Parent’s Guide to Student Achievement (PGSA)
The Parent’s Guide to Student Achievement aims to support families in fostering their children's academic success. The guide provides valuable information on state and district educational standards, helping parents understand what their children are expected to learn at each grade level. The guide emphasizes the importance of regular communication with teachers and involvement in school activities. By equipping parents with these tools and resources, the guide hopes to create a collaborative environment where families and schools work together to ensure that all students achieve their full potential.
If parents cannot access the Parent’s Guide to Student Achievement electronically, they may secure a copy at their child’s school or at Edenton-Chowan Schools Central Office located at 800 N. Oakum St., Edenton, NC 27932.
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How can my child be promoted to the next grade level? | Review ECPS Board Policy 3600Â for policies for promotion or retention, including high school graduation requirements. The following are the relevant state and local requirements for a child to be promoted to the next grade level:
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What is my child learning at school? How can a parent review these materials | In North Carolina, all schools use the same Standard Course of Study, determined by the State Board of Education. Â These standards are the knowledge and skills students should understand by the end of each grade/course. Â The standards can be found on the NCDPI Office of Academic Standards website. Â There are standards for:
NCDPI Parent and Family Content Support Guides Local districts, schools and teachers determine how to teach these standards, including curriculum, supplementary materials, books, etc. In Edenton-Chowan Public Schools, the right to inspect and purchase public school unit textbooks and other supplementary instructional materials is provided in Part 3 of Article 8 of 21 Chapter 115C of the North Carolina General Statutes. Review ECPS Board Policies 3300, 3310 and 3320 for more information. Each district must also have a Literacy Intervention Plan (LIP).  The plan must include Reading Camps as an extension of what occurs during the school year. Parents and caregivers may view Edenton-Chowan Public Schools’ 2025-2026 Literacy Intervention Plan here.. The updated plan will be available after October 1st of each academic year. Edenton-Chowan Public Schools also offers courses in the area of Career and Technical Education (CTE).  These courses allow students to explore careers and earn credentials.  CTE Career Clusters, Pathways, Course Information, Credentials, and Course Standards may be found at this link: Course Management System. |
How will a parent learn about my child’s progress in school or with a class? | Edenton-Chowan Public Schools shares progress of students through a variety of ways, including quarterly report cards, progress reports, and assignment/test feedback.  Feedback on conduct is also included. Please review your child’s school handbook for information regarding report card and progress report schedules or contact your child’s school. Policy 3600: Student Promotion and Accountability Policies 2130 and 2135 Parental Involvement State Assessments: Individual Student Reports for end-of-grade/course tests and other state assessments (English language proficiency assessment) are accessible in the parent portal of the NC-SIS (PowerSchool). In NC, all students take end-of-grade assessments for reading and math in grades 3-8.  Students take end-of-grade science assessments in grades 5 and 8.  In high school, students take end-of-course assessments in English II, Biology, NC Math 1, and NC Math 3. Students in Grade 10 take the Pre-ACT.  Students in grade 11 take the ACT.  Students who are CTE Concentrators in Grade 12 take ACT WorkKeys.  Those results are shared by ACT. An Individual Reading Plan (IRP) shall be developed for any student in kindergarten through third grade demonstrating difficulty with reading.  An IRP will have specific strategies/ideas that can be done at home. Parents and caregivers may view Edenton-Chowan Public Schools’ aligned literacy resources by clicking here. North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) selected mCLASS DIBELS ® 8th Edition as the state’s K-3 Literacy Assessment. mCLASS is an integrated literacy system based on the Science of Reading. mCLASS has been revised and upgraded from the assessment NC districts have used in the past, based on the latest research and the Science of Reading. It is a valid and reliable assessment, supporting universal literacy screening, screening for risk of dyslexia, and progress monitoring. |
What are the qualifications of my child’s teacher? | Parents may look up your child’s teacher licensure status at this website. The licensure look up webpage does not include current employment information. Parents may need additional information (i.e. middle name or license number) to identify the teacher accurately.  Substitute teachers (either short or long term) may not hold a NC teaching license.  Policy LICN-001: General Licensure Requirements Please contact your district’s Human Resources office to verify an educator’s licensure status. |
What are the requirements for school enrollment? Â What are the immunizations needed or recommended for children? | The following are statutory school entry requirements, this includes required immunizations: Â
Information on required health assessments and immunizations for students are available through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). NCDHHS Immunizations Resources:
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How can a parent help their child learn and make progress? | Engaging with your child about school and what they are learning is pivotal to their learning process. Â
Local Resources: Policies 2130Â and 2135Â Parental Involvement Parent Guides for Academic Standards: The following grade level guides contain information to support parents and caregivers with understanding the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. Â The purpose of these guides is to inform parents about the standards, as well as provide useful strategies to incorporate at home.
