Students must meet the following requirements to be promoted from one grade to another: 

NOTE: All credits indicated must be earned in high school. Credits earned in middle school do count for graduation but they do not count for promotion. 

9th to 10th Grade

• 6 credits earned in high school.

10th to 11th Grade

• 12 credits earned in high school. 

• These credits must include English I, English II, and Math 1.

11th to 12th Grade

• 18 credits earned in high school.

• These credits must include English I, English II, and Math 1.

• A= 90-100 Excellent Performance

• B= 80-89 Very Good Performance

• C= 70-79 Satisfactory Performance

• D= 60-69 Inconsistent, Low Performance

• F= Below 60 Unsatisfactory Performance or Excessive Absences 

In accordance with state policy, High School students accumulating more than 10 absences, excused or unexcused per class for 4X4 course or 20 days for an A day/B day course will receive a grade of "F" for the course. 

An appeals process is available for unusual circumstances surrounding excessive absences. For more information, please contact your student's counselor. 

• A student must earn a total of 24 credits to be eligible for a diploma. These 24 credits must include: 

  • • 4 credits of English (English I, English II, English III, English IV) 

    • 4 credits of Math (NC Math I, NC Math 2, NC Math 3, and a 4th Math Option) 

    • 3 credits of Science (Earth/Environmental Science, Biology, and a physical science) 

    • 4 credits of Social Studies (World History, Civics and Economics, American History I, and American History II-students may substitute with AP US History and a Social Studies Elective) 

    • 1 Health/PE requirement 

    • 8 elective credits (2 must be CTE, Art, or World Language) 

• Completion of CPR training requirement. 

To determine a weighted, cumulative GPA, the total quality points is divided by the number of courses attempted. Listed below are the grade points for each academic course level: 

Standard (unweighted) 

• • A= 4 points

  • B= 3 points

  • C= 2 points

  • D= 1 point

  • F= 0 points 

Honors (Weighted) 

• • A= 4.5 points

  • B= 3.5 points

  • C= 2.5 points

  • D= 1.5 points

  • F=0 points 

Advanced Placement (AP) (Weighted) 

• • A= 5 points

  • B= 4 points

  • C= 3 points

  • D= 2 points

  • F= 0 points 

Seniors who have satisfied all North Carolina and CMS graduation requirements at the end of first semester of their senior year are eligible to graduate in January of their senior year ("mid-year graduation").  This option is available only for eligible students who affirmatively elect to graduate at the mid-year.  Students who are eligible for mid-year graduation who do not make this election will continue to be enrolled in CMS and graduate in June of their senior year.In order to determine if a student is eligible for mid-year graduation, the procedures below must be followed:

Mid-Year Graduation Procedures

1. A student may be considered for mid-year graduation only if the date of his or her sixteenth birthday is on or before the student's anticipated date of graduation.

2. The student must work with the school counselor to develop a written education and career plan outlining the courses in which the student plans to enroll that will enable the student to meet North Carolina and CMS graduation requirements for the student's assigned graduating class by the end of first semester of his or her senior year. 

3. Prior to the first day of July 1 following a student's junior year in high school, the student must submit to the principal a Request for Mid-year Graduation that contains the following information:

• The written education and career plan; and

• Written verification by the counselor that all graduation requirements can be met at the end of      first semester of the student's senior year in high school and that the student will reach his/her sixteenth birthday on or before the anticipated date of graduation; and

• If a student is under the age of eighteen, written permission from the student's parent.

Early Graduation Procedures

1. A student may be considered for early graduation only if the date of his or her sixteenth birthday is on or prior to the anticipated date of graduation.

2. The student must work with the school counselor to develop a written education and career plan outlining the courses in which the student plans to enroll that will enable the student to meet North Carolina and CMS graduation requirements for the student's assigned graduating class.

 3. Prior to the first day of July following a student's sophomore year in high school, the student must submit to the principal a Request for Early Graduation ("Request") that contains the following information:

• Written education and career plan; and 

• Written verification by the counselor that all graduation requirements can be met upon successful completion of the written education and career plan and that the student will reach his/her sixteenth birthday on or prior to the anticipated date of graduation; and If a student is under the age of eighteen, written permission from the student's parent

4. The principal must verify that the above procedures have been followed and, if so, shall approve the Request.  The student shall then be re-classified as a senior.