FAQ - High School Options

 

And every explorer needs a compass. We’re here to help you navigate.

Our teachers and staff help inform, guide and mentor students and families, helping you choose a path and developing strategies to attain your goals.

What makes Choice Schools & Programs unique?

GCS Choice Schools & Programs are as diverse as our student population, with every choice leading to a path and every program and school preparing students for what comes next: college enrollment, immediate employment, enlistment or entrepreneurship. At GCS, we’re designing educational programs that respond to what matters most: student interests, industry demands, and the ways in which our nation and world are evolving. Our innovative, world-class choices include pathways like STEM/STEAM, Montessori, the visual and performing arts, Spanish immersion, global studies, gaming and robotics, health sciences, aviation, cybersecurity and more — in addition to our re-imagined traditional schools.  We know what is needed for our students and communities to thrive, and we’re designing programs and upfitting schools to push these commitments. We analyze top job sectors to develop career pathways that lead to high-wage, high-skill and high-demand positions. We listen to parents through focus groups and surveys that shed light on what families want for their children. As you embark on your high school journey, you'll discover your path, your place, and your potential at GCS.

Where do I go to get information about my Choice Schools & Programs options?

During the application window – October 9 - November 22, 2024 – there are many opportunities to learn more about our choice schools and programs. Call the schools you are interested in exploring and ask to speak with the principals, Choice Schools & Programs coordinators, and/or other parents who already have children in the school. Invite a Choice Schools & Programs principal or school system administrator to talk to your civic club, church group or neighborhood gathering. Tune to Channel 2, Guilford County Schools' cable TV station, for special programming on Choice Schools & Programs during the months of September and October. For general information about Choice Schools & Programs or the application process, call the Choice Schools & Programs Office at 336-574-5721.

Do families pay tuition to attend high school option programs?

There is no tuition for students whose parents live in Guilford County. No matter where you live in Guilford County, how you learn or what your interests may be, GCS gives you innovative, world-class choices at no cost. By giving every single Guilford County student the power to choose, we’re putting them on pathways that enable them to succeed in school, our workplaces and the world. Occasional costs that may occur during the year would be similar to those in any other school. The state-of-the-art technology, equipment and/or the unique instructional strategies not available in other schools are funded by the school system and a special school grant. Applications from students whose domicile is outside Guilford County will not be considered.

How do I access the online Choice Schools & Programs application?

The link to the online Choice Programs & Schools application will be available and posted on the GCS website main page, on the Choice Schools & Programs page, and shared through multiple social media outlets. Click here to access the online application.

Step One:

Clicking on this link will take you to a Welcome Page where you will be asked to create a family account. Each family should create ONE family account for all of the children in the household. Families will be required to provide a cell phone number or email address as part of the application process. Families may select an alternate language to complete the process.  Only parents or legal guardians are allowed to complete applications for students.

Step Two:

Complete a separate application for each child who is applying for one of our Choice Schools & Programs. A list of available schools based on your attendance zone will appear. Select the schools that you wish to apply to and list them in order of preference. Read the Choice Schools & Programs procedures carefully before completing the requested information. Once you submit the application, you may not make any further changes so fill in each area carefully.

What information will I need to have available as I am completing the application?

·         Mobile/cell phone number and/or email address

·         Home address

·         GCS Student ID number (same as student’s lunch number)

·         PowerSchool Student ID number if student is currently enrolled in a charter school

·         Current school name

·         School assignment by attendance zone for next school year (use the School Assignment Locator if unsure)

·         For some schools:

o    Recommendations from teachers – you will need the name and email address for each teacher

o    Parent/guardian education level and household income

·         Students not currently enrolled in GCS may be asked to provide additional documentation.

Where there are the duplicate programs (middle college, IB, JROTC, Arts) Can I apply for any school?

For IB, the high school attendance zone in which you live determines the IB program for which you are eligible to apply.

 

For Weaver and Penn-Griffin Arts, the middle school attendance zone in which you live determines the high school arts program for which you are eligible to apply.

For middle and early colleges, students from any attendance zone who meet proper age, grade or gender criteria can apply for any middle or early college program.

          Click here to view the duplicate high school arts feeder patterns.

         Click here to view the duplicate IB feeder patterns.

         Click here to view the duplicate JROTC feeder patterns.

         Click here  to view the GTCC Middle Colleges feeder transportation options. 

How many schools can I apply to?

Each student may apply to five high school options from their list of available choices. You will be asked to rank the schools by preference. This rank order will not impact your chances of receiving an offer from each school. However, the rank order will impact whether or not you remain on a waiting list once you receive responses from each school. If you accept an offer, you will remain on the waitlist for any school ranked higher than the school where you accepted the offer, but you will be removed from the waitlist for any school ranked lower.

Once you have completed the application and clicked submit, modifications to the application will no longer be accepted.

The application deadline is 5 pm on November 22, 2024. Any applications submitted after that date/time will be classified as late applications and will not be considered in the initial selection process.

Students may be invited by some schools for an interview, audition, or additional assessments after the application deadline. Not all schools conduct interviews or auditions.

Is transportation provided for High School Options?

GCS will make a reasonable effort to provide transportation for high school option students who are county residents and within proper feeder zones. Please use this resource that provides information about transportation options.

If accepted into a High School Option program, is a student eligible to participate in athletics?

Students accepted into High School Option programs that have athletics are eligible for participation at that school.  Students accepted into High School Option programs without athletic programs are eligible to participate in athletics at their attendance school only.

*Changing schools after initial entry into the 9th grade may affect athletic eligibility. It is recommended that you review Board Policy/Procedure (JI and JI-P) which includes information about athletic eligibility requirements, and speak to the athletic director at your school to make sure you fully understand how changing schools may affect athletic eligibility. 

When will I know if my child has been offered a Choice Schools & Programs seat?

Families will receive notification of High School Choice Schools & Programs seat offers on January 31, 2025. Notifications will be communicated by email or text according to the notification method selected when families set up their account. Families must accept or decline offers by February 7, 2025.

Once a family has accepted an offer from one of our Choice Schools & Programs, they will receive a link to request transportation and information from the school to complete the enrollment and registration process.

Who do I contact if I need help?

For questions about specific school programs, contact the school directly.

For general questions about Choice Schools & Programs or the application process, contact the Choice Schools & Programs Office at 336-574-5721.

For technical assistance with SchoolMint or questions about about feeder patterns, contact the Student Assignment Office at 336-370-8303.