The following are the relevant state and local requirements for a child to be promoted to the next grade level.

• The relevant part of this link is found in Part 1A of State Statute 115C(pp. 15-28) regarding retention, promotion, alternatives to show reading proficiency, etc.: Grade Level Promotion

Information about the Gaston County Board of Education’s promotion and retention policy is available here. Information about the Board’s graduation requirements is available here.

Additional student grading information can be obtained from the Gaston County Schools Grading Practices/Guidelines.

In North Carolina, all schools use the same Standard Course of Study determined by the State Board of Education.  These standards are the knowledge and skills students should understand by the end of each grade/course.

The standards can be found on the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction Office of Academic Standards website.  There are standards for:

• Arts Education
• Career Technical Education
• Computer Science
• English/Language Arts
• English Language Development
• Student Success Standards
• Healthful Living
• Information and Technology
• Mathematics
• Science
• Social Studies 
• World Language

Local districts, schools, and teachers determine how to teach these standards, including curriculum, supplementary materials, books, etc.

Curriculum
The following links provide information related to the curriculum in Gaston County Schools:

• Curriculum and Instruction Information
• K-12 Blended Learning Resources

Instructional Materials
Contact your school principal to review curriculum resources.

In certain instances, principals might be able to furnish parents with physical or digital versions of specific district-provided core and supplementary instructional materials for examination at home. However, for most copyrighted materials, access for inspection may be limited to in-person viewing. Typically, requests to inspect school library materials will be accommodated by notifying parents of designated hours for browsing the library collection. You can find each school's library catalog online at Destiny Discover.

Additional information about the inspection of instructional materials can be located below:

• Policy Code: 3210 Parental Inspection of and Objection to Instructional Materials
  Parents may review all instructional materials, as defined in policy 3200, Selection of Instructional Materials. Instructional materials do not include academic tests or assessments. Parents who would like to inspect and review instructional materials should make a request in writing to the principal. The principal shall schedule a mutually agreeable date and time for the parent to come into the school to review the materials.

Literacy Intervention Plan
Parents and guardians can view Gaston County Schools Literacy Intervention Plan at the following link:

• GCS Literacy Intervention Plan - LIP (link for 2025/26 school year coming soon).

Career and Technical Education (CTE)
Gaston County Schools provide Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses, enabling students to explore careers and obtain credentials. Information on CTE career clusters, pathways, course details, credentials, and course standards can be accessed through this link: Course Management System

Visit the Gaston County Schools Career and Technical Education webpage for additional information.

Gaston County Schools shares students' progress through various ways, including quarterly report cards, progress reports, and assignment/test feedback.  Feedback on conduct is also included.

Information regarding assessments and the evaluation of student progress in Gaston County Schools is available through the following links:

• Policy Code: 3410 Testing and Assessment Program
• Policy Code: 3420 Student Promotion and Accountability

Local Assessments:
Quarterly report cards detailing grades and attendance are distributed with specific quarter-end dates outlined in the school calendar. Parents can access attendance, grades, and testing information using their login credentials through the Parent/Student Campus (pending availability). For assistance with Infinite Campus access, parents should contact the school data manager.

State Assessments:
Individual Student Reports (ISRs) for summative assessments (i.e., end-of-grade, end-of-course, BOG3, etc.) and alternative assessments (i.e., NCEXTEND1 and CCRAA) are accessible in Parent/Student Campus once the testing windows are closed and the NCDPI has validated the scores.  ISRs for WIDA ACCESS (the English language proficiency test) and vendor tests such as PreACT, ACT, and WorkKeys will be provided by schools at the end of the testing windows once the vendor has released them.  For more information on ISRs, visit the Individual Student Reports page of the GCS Testing Department webpage.

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.

Students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 who are identified as English Learners (EL) or multi-lingual learners (ML), are also required by state and federal laws to be assessed annually with a state-identified English language proficiency test. The test currently used by North Carolina is the WIDA Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State (WIDA ACCESS), or the Alternate-WIDA, administered during the spring semester each school year.

