The scoop on schools
Whether you are new to the area or are registering your first child for classes, here is what you need to know about Cumberland County schools.
New requirements: Starting this school year, kindergarten students must turn 5 by Aug. 31 of the year they start school. Children who have not turned 5 but who have been legally attending kindergarten in another state can attend classes in North Carolina.
Children can enter kindergarten early if they demonstrate through a set of standardized tests and interviews that they are mature and academically able to handle the coursework.
Students who have not obtained a diploma and have not been removed from school are entitled to attend classes in the area where they live until they turn 21.
Progress reports: Parents, check your mailboxes. Middle and high schools on the traditional academic calendar send home progress reports on Sept. 24 and Dec. 10 in 2009 and March 4 and May 6 in 2010. High schools on a traditional calendar that schedule classes in a 4-by-4 block will ship the reports on Sept. 11, Oct. 14 and Nov. 18 in 2009. In 2010, reports will go out Jan. 8, Feb. 12, March 17, April 27 and May 26.
Schools operating on a year-round schedule send their reports on Aug. 14 and Nov. 13 in 2009 and Feb. 12 and May 6 in 2010. Year-round high schools on a 4-by-4 block schedule send their reports on Aug. 1, Sept. 4, Oct. 22 and Nov. 25 in 2009. In 2010, reports go out on Jan. 22, Feb. 24, April 21 and May 19.
College bound: Of the 3,283 students who graduated in 2008, 84.9 percent or 2,788 students indicated they would continue their studies past high school. Five students received military academy appointments and 249 indicated they would join the armed services.
About 23 percent of public school students are military connected.
Diversity: Students from more than 44 countries speaking 80 native languages are part of the school system. The top five foreign languages spoken are: Spanish, Korean, German, Chinese and Vietnamese.
Resolving Problems: When a problem arises, parents should first try to resolve the situation by talking to administrators at their child's school. If that doesn't resolve the problem, parents of elementary students should call the department of elementary education at 678-2417. Parents of middle- and high-schoolers should call the secondary education department at 678-2420.
If the problems are not solved there, the next step is for parents to call the associate superintendent for curriculum and instruction at 678-2407. Finally, parents may contact the superintendent's office at 678-2312.