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CSD Believes in:
CSD Believes in:
Innovative curriculum and teaching methods that allow students to find meaning, purpose and relevance
Opportunities for hands-on learning experiences
Differentiated instruction and low student-to-teacher ratios
Cross-curricular emphasis on student writing skills
Advanced coursework options, including Advanced Placement, Virtual, and Dual Enrollment options
Internship and Independent study opportunities
Inventive and inspiring arts programs including visual, performing, literary, craft and technology based options.
Traditional grading system paired with direct academic counseling to ensure students use grades and feedback as tools for assessing and understanding their progress
Extensive college counseling program
Wellness classes such as yoga, karate, and self-paced fitness
State of the art classrooms, laboratories, art studios, and performance and practice spaces.
AP Course Policies
AP Course Policies
Please keep in mind that Advanced Placement (AP) courses present college-level content aimed at preparing students to take (and pass) the College Board AP Exam in May. Depending on North Carolina state policies, AP exam fees may apply. These courses are rigorous and fast-paced. Students must anticipate intensive homework and heavy workloads. Although our teachers ensure that students are doing meaningful assignments, enrollment in an AP course does add a substantial burden to the student.
As a result, we limit the number of enrollments a student may seek in AP courses each year to allow students to pursue a well-rounded high school experience and balanced course of study. Highly selective colleges look to see if students challenge themselves with the full range of rigorous courses that the school makes available but acknowledge that even the most rigorous high school programs place similar limits on students. At CSD, AP enrollment guidelines are as follows: 10th grade: no more than 1 AP; 11th grade: no more than 2 APs; 12th grade: no more than 3 APs.
To ensure that our younger students gain exposure to the full challenge presented by AP courses, we require that 10th grade students sit for the relevant College Board exam.
After 10th grade, students who opt to enroll in AP courses complete a graded, mandatory final assessment prior to administration of the College Board exam. These mandatory assessments assist students in preparing for the AP exam, which is optional for upperclass students. In rare cases, students may choose to audit an AP class. For more information on audits, please see this additional information.
If you are seeking to broaden the scope of academic rigor on your transcript, please consider an internship or independent study or a CPCC course. As of 2021, Dual Enrollment (CPCC) courses do NOT count against AP limits.
CSD Graduation Requirements
CSD Graduation Requirements
In addition to the above NC requirements, CSD also requires:
A senior English paper/ project.
An art concentration that spans 4 years (minimum of 1 art credit per year).
Satisfactory completion of all grade-level Friday seminar courses
Active participation in service Fridays
Pathways to Graduation
Pathways to Graduation
All public high school students must meet minimum state graduation requirements to earn a diploma and graduate. These graduation requirements are considered the Future-Ready Course of Study (FRC) requirements and prepare students for post-secondary success. All students must earn at least 22 credits in the Future-Ready Course of Study to graduate from high school. The Future-Ready Course graduation requirements ensure that a student is prepared for life and whatever pathway they choose after they graduate, workplace, colleges/university or the military. Below are the specific course requirements.
The Occupational Course of Study is available for those students with disabilities who are specifically identified for the program and has adapted course requirements and the same credit requirements as FRC. Although the state requires a designated number of courses and credits for students to graduate high school, local school districts and other public school units may require additional courses and credits to graduate. Families and students are strongly encouraged to check with their high school to determine if their district and/or school have additional requirements for students to earn a high school diploma.
Additional details can be found at the NCDPI website.
Grade Scale
Grade Scale
As a North Carolina public charter high school, CSD utilizes the 10-point grading scale that became effective statewide in August 2015. GPAs are calculated from the state transcript system and are weighted using the state point system.
Grade Suppression Policy
Grade Suppression Policy
In the interest of encouraging students to dig in and master the content and skills delivered in high school courses, students may elect to retake courses for credit and to substitute the resulting grade as follows:
If students have received a D or F for a course they may elect to re-enroll in the course to improve understanding and earn a better grade.
Students may elect this option for one course per year up to a total of two courses over the course of their high school career.
If the course has an associated EOC exam and the student did not pass the first time, the student must retake the exam.
Students must obtain approval from an administrator before re-enrolling a course for credit.
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