Parents Right to Know Letter

For kindergarten through third-grade students experiencing reading difficulties, an Individual Reading Plan (IRP) is developed, featuring specific home-use strategies. The plans are shared through North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)-selected mCLASS DIBELS® 8th Edition, a literacy assessment aligned with the Science of Reading. mCLASS results are sent home after the beginning of the year and middle of the year testing windows. 

North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) selected mCLASS DIBELS ® 8th Edition as the state’s K-5 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.
 

NCDPI Licensure Verification: Parents may look up your child’s teacher licensure status on this website: Link to the licensure website. Contact Gaston County Schools Human Resources at (704) 866-6129 if you have questions regarding an educator’s licensure status.

Enrollment and eligibility requirements for Gaston County Schools:  How to Enroll

• Eligibility for school enrollment
  • State admission requirements
    • GS_115C-364.pdf (ncleg.gov)
  • Gaston County Schools policies
    • Policy Code: 4140 Discretionary Admission
    • Policy Code: 4170 School Assignment
    • Policy Code: 4171 Siblings
    • Policy Code: 4175 Homeless Students
      • McKinney-Vento

The following are statutory school entry requirements, which include include required immunizations:  

• Immunization records:  GS_130A-155.pdf (ncleg.gov)
• Immunization requirements:  GS_130A-152.pdf (ncleg.gov) (*this law was amended, but is not reflected on the current General Assembly page; see SL2023-134.pdf (ncleg.gov), Section 5.8(e) on page 64”)

Information on required health assessments and immunizations for students is available through the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS). NCDHHS Immunizations Resources

• Recommended Immunization Schedules
  • Kindergarten Entry Vaccine Requirements
  • Seventh-Grade Entry Vaccine Requirements
  • Twelfth-Grade Entry Vaccine Requirements
• Gaston County Schools Immunizations

Engaging with your child about school and what they are learning is pivotal to the learning process. 

• Ask questions daily about your child’s school day.
• Inquire about topics and assignments they are learning.
• Connect with teachers to understand your child’s progress.
• Ask the teachers how you can help your child learn.
• Attend different events at your child’s school to stay connected and learn how to support them.

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. The purpose of these guides is to inform parents about the standards as well as provide useful strategies to incorporate at home.

ELA English/Language Arts Parent Guides
ELD English Language Development Parent Guide
Math Parent Guides: K-5, 6-8
Social Studies Parent Guides (coming soon)
Science Parent Guide (coming soon)

Reading and Literacy Support
The 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 available at North Carolina’s Digital Children’s Reading Initiative (DCRI). These activities include the following topics, Pre-K-Grade 5:
(1) Phonemic awareness
(2) Phonics
(3) Vocabulary
(4) Fluency
(5) Comprehension
(6) Oral language

Printable literacy 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 teacher. DCRI Printables for Families
 

Gaston County 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 
Gaston County Schools Portrait of a Graduate

Gaston County Schools integrates the Portrait of a Graduate skills into classroom and school environments. These skills, crafted by NCDPI, empower students to meet high expectations and establish lifelong learning goals.  

Grade level specific resources, including developmentally-appropriate milestones, can be found in the following resource repository:
NC Portrait of a Graduate - Durable Skills
Gaston County Schools Portrait of a Graduate

Gaston County Schools uses the Finalsite mass notifications service to disseminate crucial information to families through phone calls, emails, and text messages.

• Policy Code: 4020 Parental Involvement
• Inclement Weather Policy 

Schools/teachers may also use the following platforms for communication between home-school in addition to the district platforms.

• Remind, Class Dojo, and Team Reach
• Parents can view students’ grades in Schoology, Canvas, and/or the Infinite Campus parent portal.
  • Information for how parents can access Schoology, Canvas and/or Infinite Campus.

Guidelines for the appropriate use of technology platforms can be found in the Student Internet Use and Network Access policy.

• Policy Code: 3226 Internet Safety
• Gaston County Schools Technology Information

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 (NC Rethink Education Program).
 

Family Literacy Services
Literacy at Home: The Digital Children’s Reading Initiative, developed by NCDPI, presents literacy activities tailored to each grade level, spanning from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. 

Mentoring
Mentoring services are accessible at specific schools. Parents can contact their child’s school to learn more about these services. 

