General Information

Welcome to the spring registration process for the 2024-25 school year! 

Moore County Schools’ High School Course Guide contains information needed to register and is designed to help you and your parents or guardians make the best choices for your high school education. You’ll find many exciting options for you as a high school student, so read through this website carefully.

It will be especially important for you to talk with your counselors, parents and teachers concerning your course selections. Choices that you make in high school affect your options for study and career after your time in high school has ended, so please give serious consideration to your course choices. In order to earn a high school diploma you must meet all course, credit and test requirements of at least one course of study. These courses of study are designed by the state to prepare students for a multitude of post-high school opportunities from entry-level careers to highly technical studies at community colleges, colleges and universities. You are encouraged to select the most challenging course of study in which you can be successful.

REGISTRATION IS A COMMITMENT to take the courses you have selected. Remember, when you complete your registration you are requesting a specific course, NOT a specific teacher, time or place. Every effort will be made to honor your course requests within the guidelines established by your school, the safety requirements of a program and the Board of Education.

You may choose the courses you would like to take in the next school year; however, your schedule may change pending final grades in the courses you are currently taking and your End-of-Grade (EOG) or End-of-Course  (EOC) scores, whether the course is offered, and your specific schedule.

Steps for Completing the Registration Process

• Study the General Information section of this site. Identify the requirements for graduation by reviewing the chart on the previous page.

• Read the course descriptions of both required courses and electives in which you are interested, and make sure you meet the prerequisite requirements.

• Use the High School Plan developed by you and your counselor to select the courses you want to take.

• Talk with your school counselors and teachers for help in determining the courses you need. School staff members will make recommendations to you by using several criteria such as your previous performance, test scores and the AP Potential results based on your PSAT information.

• Meet with your counselor to make your course selections on your registration form in PowerSchool.

• Have your parent or guardian double check your selections to make sure you have registered for the courses you need.

• Be sure to complete by the deadline designated by your school.

The information provided in this site is current at the time of publication. It is recommended that you work closely with your school counselor during the registration period to be aware of any changes.

Planning for High School Registration

Selecting requires planning.  Your high school classes should be selected based on your career and educational aspirations. Careful four-year planning will give you a challenging class schedule that meets all requirements and allows opportunity to explore your interests.

The Future-Ready Core Course of Study requires six total elective units for graduation. Thoughtfully deliberating your elective choices may help you discover the answer to the question “What kind of work do I want to do as an adult?” Consider classes either related to your planned college or community college  studies or those that prepare you to enter the workforce.

IMPORTANT...Registration is the student’s opportunity to request appropriate courses. All courses may not be available at the student’s home school. Every effort will be made to grant requests by linking students with schools offering those courses.

Alternates should be chosen very carefully and will be considered part of the student’s final selection of courses.

Graduation Requirements

Future-Ready Core

All students will be expected to satisfy the 22 credit requirements outlined under the Future-Ready Course of Study to earn a diploma and graduate. Under the six total elective units required for graduation, it is strongly recommended that four elective credits be taken from one of the following areas of focus: Career and Technical Education, JROTC, Arts Education, World Languages or any other subject area (e.g., mathematics, science, social studies, English).

The remaining two electives must be any combination from Career and Technical Education, Arts Education or World Languages. By taking elective credits in a concentrated area, students can tailor their course concentrations to fit their interests and goals while building a strong academic foundation. For some students with disabilities, the Occupational Course of Study (OCS) will remain an option.

The participation of a student with a disability in the Occupational Course of Study is determined by the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team which includes the student and parent/guardian.

Three Year Graduation

A student seeking to graduate in three years, should complete and sign a 3-year graduation request and submit the request to their counselor. At this time, the counselor and the school administrator will schedule a meeting with the student and his/her parent/guardian to discuss the implications of graduating in three years. 

At a minimum the administrator shall address the following topics:

• Plans for transitioning into higher education, employment, or enlistment

• Discontinued access to high school services and programming, including extracurricular activities and interscholastic athletics

• Support structures available to the student in the high school environment, such as nutrition and school counseling services, which will no longer be available upon graduation

After the student has met the minimum graduation requirements established by the State Board of Education, which includes being 16 at the time of graduation, the Superintendent shall approve the request for 3 year graduation.

Diploma Endorsements

Students enrolled in North Carolina high schools shall have the opportunity to earn endorsements to their High School Diploma. Endorsements are not required to graduate but are an additional recognition from the state.

Students may earn a Career Endorsement, a College Endorsement, a North Carolina Global Language Endorsement, a North Carolina College/UNC Endorsement and a the North Carolina Academic Scholars Endorsement.  It should be noted that students may earn multiple endorsements. These endorsements are earned by completing specific course work, maintaining a minimum grade point average, and earning additional industry certification (Career Endorsement only).

Information for the NC Academic Scholars Endorsement is posted below. For specific information on the requirements to earn the Career Endorsement or the College Endorsement, please visit the MCS webpage at www.ncmcs.org and click on Leadership, Departments, Career and Technical Education, Diploma Endorsements.

NC Academic Scholars Program

Students must:

• begin planning for the program before entering ninth grade to ensure they obtain the most flexibility in their courses;

• complete all the requirements of this North Carolina Academic Scholars Program;

• have an overall four-year unweighted grade point average of 3.500; and,

• complete all requirements for a North Carolina High School diploma.

 NC Academic Scholars Recognition

Students who complete the requirements for an academically challenging high school program will be named North Carolina Academic Scholars and receive special recognition. The students who qualify for this special recognition:

• will be designated by the State Board of  Education as a North Carolina Academic Scholar;

• will receive a seal of recognition attached to their diplomas;

• may receive special recognition at graduation exercises and other community events; and,

• may use this special recognition in applying to post-secondary institutions. Candidates can be identified by the end of grade 11 and their candidacy can be included in their applications.

Preparing for College in North Carolina

The UNC System Admissions Requirements

To enroll in any of the 16 universities (identified on the list below) which make up the University of North Carolina system, undergraduate students must meet the minimum requirements outlined in the following chart:

Course Requirements

•  English - 4 Units

English I, English II, English III, English IV

• Mathematics - 4 Units

Math I (NC Math 1), Math II (NC Math 2), Math III (NC Math 3) and one additional unit beyond Math III (NC Math 3) (Recommended a mathematics course unit be taken in 12th grade)

• Science - 3 Units

A physical science course, A life or biological course,

At least one laboratory course

• Social Studies - 2 Units

US History

One additional course

• World Languages - 2 Units

Recommended at least two course units in one World Language

• Electives

Additional electives must be included to meet local graduation requirements

Minimum Admissions Requirements for High School GPA 

• Minimum GPA:  2.5

The 16 Campuses of the University of North Carolina

Appalachian State University, Elizabeth City State University, NC A&T University, NC School of the Arts, UNC-Pembroke, UNC-Chapel Hill, UNC-Greensboro, Western Carolina University, East Carolina University, Fayetteville State University, NC Central University, NC State University, UNC-Asheville, UNC-Charlotte, UNC-Wilmington, Winston-Salem State University