The Middle School program offers advanced courses for students who are passionate and want to challenge themselves with more cognitively complex curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Honors courses will better prepare students for AP courses at the high school level, but they are not a prerequisite for taking those courses. Acceptance into an Honors (H) course is contingent on demonstrating and maintaining high levels of performance across many indicators.  Choosing not to apply this year does not prevent a student from applying the following year and being accepted this year does not guarantee a student will be accepted the following year.

The decision to apply for an Honors course should be made carefully; families should discuss the time commitment and the academic diligence required while also considering all other schools, co-curricular, and personal commitments. It is important to know that success in AP/Honors courses requires students to exhibit the following traits of an Honors student:

• Dedicated to completing rigorous and challenging academic work both inside and outside the classroom

• Self-directed and capable of managing their time without instructional direction (to prioritize activities, set & follow deadlines, and balance academic & co-curricular activities well)

• Highly organized and able to manage and maintain textbooks, online resources, notebooks, and other required class resources independently

• Capable of academic communication and self-advocacy 

• Personally passionate about the subject areas they choose at an AP/Honors level  

The factors below may be used to determine the degree to which students possess the traits of an Honors student. During the school year, when concerns arise with a student enrolled in Honors, the CNG Eligibility Protocol will be used to assess potential removal. Additionally, students demonstrating strengths in the above traits during the year may be considered for transfer into a specific Honors course.

• Academic history

• Proven core values

• Assessment scores 

• Teacher feedback

• Attendance and tardy data

• Individual expressions of personal passion

• Positive impact on the learning environment

A Review Committee of teachers and counselors will evaluate each student individually to determine appropriate coursework.

Honors courses follow an adjusted grading scale; as a result, this means Honors courses will require greater effort and independence from students in order to earn an equivalent grade. In recognition of this increased demand, an additional 0.3 “bump” will be applied to grades for all AP/Honors courses at the end of each semester.

Students wishing to apply for an Honors course should complete this Application Form.