College Planning 
Counselors are accessible in all Gaston County high schools to assist students in planning their path to post secondary education.

• High School Curriculum and Planning Guide

Gaston County Schools offers avenues for parents to actively participate in their child's education. This involvement is outlined in the Parental Involvement Policy and the Title I Parent and Family Engagement at Title I Schools information. 

• Policy Code: 4020 Parental Involvement
• Policy Code: 4021 Title I Parent and Family Engagement
• Title I Information

For information on parent and family engagement opportunities under Title I, contact your child’s school.

Gaston County Schools offers a variety of options for students to pursue their interests and skills at their academic level. 

Career and Technical Education (CTE)
North Carolina has made a significant investment in developing students and programs to meet the needs of the future workforce. Through Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, public schools offer opportunities for students to develop career awareness in fifth grade, explore careers in grades 6-8, and experience leadership, career development, work based-learning, and career-aligned curriculum content in grades 9-12.  

In Gaston County Schools, students are able to explore career pathways from grades 6-12: Gaston County Schools Career and Technical Education.

For more information about CTE in North Carolina and to learn about career clusters, pathways, and course information, standards, and applicable credentials, visit the Course Management System.

In our district, the following programs are more rigorous and challenging than the standard content for students:

Academically and/or Intellectually Gifted (AIG)
In North Carolina, 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 Gaston County Schools Local AIG Plan outlines specific opportunities for differentiated, rigorous instruction and accelerated programs. You can find the plan here.

Gaston County Schools has developed an AIG program website to help parents better understand the AIG program.  This describes how students will be identified and served across grades K-12.  Visit the AIG program webpage for parent information.  

In Gaston County Schools, AIG students are often provided the following services:

• Differentiated curriculum and instruction with flexible student groups;
• Accelerated opportunities (subject and/or grade acceleration, Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM), Advanced Placement (AP)/ Career and College Promise (CCP) courses, and dual enrollment courses;
• Enrichment experiences, which may be during the school day or beyond, and may be within the regular calendar year or may include summer opportunities; and 
• Other opportunities for extension of content standards.

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 the school's AIG teacher if you have questions.

Honors Level Courses
In Gaston County Schools, students have access to a variety of honors level courses in high school. These courses are available in the course catalog.

Honors level courses typically have an accelerated pace as compared to standard level courses. They offer more depth and complexity, opportunities to collaborate, and independent investigation than standard level courses.  

Career and College Promise (CCP)
Gaston County Schools partners with Gaston College 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, talk to your school counselor or visit the Gaston College website.

Additional information is available on the NCDPI CCP website.

Cooperative Innovative High School (CIHS) - Early College 
Gaston County Schools partners with Gaston College to offer the Gaston Early College High School and the Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences.

Gaston Early College and Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences are magnet schools for students and families. The schools provide students an opportunity to earn both a high school diploma and an associate degree. At Gaston Early College, students stay for an additional fifth year to complete their associate degree.

Visit Gaston Early College and Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences for more information. 

Additional information is available on the NCDPI CIHS 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 North Carolina, 40 Advanced Placement courses are offered in public high schools. Gaston County Schools offers a wide variety of AP courses in our high schools. Which AP courses are offered depends on student interest. Several AP courses are offered through our Gaston Online program and are available when a face-to-face option is not a possibility.

Several AP courses satisfy graduation requirements for N.C. students as outlined in State Board policy.

AP exams are free for N.C. public high school students enrolled in these courses; however, if a student registers for an exam late, there will be a fee. For students who score a level 3 or higher on their AP exam(s), colleges and universities may offer college credit for these AP courses. 

More information is available on the NCDPI AP website.

Additional Educational Opportunities

Gaston Online (GO!)
Gaston Online offers online courses developed and taught by Gaston County Schools teachers.  This option offers students the advantage of support and assistance from teachers in their local school system.  In addition to this, GCS maintains local control over course offerings, registration, and the online management system. Visit www.tinyurl.com/gastonvirtual for more information

NCVPS
North Carolina Virtual Public School (NCVPS) is the state's supplemental program and leader in online education, providing inclusive learning opportunities for students. Founded in 2007 with a strong commitment to ensuring quality education for all students regardless of location, NCVPS has many years of experience serving diverse learners.

