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High School
Welcome to High School Gifted Services
Our high school advanced academics & gifted program empowers students to explore their interests, deepen their learning, and prepare for college and career success. This section highlights advanced course options, enrichment pathways, and opportunities for students to take ownership of their learning through choice, challenge, and real-world connections.
Credit by Demonstrated Mastery
‼️ Fall CDM Applications are due by Sept. 10, 2025
What is CDM?
The State Board of Education defines “mastery” as a student’s command of course material at a level that demonstrates a deep understanding of the content standards and the ability to apply his or her knowledge of the material.
“Credit by demonstrated mastery” is the process by which LEAs shall, based upon a body-of-evidence, award a student credit in a particular course without requiring the student to complete classroom instruction for a certain amount of seat time.
Policy GCS-M-001.13, Course for Credit, Credit by Demonstrated Mastery, specifically offers NC students the opportunity to personalize and accelerate their learning by earning course credit through a demonstration of mastery of course material.
What Courses are Eligible?
Access to the Credit by Demonstrated Mastery process is open to all NC public school students high school courses in grades 9-12 and those high school courses offered in middle school. The CDM policy recognizes that any student may have unique, individual circumstances in his or her learning path that has allowed the student to gain a deep understanding of content of a particular course or subject area without the traditional school setting. CDM promotes personalized learning and removes the requirement for seat time for student learning and earning credit for courses so that a student may take a more advanced course in that same subject area or provide time in the class schedule to explore a new topic. It allows subject-level acceleration without requiring full grade-level acceleration.
At this time, students may earn CDM for all high school courses in grades 9-12 and high school courses offered in middle school in grades 6-8.
The following courses are excluded from CDM:
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) work-based learning courses (co-op, internship, apprenticeship)
- CTE courses that have a clinical setting as a requirement of the course, such as ProStart, Early Childhood Education I/II and Nursing Fundamentals
- CTE Advanced Studies courses or any course without state technical standards
- English Language Learner (ELL) courses
- Healthful Living required courses
- AP/IB Courses
For courses taught in a predetermined sequence, a student may only attempt to earn CDM for the next course in the sequence. For example, if a student has taken Math I and would like to attempt CDM for Math III, s/he would need to first successfully earn credit for Math II, either through CDM or traditional enrollment in the course.
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Long Term Considerations
Each student has individual needs and situations, so please take time to discuss any of the following that apply, with your school's counselor as you move through the Credit by Demonstrated Mastery Process.
GPA and Quality Points
CDM courses will not earn grades or quality points towards GPA. Credit for CDM courses will be granted to meet high school graduation requirements. This may be a concern for some students and families; however, CDM should be pursued when a student truly wants to benefit from a more challenging learning experience and move towards more advanced coursework. Students may earn CDM for all standard-level high school courses in grades 9-12 and those high school courses offered in middle school.
Athletic/Extra-Curricular Activities
Conside4r the implications for CDM on athletic and other extra-curricular activities. Consider how earning CDM may impact a student’s participation in these school activities. There are some potential impacts to consider of CDM on athletic and other extra-curricular activities.
High School Diploma Endorsements
Consider the criteria for High School Diploma Endorsements (SBE, GCS-L-007), Career, College and Academic Scholars. Walk through the CDM implications for interested Diploma Endorsements to ensure appropriate coursework is completed. For example: If a student desires to work towards the NC Academic Scholars Endorsement and achieves CDM for a standard-level course instead of enrolling in an honors-level course, develop a plan to enroll in another honors-level or above course criteria needed to attain the NC Academic Scholars Endorsement.
Opportunity for Early Graduation
Consider the option for completing high school graduation requirements (state and local) early. Consider post-graduation options that meet the student needs. Walk through examples of the implications on courses required for graduation and intended High School Diploma Endorsements (SBE, GCS-L-007) if a student earns CDM. CDM may help prevent some students from leaving high school to pursue other options before graduating.
University of North Carolina System
Like community colleges, University of North Carolina member universities have traditionally accepted the State Board of Education’s authority to determine how students earn high school credit toward graduation. Based upon discussions during the summer of 2013 with UNC-GA staff as well as enrollment managers across the system, the credit by demonstrated mastery policy does not change that. Students with a diploma from a North Carolina high school will be recognized as high school graduates regardless of the credits earned via the CDM policy, thus ensuring students’ ability to enroll in a UNC system university following graduation. As always, minimum admission requirements must be satisfied.
Still have questions or concerns, reach out to your guidance counselor for further advisement.
The Governor's School of North Carolina is a five and one-half week summer residential program for intellectually gifted high school students, integrating academic disciplines, the arts, and unique courses on each of two campuses. The curriculum focuses on the exploration of the most recent ideas and concepts in each discipline, and does not involve credit, tests, or grades. See this Family Overview document for more infromation. For information in Spanish, click here.
The Governor's School is the oldest statewide summer residential program for academically or intellectually gifted high school students in the nation. The program, which is open to rising seniors only, with exceptions made for rising juniors in selected performing/visual arts areas, is located on two campuses of up to 335 students each: Governor's School West at Greensboro College in Greensboro, and Governor's School East at Meredith College in Raleigh. The program is administered by the Public Schools of North Carolina, the State Board of Education, and the Department of Public Instruction through the Exceptional Children Division. A Board of Governors, appointed by the State Board of Education, acts as an advisory body.
Honors Level Coursework
In North Carolina, state legislation outlines specific expectations for all public school Honors-level courses to ensure they provide students with rigorous, advanced learning experiences. These courses must go beyond the standard curriculum by including depth, complexity, higher-order thinking, and opportunities for independent learning.
For our gifted and advanced learners, this means Honors classes are designed to challenge students academically and prepare them for college-level work. In accordance with the law, our district aligns its Honors course content, instruction, and assessments with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study while adding enhanced expectations that meet the state's Honors Implementation Guide .
You can learn more about the policy by visiting theNorth Carolina Department of Public Instruction's Office of Advanced Learning.
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| School’s Role | Parent’s Role |
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