Social Studies Curriculum
The
North Carolina Social Studies curriculum is designed to ensure that our
teachers prepare students to become productive and knowledgeable
citizens. This implies an understanding of history, geography,
government and economics, as well as common core skills such as critical
thinking, reading, and writing. Understanding of key citizenship
duties, rights, and responsibilities is a key focus as well.
Influences
such as state Essential Standards for curriculum, the new NC Final
Exams, and the semester schedule result in a tightly structured high
school social studies program. Most students will follow this new curriculum sequence that began in the 2012-13 school year: World History in the ninth grade, American History I (Exploration through Reconstruction) in
the 10th grade, American History II (Gilded Age to the present) in the
11th grade, and Civics and Economics in the 12th grade. Honors students
in the AP path will have a slightly different sequence of courses. A
variety of electives for students interested in social studies are
available in the 12th grade--either in the department or online.