Parent’s Guide to Student Achievement (PGSA)
Based on Parents’ Bill of Rights - SB 49; Session Law 2023-106
Hickory City Schools is committed to providing high quality standards and instruction for all students. This guide answers questions and offers support for parents as we partner together in the educational journey for your child. Parents/Guardians may request a copy of this document by contacting their child’s school or the district office.
Questions/Considerations Regarding Your Student’s Education | Hickory City Schools Resources and Support | ||||||||||||||||||||||
How can my child be promoted to the next grade level? | Hickory City Schools believes students should demonstrate proficient progress and application of content knowledge before progressing to the next level. Hickory City Schools Board Policy: Policy Code: 3420 Student Promotion and Accountability outlines the promotion expectations. 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. These standards are the knowledge and skills students should understand by the end of each grade/course. The standards can be found on the NCDPI Office of Academic Standards website. There are standards for:
Local districts, schools and teachers determine how to teach these standards, including curriculum, supplementary materials, books, etc. In Hickory City Schools, policies are in place for selection of curriculum and review of curriculum. See Board of Education - District Policies - Policy Code 3200: Selection of Instructional Materials. Parents and caregivers may view Hickory City Schools 2023-2024 Literacy Intervention Plan. This plan includes our reading camp for primary grades as an extension of what occurs during the school year. Hickory City 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. Specific courses offered by Hickory City Schools can be found on the HPS CTE page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
How will a parent learn about my child’s progress in school or with a class? | Hickory City Schools shares progress of students through a variety of ways, including quarterly report cards, progress reports, and assignment/assessment feedback. Feedback on conduct is also included. Specific information about sharing student progress can be found in the HPS Board of Education - District Policies - Policy Code 1310/4002: 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 Hickory City Schools aligned literacy resources at our district website. 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 teachers? | Parents may look up your child’s teacher licensure status at this website The licensure 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. Please contact our district’s Human Resources office to verify an educator’s licensure status. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
What are the requirements for school enrollment? What are the immunizations needed or recommended for children? | Hickory City Schools welcomes students to begin their educational journey in our schools. As outlined in Hickory City Schools Board Policy 4100 Age Requirement for Initial Entry, students may begin school if the child reaches the age of five on or before August 31 of the current school year. The following are statutory school entry requirements, which includes required immunizations:
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.
Local Resources: 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.
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 for Pre-K-Grade 5: (1) Phonemic awareness (2) Phonics (3) Vocabulary (4) Fluency (5) Comprehension (6) Oral language 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 Shelly Black (blacksh@hickoryschools.net or 828-322-2855).
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How can a parent help their child develop citizenship, social skills and respect for others? | Hickory City 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. Hickory City Schools, in cooperation with Catawba County Schools and Newton-Conover City Schools, developed grade appropriate lessons to teach students the durable skills framework. Grade level specific resources, including developmentally appropriate milestones can be found in the following resource repository NC Portrait of a Graduate - Durable Skills. Another resource used in K-8 to support the content of Portrait of a Graduate is Second Step. Second Step® programs help students build social-emotional skills—like nurturing positive relationships, managing emotions, and setting goals—so they can thrive in school and in life. You can read more about this program at their website. Safety Matters is a resource used in grades K - 9 that focuses on strategies to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to bullying, cyberbullying, all types of abuse and digital abuse dangers. You can read more about this program at their website. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
How can a parent help their child develop citizenship, social skills and respect for others? | Hickory City 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. Hickory City Schools, in cooperation with Catawba County Schools and Newton-Conover City Schools, developed grade appropriate lessons to teach students the durable skills framework. Grade level specific resources, including developmentally appropriate milestones can be found in the following resource repository: NC Portrait of a Graduate - Durable Skills. Another resource used in K-8 to support the content of Portrait of a Graduate is Second Step. Second Step® programs help students build social-emotional skills—like nurturing positive relationships, managing emotions, and setting goals—so they can thrive in school and in life. You can read more about this program at their website. Safety Matters is a resource used in grades K - 9 that focuses on strategies to prevent, recognize, and respond appropriately to bullying, cyberbullying, all types of abuse and digital abuse dangers. You can read more about this program at their website. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
How can a parent strengthen communication with the school/teacher? | Hickory City Schools believes open communication between the school and home is the key to a successful educational journey. Our school system uses ClassTag as our primary communication platform. You can access the app here. You can also download the app for your mobile device at the following links: Each school is expected to share information related to individual student progress and opportunities for parent involvement. Parents are encouraged to monitor school websites, social media outlets, and ClassTag for any parental involvement opportunities. Parents can view students’ grades on the PowerSchool parent portal. Click here for additional information. Parents can view progress reports and report card dates on the district calendar.
