Secondary Education

Advanced Courses

Orange County Schools offers multiple opportunities for high school students to enroll in challenging courses, which will prepare them for life and work beyond high school.  Employers report that they prefer to hire students who take challenging courses in high school.  Students considering attending a college or university can earn college credit while still enrolled in high school.  A recent article titled The Benefits of Honors Courses explains that “There are many benefits to committing yourself to taking honors courses, some of them more far-reaching than college.” 

Advanced Course opportunities in Orange County Schools are listed below in alphabetical order.

Advanced Placement (AP) Courses

Advanced Placement (AP) courses are designed by the College Board.  As an AP student, you are demonstrating to yourself and others that you are up to the challenge of rigorous, college-level course work. In May, students take a test for each AP course in which they are enrolled; students who achieve a certain score may, if their college accepts the AP credit, receive college credit. Students receive six (6) quality points on the standardized transcript, which means an A = 6.0; B = 5.0; C = 4.0. 

Students who do well in AP classes increase their chances of college success and the College Board recognizes the following AP Scholar Designations and notifies both the high school and college the student attends of these distinctions:  AP Scholar, AP Scholar with Honor, AP Scholar with Distinction, AP State Scholar, and National AP Scholar.

Each of our district’s AP teachers completed a review of their course by the College Board called the AP Audit.  The authorization of an individual teacher’s course is an official recognition by the College Board that the teacher’s course meets or exceeds the expectations colleges and universities have for the designated AP subject. This authorization grants the teacher’s school permission to use the “AP” designation on students’ transcripts in association with the authorized course.

You can find more information on an AP course of study or specific AP courses offered in the High School Registration Guide. If you have questions, contact your guidance counselor.

 

Honors Courses

Honors courses are aligned to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.  Honors courses provide students with challenging coursework which will prepare them for Advanced Placement (AP) courses, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program, and community college courses while enrolled in high school.  Students receive five (5) quality points on the standardized transcript, which means an A = 5.0; B = 4.0; C = 3.0.  Taking one or more honors courses demonstrates that a student is willing to take rigorous courses.  Employers and colleges seek high school students who have chosen to participate in advanced courses. Honors courses are designated in the High School Registration Guide.

 

International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme

The IB Diploma programme is a comprehensive pre-university course that demands the best from both motivated students and teachers. This sophisticated two-year curriculum covers a wide range of academic subjects and has stood the test of time for over half a million students in 119 countries since 1968. IB Diploma Programme graduates are welcomed by the world's leading universities.

Universities recognize the outstanding qualities of IB Diploma Programme students. Typically, diploma holders are ready to debate real-world issues from an international perspective and to provide leadership and support in the local and global community. They demonstrate a capacity for in-depth study while maintaining a broad perspective of the different subject areas. They are able to ask challenging questions but also know how to research a topic and express their opinion. They have a strong sense of their own culture and identity, as well as the ability to communicate in two or more languages with people who have a different perspective of the world.

The International Baccalaureate Programme is a demanding course of study that is designed for highly motivated secondary students (juniors and seniors) with an interest in internationalism, service, academic rigor and independent learning.  The school district’s IB Programme is housed at Cedar Ridge High School, but students from both high schools are eligible to apply for acceptance into the IB Programme.

Additional information on the IB Programme in Orange County Schools

 

North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS)

According to the North Carolina Virtual Public School, “Virtual schooling means registered students throughout the state can take classes using their own computers, over the Internet.  Course content, assignments and demonstrations are provided on an anytime, anywhere basis. Students use email, instant messaging and online chat forums to interact with their teachers and other students.  Teachers and students may talk to one another over the phone or over their computers.  When students complete assignments, they can send their papers or tests to their teachers electronically.  Grading and individual remarks are sent from the teacher to the student in the same way.”  Students who are interested in enrolling in a NCVPS course should contact their guidance counselor. 

For additional information and course offerings visit: 
North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS)