Opportunities for Higher Learning

NCSSM Online is a unique, tuition-free two-year program of online learning blended with a host of realtime connections and onsite NCSSM residential activities. NCSSM Online offers a host of rigorous online honors or college level courses parallel to those offered in the NCSSM residential academic program. A unique feature of this two-year program is its design to bring students together for onsite collaborative learning experiences—a vital component of the total NCSSM experience.

The NCSSM Online program is available to the same highly qualified applicants who apply to the NCSSM residential school program. It is designed to expand the NCSSM academic experience beyond the boundaries of the Durham campus to more North Carolina high school students in a virtual environment. This program supplements continued enrollment at a local school, and will provide for a separate NCSSM transcript for the curriculum taken in the NCSSM Online program.

Students who enroll in these classes will be required to attend an orientation at NCSSM’s site in late July.

Note: Enrollment in NCSSM Online courses requires the student to apply and meet all acceptance criteria for NCSSM. While students remain enrolled in their public schools, counselors should not enroll them in online courses for credit at the public school until after they have been accepted into the NCSSM Online Program.

***Rigorous Prerequisites apply*** Check with your guidance counselor for assistance.

The purpose of the North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) is to provide courses that students are unable to take at their local schools. In other words, NCVPS will provide courses that augment a student's local school's program of study.

For example, a student may wish to take an AP course the local school does not offer. Another student may want to complete the remaining requirement for graduation this semester yet the course needed at the student’s school is already full this semester. Another student may be home bound or hospital bound due to illness or injury and wish to remain on schedule to graduate on time. Yet another student may wish to graduate from high school in three years.

All courses will be taught by a certified teacher in the subject certified to teach in North Carolina. Once the on-line course is completed the student receives credit on his or her school transcript

The initial course offerings are for high school students. In subsequent years, course offerings will be available for middle school and elementary school students. Course offerings can found at www.ncvps.org.

The authorizing legislation for NCVPS states:

"NCVPS shall be available at no cost to all students in North Carolina who are enrolled in North Carolina's public schools, Department of Defense schools, and schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs."

See your guidance counselor for more information!

Note- If a course is offered face-to-face preference will be given to that course.