses, with a few exceptions as noted by the state, are available for students to try to achieve CDM.  There are two phases of assessments that a student must go through to earn credit for the course.

Credit By Demonstrated Mastery

Procedural Guidelines for Implementing  Credit by Demonstrated Mastery

Governor’s School: Each summer, NC Governor’s School offers a unique opportunity for high-achieving rising juniors and seniors to learn with their peers from across the state in a 4-week residential program at two college campus sites. 

 

For more information on eligibility and the application process, contact Wendy Hinson at wdhinson@ncpschools.net or visit the Governor's School website, www.ncgovschool.org.

Students in public school districts are assigned to certain schools based on a local assignment plan approved by Local Board of education

Nash County Public Schools offers these additional school choice options for students/families:

You may apply for a seat by submitting an application online.

• Career and Technical Education Program Areas

• Center for Industry Technology and Innovation High School

• Dance

• Dual Language/Spanish Immersion

• International Baccalaureate (IB)

• Nash Everywhere Digital Academy

• Nash Rocky Mount Early College High School

 

There are other options for families to choose for their education:

Charter Schools

Charter schools are public schools of choice that are authorized by the State Board of Education and operated by independent non-profit boards of directors. State and local tax dollars are the primary funding sources for charter schools, which have open enrollment and cannot discriminate in admissions, associate with any religion or religious group, or charge-tuition. Charter schools operate with freedom from many of the regulations that govern district schools, but charter schools are held accountable through the State assessment and accountability system.

If you are interested in NC charter schools, visit NC charter school for information, resources, and contacts. 

 

Nonpublic Education and Scholarship Grants

Nonpublic education is overseen by the NC Department of Administration. 

 

For a list of private schools, visit this NC Private Schools.

 

For information on how to start a homeschool visit:

Homeschool Information

Scholarship grant programs/voucher information is available via the NC State Education Assistance Authority. 

For students suspected of or identified with a disability by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the following links provide important information regarding the procedural safeguards available to ensure a free, appropriate, public education.

IDEA requires that the parents of a student with a disability be informed of their rights under IDEA and accompanying federal regulations. Those rights can be found in the NC parent rights handbook:  Parent Rights Handbook; Parent Rights Handbook (Spanish)

 

Any person who has a concern regarding the education of a student with a disability can raise the issue in one of several ways, they are outlined in the following document:   IDEA Dispute Resolution

 

Surrogate parent volunteers can find guidance regarding their roles in the following document: Special Education Surrogate Parents

 

Project Child Find is a collaborative effort between local NC school systems and the NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to locate and identify students with disabilities between the ages of birth - 21. The effort also aims to inform parents/guardians of available services at the state local community levels

The Nash County Schools’ Exceptional Children’s website can be found at: NCPS EC Website

Parents and guardians can contact Nash County Public Schools by using the information below:

NCPS Main website: www.ncpschools.net

NCPS Physical Address:  930 Eastern Avenue Nashville, NC 27856

NCPS Main Line: (252) 459-5220

School Directory: School Directory 

District Staff Directory www.ncpschools.net (use dropdown menu  for desired department)

Student Health Resources

Please refer to the Parent/Student Handbook: Student Health Services section and the School Nurse web page for information

 

Immunizations and Health Assessments

• Recommended Immunizations: Center for Disease Control and Prevention

  • NC Required Immunizations

• Health Assessment information from NCDHHS

  •  General Statute 130A-440; 10A NCAC09.3005 

• Immunization and Health Assessment Compliance Reporting

Nash County Public Schools has the Code of Conduct and Character that outlines expectations for civility and respect, and includes potential consequences for when behavioral standards are not met. The Code of Conduct aims to maintain safe learning environments for all students to promote optimal learning and the building of strong relationships. Click here to view the Code of Conduct and Character.