Reading and Literacy Support: This following site provides resources for families to practice and reinforce important literacy skills with their children who are being assessed with mCLASS reading assessments: Amplify Parent Resources Home activities, printables, and games to support reading and literacy are also available at North Carolina’s Digital Children’s Reading Initiative (DCRI).  These activities include the following topics, Pre-K-Grade 5:
Printable activities will be made available for students who do not have digital access at home and may be provided to all students as a supplement to digital resources. For paper copies, please contact your child’s school.
Attendance: School attendance and class participation are integral parts of academic achievement and the teaching-learning process. Â Through regular attendance, students develop patterns of behavior essential to professional and personal success in life. Â Regular attendance by every student is mandatory. Â The State of North Carolina requires that every child in the State between the ages of 7 (or younger if enrolled) and 16 attend school. Parents and legal guardians are responsible for ensuring that students attend and remain at school daily. Â School administrators shall communicate attendance expectations to parents and guardians and work with students and their families to overcome barriers to attendance. |
How can a parent help their child develop citizenship, social skills and respect for others? | Edenton-Chowan Public Schools embeds Portrait of a Graduate skills in the classroom and school setting.  These durable skills were developed by NCDPI and will support a child’s understanding of citizenship, social skills and respect for others. Grade level specific resources, including developmentally appropriate milestones can be found in the following resource repository: NC Portrait of a Graduate - Durable Skills Student Behavior: The maintenance of a positive school climate conducive to the individual pursuit of learning, working and living is shared by parents/guardians, students and all school personnel. Each is expected to work positively toward this goal and to respect the individuality and the rights of every person. Parent(s)/Guardian(s), students and school personnel are also expected to deal effectively with behavioral concerns. All students shall comply with the Code of Student Conduct of Edenton-Chowan Schools, state and federal laws, Board of Education policies, and local school rules governing student behavior and conduct. This Code and other board and school behavior policies apply to any student while in any school building or on any school premises before, during or after hours; while on any bus or other vehicle as part of any school activity; while waiting at any bus stop; during any school function, extracurricular activity or event; while subject to the authority of school personnel; and at any time or place when the student’s behavior has or is reasonably expected to have a direct and immediate impact on the orderly and efficient operation of the schools or the safety of individuals in the school environment (including, but not limited to, use of electronic communications or social media on or off school grounds). Policy 4200 Student Discipline |
How can parents strengthen their child’s realization of high expectations and setting lifelong learning goals? | Edenton-Chowan Public Schools embeds Portrait of a Graduate skills in the classroom and school setting.  These durable skills were developed by NCDPI and support a child’s realization of high expectations and setting lifelong learning goals.  Grade level specific resources, including developmentally appropriate milestones can be found in the following resource repository: |
How can a parent strengthen communication with the school/teacher? | Policies 2130Â and 2135Â Parental Involvement Edenton-Chowan Public Schools uses the following platforms for communication between home/school:
The following are NCDPI developed parent guides that provide suggestions for building strong relationships with your child’s teacher and supporting communication between home and school. Building Strong Relationships with Your Child’s Teacher (NC Rethink Education Program) How You Can Use Questions to Support Your Child’s Learning (NC Rethink Education Program) Additional general parent guides and parent resource webinar recordings can be found at the following website. |
What services are available for parents and their children? | Resources listed below are subject to availability and location: Before/After School Tutoring School Counseling Departments for Academic Advising After School Enrichment Programs Summer Reading Camp for elementary students Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) College of the Albemarle-Edenton College Liaison |
What are opportunities for parents to participate with school? | Parent Teacher Organization (PTO/PTA) School Improvement Team (SIT) School Volunteers Booster Clubs (Secondary |
What are the rigorous academic programs available to my child? Â How can I learn more about them? | Edenton-Chowan Public Schools offers a variety of options for students to pursue their interests, skills at their academic level. Career and Technical Education (CTE): NCÂ has made a significant investment in developing students and programs to meet the needs of the future workforce. Â Through Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, Public Schools offer opportunities for students to develop career awareness in 5th grade, explore careers in grades 6-8, and experience leadership, career development, and career-aligned content in grades 9-12. Â In Edenton-Chowan Public Schools, students are able to explore these career courses from grades 6-8:
In Edenton-Chowan Public Schools, students are able to experience leadership, career development, and career-aligned content from grades 9-12 in the following program areas:
For more information on CTE in NC, and to learn about Career Clusters, Pathways, and Course Information, Standards, and applicable Credentials please visit: Course Management System. In our district, there are the following programs available that are more rigorous and challenging than the standard content for students: Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted (AIG): In NC, school districts must identify and serve academically or intellectually gifted (AIG) K-12 students. These are students who are performing, or have the potential of performing, at high levels of accomplishment in intellectual and/or specific academic areas, such as reading and/or math when compared with other students of their age, or in their grade level, experience, or environment. The Edenton-Chowan Public Schools Local AIG Plan outlines specific opportunities for differentiated, rigorous instruction and accelerated programs. You can find the plan at  Local AIG Plan. For a better understanding of AIG program requirements in NC, visit NC AIG Program Standards.  In Edenton-Chowan Public Schools, students may be provided the following services:
Services for AIG students may be provided by AIG personnel or within the regular classroom by teachers trained to meet the needs of gifted students.  Contact your child’s school with questions. Honors Level Courses: In Edenton-Chowan Public Schools, students have access to a variety of honors level courses in high school.  These courses are available in the course catalog located in The JAHHS Program of Studies guide for 2025-2026. Honors level courses typically have a faster pace than standard level courses.  They offer additional rigor, complexity and creativity than standard level courses.  Career and College Promise (CCP): Edenton-Chowan Public Schools partners with College of the Albemarle to offer dual enrollment opportunities through the CCP program. If your high school student qualifies, students may earn high school credit by completing community college coursework.  CCP courses may be taken in the College Transfer or Career and Technical Education pathway.  These courses count for both high school and college credit.  Tuition is free for families. To learn more about this program, contact the high school counselors at (252) 482-8426. Additional information is available on the NCDPI CCP website. Advanced Placement (AP) Courses: Advanced Placement (AP) is a program developed by the College Board to offer college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. In NC, 40 Advanced Placement courses are offered in public high schools. Edenton-Chowan Public Schools offers various AP courses at John A. Holmes High School. Several AP courses satisfy graduation requirements for NC students as outlined in State Board policy. AP exams are free for NC public high school students enrolled in these courses. If a student registers for an exam late, there will be a late registration fee. Colleges and universities may likely offer college credit for these courses if your child scores a 3 or above on the exam. All of the colleges in the UNC System offer credit. More information is available on the NCDPI AP website. Accelerated Access NCVPS: North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) is NC’s state supplemental program and leader in online education, providing inclusive learning opportunities for students across the state. Founded in 2007, with a strong commitment to ensuring quality education for all students, regardless of location, NCVPS has over 16 years of experience serving diverse learners. Students may enroll in NCVPS courses for a variety of reasons.  Work with your school counselor if you are interested in taking an NCVPS course. Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM): Edenton-Chowan Public Schools offers opportunities for students to earn credit for a high school course without enrolling in the course.  All high school courses, with a few exceptions as noted by the state, are available for students to try to CDM.  There are two phases of assessments that a student must go through to earn credit for the course. Review ECPS Board Policy 3600, section H for more information. Governor’s School: Each summer, NC Governor’s School offers a unique opportunity for high-achieving rising juniors and seniors to learn with their peers from across the state in an 4-week residential program at two college campus sites. For more information on eligibility and the application process, contact the high school counselors at (252) 482-8426 or visit the Governor's School website, www.ncgovschool.org. |
What school choices are available for my child? | Students in public school districts are assigned to certain schools based on a local assignment plan approved by Local Board of Education. Edenton-Chowan Public Schools offers no additional school choice options for students/families. There are other options for families to choose for their education: Charter Schools If you are interested in NC charter schools, visit the NCDPI Charter Schools page for information, resources, and contacts. Nonpublic Education and Scholarship Grants Nonpublic education is overseen by the NC Department of Administration. For a list of private schools, visit this NC Private Schools. For information on how to start a homeschool, visit: Scholarship grant programs/voucher information is available via the NC State Education Assistance Authority. |
What rights do students with disabilities have based on the law? | For students suspected of or identified with a disability by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the following links provide important information regarding the procedural safeguards available to ensure a free, appropriate, public education.
Review ECPS Board Policies 4405/5120Â and 3420Â for more information. |
What is the contact information for the schools and district office? |
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What are some resources to support my child’s health and wellbeing?  What immunizations are required and when should they be scheduled? | Information on required health assessments and immunizations for students are available through the NC Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS): |
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Updated: September 11, 2025