Hickory City Schools Board Policy - Parent Communication/Involvement 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:
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? | Hickory City Schools offers a variety of opportunities for parents to learn about the content and instruction their child receives.
More information about each of these programs is typically shared by the district or individual schools. Tutoring: NCVPS EdVantage Tutoring offers virtual statewide wraparound support to middle and high school students in NC public schools. Tutoring is available in Math, Science and ELA, and is offered via a personalized partnership with district/school leadership to best meet the needs of selected students each semester. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
What are opportunities for parents to participate with school? | Hickory City Schools recognizes the importance of partnering with parents as students complete their K-12 educational journey. We offer a variety of opportunities to participate and partner with our schools. Below are district wide opportunities. Please visit your school and school website for additional ways to partner with the school. Ways to participate in our schools:
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What are the rigorous academic programs available to my child? How can I learn more about them? | Hickory City Schools offers a variety of options for students to pursue their interests, skills at their academic level. 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. Hickory City Schools Local AIG Plan outlines specific opportunities for differentiated, rigorous instruction and accelerated programs. You can find the plan at this link. Hickory City Schools has developed an AIG website to help parents better understand the AIG program. The AIG Plan describes how students will be identified and served across grades K-12. In Hickory City Schools, students are often provided the following services:
AIG personnel trained in gifted learning provide services and support for AIG students and teachers. Contact Amanda Gerken, district AIG Coordinator, with questions. Honors Level Courses: In Hickory City Schools, students have access to a variety of honors level courses in high school. Please review the high school course catalog for more information. . 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): Hickory City Schools partners with Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) 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 your child’s counselor. Additional information is available on the NCDPI CCP website and at CVCC’s website. Career and Technical Education (CTE): NC 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 5th grade, explore careers in grades 6-8, and experience leadership, career development, and career-aligned content in grades 9-12. Hickory City Schools offer opportunities for students to explore leadership and career pathways in grades 6 - 12. For more information on the opportunities within Career and Technical Education (CTE), please visit our website or contact Timothy Sims, CTE Director. 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. Dual Enrollment Opportunities: Hickory City Schools partners with Lenoir Rhyne University to offer students opportunities to earn college credit. The Lenoir‐Rhyne University High School Scholars Academy is a one or two year program designed for high school students who seek an alternative opportunity for a full‐time on campus experience. Students can also choose to apply to be a part of Lenoir Rhyne’s High School Enrichment (HSE) Program where they can take college level courses as a junior or senior. To learn more about this program, contact your child’s counselor. Additional information is available on the Lenoir Rhyne 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. Hickory City Schools offers the following AP courses:
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 $98 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 or from your child’s school counselor. 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 NCVPS courses. Credit by Demonstrated Mastery (CDM): Hickory City 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. The CDM process is open to all Hickory City Schools’ students in grades 9 –12 and is optional for students desiring high school credit while in middle school. When considering the option of applying for CDM, there are possible implications that should be considered. Diploma endorsements, NC Scholars designations, athletic eligibility and the effect CDM could potentially have on college admissions should be considered. Please contact the high school counseling office for specific 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 Amanda Gerken, your child’s counselor 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 Hickory City Schools offers these additional school choice options for students/families: Hickory Career and Arts Magnet (HCAM) - Grades 9-12 Students at HCAM may choose from 8 career academies through which they will begin to develop the knowledge and skills of that career while completing all high school requirements. By the end of four years at HCAM, students can earn a high school diploma, four to five college credits and, in many cases, a career area certificate. There are other options for families to choose for their education: Charter Schools Charter schools are public schools of choice that are authorized by the State Board of Education and operated by independent non-profit boards of directors. State and local tax dollars are the primary funding sources for charter schools, which have open enrollment and cannot discriminate in admissions, associate with any religion or religious group, or charge tuition. Charter schools operate with freedom from many of the regulations that govern district schools, but charter schools are held accountable through the State assessment and accountability system. If you are interested in NC charter schools, visit NC charter school 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. Parent Rights Handbook (Spanish) Special Education Surrogate Parents More resources can be found at the HPS Exceptional Children's website. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
What is the contact information for the schools and district office? | Contact information for each school is listed below:
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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? | Hickory City Schools contracts with Catawba County Public Health for school nurses throughout the district. The school nurses provide access to preventive and acute health care. The primary role of the school nurse is to support student learning. The nurse accomplishes this by implementing strategies that promote student health and safety in the following:
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
Information about meningococcal meningitis and influenza can be found on the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services website. Additional resources can be found on the Catawba County Public Health website or by contacting the school nurse at your child’s school. |
01/08/2024