Students may enroll in NCVPS courses when a face-to-face and/or local option is not available. Work with your school counselor if you are interested in taking NCVPS courses and to see if you qualify.

Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM)
Gaston County 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 credit by demonstrated mastery (CDM).  There are two phases of assessments that a student must go through to earn credit for the course. Contact your child’s school counselor for more information.

Governor’s School: Each summer, N.C. Governor’s School offers a unique opportunity for high-achieving rising juniors and seniors to learn with their peers from across the state in a four-week residential program at two college campus sites. For more information on eligibility and the application process, contact the AIG Department or visit the Governor's School website, www.ncgovschool.org.

Students in public school districts are assigned to certain schools based on an assignment plan approved by the local Board of Education. Gaston County Schools offers school choice/magnet schools options for students. School Choice in Gaston County Schools

There are other school options, including charter schools, private schools, virtual schools, and home schools, that are not related to Gaston County Schools. For more information about these options, contact the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction or search online for information about these options.

Nonpublic Education and Scholarship Grants
Nonpublic education is overseen by the NC Department of Administration. 

For a list of private schools, visit NC Private Schools.

For information on how to start a homeschool visit:
Homeschool Information

Scholarship grant programs/voucher information is available via the NC State Education Assistance Authority.

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.

Parent Rights Handbook
Parent Rights Handbook (Spanish)
IDEA Dispute Resolution
Special Education Surrogate Parents
Project Child Find

Parents of children age three or older who are not yet eligible to enter kindergarten should call the Gaston County Schools Exceptional Children Department at (704) 866-6107 or access more information here. Parents of children in kindergarten through grade 12 should contact their child’s school.

Parents and guardians can contact Gaston County Schools at (704) 866-6100.
List of Schools
Gaston County Schools Website

Gaston County Schools offers the following information and resources to support your child’s health and well-being: 
Student Wellness 
Student Health Requirements 
Health and Wellness Supports for Students and Families

Information about required health assessments and immunizations for students are available through the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) 
Immunizations 
Health Assessment 
CDC immunization schedule recommendations 

Influenza is a virus spread from infected persons to the nose or throat of another. Influenza can cause fever, sore throat, chills, coughs, headache, and muscle aches. A yearly vaccination is available. 

Meningococcal disease is a serious illness caused by bacteria. It is an infection of the brain and spinal cord coverings and can cause blood infections. The vaccine for this is required for individuals entering seventh grade or by the age of 12. 

For more information: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/vaccines-diseases.html 

Short-Term Counseling Services 
Every student has access to small-group or individual counseling services to address issues affecting students in the school environment. Contact your school’s counselor, psychologist, or social worker to inquire about short-term services provided by one of these specialized instructional support staff members. While students may seek in-the-moment support for issues that arise during the school day, parents must give written consent for any singular need that will require more than three sessions. 

School-Based Behavioral Health Services
To address student mental health and well-being, the School-Based Behavioral Health Services program offers evidence-based mental and behavioral health services to students. The program is a collaboration between Gaston County Schools and Kintegra Health. These services seek to improve students' emotional well-being and enhance their ability to access and benefit from instruction. 

Referral 
Students can be referred for services as self-referral, parent referral, or school-based staff referral. 

1. A GCS employee explains the School-Based Behavioral Health Service program to the guardian; if the guardian agrees to the referral, the GCS employee will share the guardian’s contact information with Kintegra Health.
2. Kintegra Health contacts the guardian to sign consents for treatment, verify insurance information, and to sign a release of information form.
3. The student will then begin school-based therapy with a licensed mental health clinician.

Gaston County Schools Mental Health Services webpage

Service Fees
Kintegra Health provides behavioral health services and bills the student's insurance for all rendered services. Provider agencies will verify insurance benefits and review all projected fees with the guardian before any services occur. Sliding scale options are available for uninsured students. Kintegra Health provides all services without regard for the ability to pay. 

Information about required health assessments and immunizations for students are available through the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services:
Immunizations 
Health Assessment
Annual Health Assessment and Immunization Compliance Reporting