AIG Program

AIG Local Plan for New Hanover County School

The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction has mandated six AIG Standards in NC. Each school district writes an AIG Plan that addresses how the district will address each AIG standard. The AIG Plan must be updated/revised/rewritten every three years. Our current AIG plan is for 2022-2025. Every Gifted Education Specialist, along with the school administration, creates a plan on how the school will address the six standards and the current AIG Plan to meet the needs of advanced learners. The AIG Plan is approved by the NHCS Board of Education and is board policy. It is also approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education. You may access our current Local AIG Plan for 2022-2025 by clicking this link. 


AIG / High School Potential Course Sequencing in Brief 


Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted (AIG) Services at New Hanover High School

The Focus at the high school is truly a resource/enrichment program; students are not pulled out of their regular classes for enrichment or acceleration on a regular basis.  The gifted education specialist will consult with counselors and the classroom teachers regarding differentiated curriculum, and she is also either the facilitator or the contact/ liaison for several programs available for gifted students. The GES is available to students and parents via office hours, email, or phone. Gifted students should join the New Hanover AIG Google Classroom so they can access information and updates on special programming, enrichment, other various opportunities, and scholarships at any time!


Services for AIG identified 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students include differentiated curriculum and instruction in language arts and/or mathematics within advanced courses. Appropriate guidance in course selection and mapping, extra-curricular opportunity participation, and career exposure match individual student needs for differentiation. Gifted service options are discussed below.


Advanced Placement Courses

Advanced Placement (AP) courses provide rigorous and challenging studies for highly able and potentially high-achieving students who are capable or motivated to pursue rigorous and challenging instruction. For more information about AP courses, visit the website @ https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/what-is-ap New Hanover offers the following AP courses: 

New Hanover Contact: Counselors @ https://sites.google.com/d/1Cpp4ouhZjYYh4-eME9hYAa2wFYkB1pMP/p/1oe7F7iSeAnUQlGQijPKQHF1zcbGPjAOz/edit


Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM)

CDM is an acceleration opportunity for students who possess the skills to show mastery in the content of a course that they have not yet taken. Credit by Demonstrated Mastery is a two-phase process: 

Phase I:  Establishes that a student has a strong foundational knowledge of a subject area, assessed through an End of Course test or exam. The student must achieve a Level 5 on the EOC/state assessment or 90% correct on the local exam,  then the student may move on to 


Phase II. Establishes that a student can demonstrate and apply mastery knowledge of the course content.  A student must provide an assigned artifact assessed by a school review team in order to achieve credit for the course.


To CDM a course, students must complete the CDM Application and submit it to Mrs. Jeffrey @ angela.jeffrey@nhcs.net or room 104A.  The Fall Semester 2023 CDM Application is due September 8, 2023 and the Spring 2024 CDM Application is due January 30, 2024. 

 Fall 2023/Spring 2024


Student application window  August 28, 2023 -September 8, 2023 

CDM assessment (at school sites)  September 18-29, 2023

CDM assessment results reported to students and families By October 13, 2023 

Artifact assigned By October 20, 2023 

Artifact deadline (to be turned in to CDM School Contact) November 21, 2023

CDM Review Panel disseminates results   By December 15, 2023 


CDM credit earned in Fall 2023 should inform placement in Spring of 2024 or Fall of 2024

Spring 2023 

Student Application window January 2 - 30, 2024

CDM assessment (at school sites) February 16-29, 2024

CDM phase I results reported to students March 14, 2024

Artifact assigned to students continuing to phase II By March 21, 2024

Artifact deadline By April 26, 2024

CDM Review Panel disseminates results By May 10, 2024

CDM credit earned in Spring 2023 should inform placement in Fall of 2024 or Spring of 2025


Below are some valuable resources in determining if this is the right path for a student:

CDM Overview

CDM Long Term Considerations

Credit by Demonstrated Mastery FAQs


Dual Enrollment with CFCC: Career and College Promise

Cape Fear Community College offers high school juniors and seniors an opportunity to earn college credits toward a two or four-year degree while in high school. For more information about the Career and College Promise program, visit the website @ https://cfcc.edu/career-and-college-promise/ 

New Hanover Contact: Kenneth Gilliard @ kgilliard@cfcc.edu 


Dual Enrollment with UNCW

Selected high school juniors or seniors who wish to pursue an academic program at the collegiate level while attending high school may enroll at UNCW if they meet the qualifications for participation in this program. Students may enter this program at the beginning of the fall, spring, or summer term, and may only register for 2 undergraduate courses per term.

