North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics
Ncssmlogo.png
Motto Maius Opus Moveo
("Accept the Greater Challenge")
Established 1980
Type Public boarding school
Chancellor Dr. J. Todd Roberts
Students 660 (approx)
Grades 11–12
Location Durham, North Carolina, United States
Colors Blue/White
Mascot Unicorns ("Unis")
Yearbook Odyssey
Newspaper The Stentorian
Website ncssm.edu

Coordinates: 36°1′8″N 78°55′14″W / 36.01889°N 78.92056°W / 36.01889; -78.92056

The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) is a two-year, public residential high school located in Durham, North Carolina, that focuses on the intensive study of science, mathematics and technology. The school accepts rising juniors from across North Carolina and enrolls them through senior year. Though NCSSM is a public school, enrollment is limited, and applicants undergo a highly competitive review process prior to admission. NCSSM is a founding member of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology (NCSSSMST) and a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina system.

Contents

History

Watts

Since its inception, NCSSM has been fully funded by the state, meaning no student is required to pay any tuition, room, board, or other student fees. This funding is supplemented by the NCSSM Foundation's private funding, which supports NCSSM's academic, residential, and outreach programs as well as providing funds for some capital improvements. In the past 25 years, the Foundation has raised in excess of $25 million in private support from corporations, foundations, alumni, parents and friends of NCSSM. A tuition fee was considered for the 2002–03 school year in the midst of a state budgetary crisis, but it was never implemented. In 2003, the NC Legislature approved a bill granting tuition costs for any university in the University of North Carolina System to all graduates of NCSSM, starting with the class of 2004, as an incentive to encourage NCSSM's talented students to stay in North Carolina. That bill was amended in 2005 to allow students to use additional tuition monies awarded to cover “costs of attendance.” However, the tuition waiver is in the process of being phased out in the Appropriations Act of 2009 in the North Carolina Senate in order to balance the budget. The bill states that "No new recipients shall be funded after June 30, 2009." [1]

NCSSM has served as a model for 18 similar schools, many of which are now members of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology (NCSSSMST).

Academics

Cupola atop the 1908 Watts building.

NCSSM students are not given a class rank and are encouraged to strive for their best rather than competing against other students. Although students previously were not given grade point averages (GPAs), the school currently provides GPAs on transcripts to simplify the college application process. NCSSM students have consistently done extremely well in national academic competitions, and NCSSM's SAT scores are among the highest in the state of North Carolina. In 2008, the average score was 1975.[2]

Demographics

NCSSM houses approximately 660 students,[3] currently with more females than males due to the larger number of female dormitory spaces. About 50% are Caucasian, 35% are Asian American, 10% are African American, 3% are Hispanic, and 1% are Native American. The student population of NCSSM is designed to be a demographic reflection of the population of North Carolina as a whole; additionally, a certain number of slots are reserved for each congressional district.

Notable alumni

Adam Falk '83, President of Williams College[4][5]
Maya Ajmera '85, Founder and President of The Global Fund for Children
Matt Welsh (computer scientist) '92, Gordon McKay Professor of Computer Science at Harvard University and author of several books
Rhiannon Giddens '95, member of the Grammy winning Carolina Chocolate Drops[6]
B. Scott '99, Internet Celebrity, TV personality and blogger
Jud Bowman '99, President/CEO of PocketGear, Chief Technology Officer of Motricity[7][8]

External Programs

NCSSM also offers a variety of external programs focused on educating teachers and students outside of the school across North Carolina. The school offers workshops for strengthening K-12 math and science education. The programs focus on "teaching the teacher."[9] These workshops focus particularly in science and mathematics education.

Extracurricular Activities

In 2010, NCSSM won first place at the 2010 National DOE Science Bowl Competition,[10] and the students on the team got to meet Michelle Obama.

In 2011, for the first time in the school's history, all of the NCSSM Varsity Sports (fall) won Regional Championships. Men's Cross Country and Men's Soccer were state champions, while Women's Tennis and Women's Volleyball were state runner-ups. Two girls from the Women's Golf team were also sent to the state championships match.

Controversy

Although NCSSM has been lauded for its academic programs, it has also been the source of significant controversy; disputes over residential, hiring, and academic policies have garnered media attention over time. In 2006, it was revealed that administrator Gerald Boarman had a yearly salary of $198,000 .[11] This generated heated discussion about what an appropriate payscale is for a high-school administrator.

See also

References

  1. ^ Appropriations Bill of 2009, 2009
  2. ^ www.ncpublicschools.org |SAT Performance by Students in North Carolina's Public School Systems and Schools, 2006–2008
  3. ^ NC School of Science and Math Enrollment [1] | October 2008. Retrieved on 2009-6-11.
  4. ^ http://www.ncssmalumni.com/s/213/index.aspx?sid=213&gid=1&pgid=254&cid=936&ecid=936&crid=0&calpgid=61&calcid=772
  5. ^ http://www.williams.edu/admin/president/17/
  6. ^ http://www.carolinachocolatedrops.com/
  7. ^ http://corp.pocketgear.com/about.html
  8. ^ http://localtechwire.com/rs/story/2987195/
  9. ^ "NCSSM External Programs – Workshops & Special Programs". http://www.ncssm.edu/outreach/workshops.php. Retrieved January 18, 2007. 
  10. ^ DOE National Science Bowl
  11. ^ newsobserver.com | N.C. science and math school in a lurch

External links

v · d · eUniversity of North Carolina system
Universities original seal
High School
NC School of Science and Mathematics
Affiliates

NC Arboretum • NCCAT • NCCIU • NCCN • NCSAA • NCSEAA • UNC Center for Public Television • UNC Press
Administration

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