Schools provide all school identification information through the electronic school name and address form found on the NC Department of Public Instruction's Web site at http://sna.dpi.state.nc.us/. Grade range and school calendar type is current as of June. All other information is updated continuously. (Please note: school name and grade range changes are not automatically updated; NC DPI must approve these first.) Following are a description of the types of schools and calendars in the state.

• Regular School (Traditional Calendar)

A public school that offers a regular program of instruction within a traditional calendar. A regular program is a program that offers all of the basic subject areas and does not focus primarily on vocational, special, or alternative education.


• Regular School (Year-Round Calendar)

A public school that offers a regular program of instruction and remains in session for the entire calendar year, following one or more plans, such as: the four quarter plan which divides students into four groups and requires each to be in school for three assigned and staggered quarters each year; the 45-15 plans which schedules 45 days of classes followed by 15 days of vacation; or the quinmester plan, which divides the year into five nine-week sessions and requires students to attend four of the five.


• Magnet School (Traditional Calendar)

A public school that offers a magnet program of instruction within a traditional calendar. A magnet program incorporates both the curriculum of a regular program and special or thematic programs such as liberal arts, science, music, or health-business or technology-oriented programs.


• Magnet School (Year-Round Calendar)

A public school that offers a magnet program of instruction and remains in session for the entire calendar year, following one or more plans, such as: the four quarter plan which divides students into four groups and requires each to be in school for three assigned and staggered quarters each year; the 45-15 plans which schedules 45 days of classes followed by 15 days of vacation; or the quinmester plan, which divides the year into five nine-week sessions and requires students to attend four of the five.


• Alternative Education School (Traditional Calendar)

A public school that offers an alternative program of instruction within a traditional calendar that addresses the needs of students which typically cannot be met in a regular school, even with special education programs; provides nontraditional education curriculum and instruction; serves as an adjunct to a regular school or is independently organized; and falls outside of the categories of regular, special education, or vocational education. (Alternative schools do not include those schools that have an alternative program within a regular school.)


• Extended Day School (Traditional Calendar)

A public school that meets on a traditional calendar and offers an extended day program. An extended day program is a program within a high school offered after the regular school hours. It is designed for students who cannot attend school during the regular school hours; for example, at-risk students, students with work conflicts, school-age parents, etc. (Regular schools with day care, pre-school, comprehensive school improvement management concept, etc., are not extended day schools.)


• Special Education School (Traditional Calendar)

A public school that offers a special program of instruction within a traditional calendar that focuses primarily on special education, including instruction for any of the following: hard of hearing, deaf, speech impaired, orthopedically impaired, mentally retarded, seriously emotionally disturbed, multi-handicapped, visually handicapped, deaf and blind, and adapts curriculum, materials, or instruction to meet the needs of students served.


• Vocational Education School

A public school that offers a vocational program of instruction within a traditional calendar that focuses primarily on vocational education and provides education and training in one more semi-skilled or technical occupations.


• Hospital School

A public school that offers instructional services to students admitted to a hospital for treatment. Students can be from any location in the state and normally have various lengths of stay.

Source: NCDPI, Financial & Business Services, School Business Division, Information Analysis & Reporting Section, School Name and Address File, August 2007.

Title I Status

Title I status indicates whether a school is part of the federal program that provides funding for high poverty schools to help students who are behind academically or at risk of falling behind. If a school is not considered a Title I school, then no designation will appear.

About half the schools and all school districts in North Carolina receive Title I funding. Many of the major requirements in No Child Left Behind are outlined in Title I: Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP); teacher and paraprofessional requirements; accountability; sanctions for schools designated for improvement; standards and assessments; annual state report cards; professional development; and parent involvement.

For additional Title I information, see the NC Department of Public Instruction’s Federal Programs site http://www.ncpublicschools.org/federalprograms/titleI/. For more information about NCLB, please refer to the Department of Public Instruction’s No Child Left Behind Web site at http://www.ncpublicschools.org/nclb/