This program is available primarily to students in the Wilmington area. For more information, visit their website @ https://uncw.edu/admissions/dual.html. 

New Hanover Contact: Angela Jeffrey @ angela.jeffrey@nhcs.net


Governor's School of North Carolina

The Governor's School of North Carolina is a 5½-week summer residential program for gifted and talented high school students, integrating academic disciplines, the arts, and unique courses on each of two campuses. The curriculum focuses on the exploration of the most recent ideas and concepts in each discipline, and it does not involve credit, tests, or grades. Students are selected to attend through a competitive process after being nominated by their public school unit or non-public school.For more information, visit the website @ https://www.dpi.nc.gov/students-families/enhanced-opportunities/governors-school-north-carolina

New Hanover Contact: Angela Jeffrey @ angela.jeffrey@nhcs.net


Honors Courses

Honors level courses are designed to be more challenging for the advanced learner. Honors level courses are developed as an integral component of a differentiated program of study that provides an array of opportunities for all students based on their aptitudes, achievement, and interests. Laney offers Honors level courses in English, math, science, social studies and elective courses. For a list of Honors elective courses offered at New Hanover High School visit the website @ https://sites.google.com/d/1Cpp4ouhZjYYh4-eME9hYAa2wFYkB1pMP/p/1vPs2KnTSib1KmEchlT9_liKXbDj0DVOF/edit


Honors Service Learning

The Honors Service Learning course is a dual purpose course that integrates academic and career readiness curriculum with a civic or service component.  Students will divide their week between 2 days of classroom instruction and collaborative learning with 3 days of service time on site at their partner organization. New Hanover Contact: Elizabeth Felts @ elizabeth.felts@nhcs.net


New Hanover High School Specialty Program: Lyceum Academy

A school within a school, the Lyceum fosters a thoughtful place where a community of learners (both teachers and students) develops essential habits of mind. A fully integrated, multidisciplinary curriculum is at the heart of the Academy with each unit of study drawing upon all four core disciplines: English, Math, Science and Social Studies. This two-year program allows the faculty to develop a strong advisor/advisee relationship since they will not only serve as instructors, but they will also assume homeroom responsibilities for these students as well. For more information, visit the website @ https://sites.google.com/nhcs.net/the-lyceum-academy/home?authuser=0

New Hanover Contact:  Sarah Morris @ sarah.morris@nhcs.net


New Hanover High School Academic and Enrichment Clubs

Academic and enrichment clubs provide extracurricular opportunities for students to explore their talents and interests. For a list of clubs offered at New Hanover High School, visit the website @ https://newhanoverhs.nhcs.net/learning/student-resources


North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

NCSSM offers both a Residential Program and an Online Program. Eligible applicants may apply to either or both programs using one electronic application.  There is no cost to apply and no tuition to become enrolled in either program.Applicants must currently be in 10th grade to be eligible to apply. Visit the NCSSM website to apply. 

New Hanover Contact: Angela Jeffrey @ angela.jeffrey@nhcs.net


North Carolina Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics

Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics is a no-cost, state-funded program for academically talented North Carolina students who aspire to careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. For more information, visit the website @ https://www.ncssm.edu/summerventures 

New Hanover Contact: Angela Jeffrey @ angela.jeffrey@nhcs.net


North Carolina Virtual Public High School

NCVPS provides students online courses in many subject areas including mathematics, science, English language arts, social studies, arts, advanced placement, honors, and world languages. For course options, visit the website @ https://ncvps.org/

New Hanover Contact: Sarah Morris @ sarah.morris@nhcs.net