Definitions

Advisors = Homeroom teachers
Academic Advisors = English teachers
Mentors = Community or faculty with expertise in the student's area of interest
21 yrs of age or older; not related to the student; background checks
Transfers = Students who transfer from one NC school to another must complete a
Graduation Project
Students who transfer from an out-of-state school to a NC school must
complete a Graduation Project UNLESS they come into the state as a second
semester senior

Benchmarking Chart Grades 9-12

At 9th grade * View a series of power point lessons explaining the graduation project
---Homeroom, 2nd semester
* Explore various writing and speaking styles
---Resource/Support: teachers (Career and Technical Education), parents/family members, community
members, and student

At 10th grade * View a series of lessons to explore topics of interest
----Homeroom, 2nd semester
* Develop skills to retrieve information about topics of interest
* Refine skills on compiling a portfolio
* Identify GRADUATION TOPIC OF INTEREST (form provided for signatures at end of sophomore year)
----Classroom experiences that develop research, presentation, and public speaking skills
----Input from family members
----Models of written and verbal communication including external community partners

At 11th grade * Meet with advisor (homeroom teacher)
* Meet with academic advisor (English teacher)
* Meet with expert(s) in the field (student-selected in the community)
* Identify a research topic
* Understand expectations for each of the four components of the graduation project
* Outline a plan of action for completing the four components of the graduation project
* Evaluate, organize, and identify sections of the graduation project portfolio
* Refine writing and speaking skills
* Complete a 6-9 page RESEARCH PAPER in the 11th grade English class (research focus on a specific topic
from the area of interest identified in the 10th grade)
----Identify graduation project mentor (student-selected expert in the community)
----Meetings with mentor
----Mentor logs
----Public speaking opportunities

At 12th grade * Meet with academic advisor (English teacher)
* Outline the year's goals and expectations
* Define the graduation project topic
* Develop the PRODUCT (a tangible or intangible product related to the research paper...a minimum of 15
logged hours of work)
* Develop the PORTFOLIO (a record of the process and progress through all the steps of the graduation
project, including periodic reflections)
* Deliver the ORAL PRESENTATION (presented to a panel of community judges)
----Scheduled and organized by school coordinator
----Supporting forms to be provided
----Ongoing guidance from advisor, mentor, graduation project coordinator, and teachers

What is the Graduation Project?

The North Carolina Graduation Project is a four part process that includes a Research Paper, a Portfolio, a Product, and a Presentation that each student must complete in order to graduate from high school.

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