School Profile
Academic Indicators
Course Offerings
Enrollment
North Sand Mountain High School (grade 9-12)
student body for 2014-2015 is 304.
92 Freshmen
70 Sophomores
78 Juniors
64 Seniors
Total enrollment for grades K-12 is 699.
American College Testing Assessment (ACT)
Advanced Level Course Offerings (7):
Accreditation
North Sand Mountain High School is accredited by the
Southern Association of Colleges and Schools
(SACSCASI), AdvancED, and by the State of Alabama
Department of Education.
Honor Court
Academic Calendar
North Sand Mountain is currently utilizing a modified
5-period block that includes four academic periods
and a resource block. During the regular school year,
a student has the opportunity to earn eight Carnegie
units. The school calendar requires 180 student days
beginning August 12, 2014, and ending May 28, 2015.
Graduation exercises are scheduled for May 21, 2015.
Grading System
Academic progress reports are issued every nine weeks.
Course grades are recorded numerically and by letter.
A = 90 – 100
B = 80 – 89
C = 70 – 79
D = 60 – 69
F = Below 60
Grade Point Average (GPA) is computed on a 4.0 scale
using all end of course grades. A 1.125 Multiplier is
used for Dual Enrollment and AP Coursework.
Class of 2014
Students Tested (N=45)
N.S.M. Mean Composite: 19.3
State Average: 20.4
Along with the freshman class for the 2008-2009
school year, North Sand Mountain School unveiled its
Honor Court procedure which would be used to
recognize students at the end of each year. The Honor
Court challenges the students to excel and participate
in the following areas:
*Highest Level of Academic Courses
*Extra Curricular Activities
*Community Service (min. 25 hours/year)
Students must also meet the strictest of standards in
the areas of attendance and discipline. ALL students
meeting Honor Court requirements each year of high
school are recognized as the Honor Graduates for the
class. The Valedictorian and Salutatorian will be the
Honor Graduate that has earned the highest numeric
average during the eight-semesters of high school.
Postsecondary
76% percent of the Class of 2014 class
were accepted and/or enrolled in a
two/four year college upon graduation.
Scholarships/Grants totaling over 1.2 million
dollars were offered to 45 graduates (60%) of
the Class of 2014.
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Honors English 12 (Dual Enrollment)
Honors Geometry 
Honors Algebra II/Trigonometry 
Honors Pre-Calculus (Dual Enrollment)
Honors Chemistry
Honors Advanced Chemistry
Honors Physics
Honors Anatomy (Dual Enrollment)
AP Calculus
Student Demographics
North Sand Mountain
Students Free/Reduced
Lunch Status
Free Meals:
51%
Reduced
Meals: 13%
Full Price
Meals: 36%
North Sand Mountain
Student Ethnicity
Hispanic:
2%
Native
American:
9%
Caucasian:
89%
Graduation Requirements for
the Class of 2015
The Jackson County Board of Education
requires a student to earn 28 Carnegie units for a
high school diploma.
Types of Diplomas Offered
Subject
Standard*
Advanced
English
4.0
4.0
Mathematics
4.0
4.0**
Science
4.0
4.0
Social Studies
4.0
4.0
Physical Education
1.0
1.0
Health
0.5
0.5
Fine Arts
0.5
0.5
Computer Applications
0.5
0.5
Foreign Language
0.0
2.0**
Electives
5.5
3.5
Vocational Sequence
3.0*
3.0*
*Students may earn a technical endorsement by
completing a vocational sequence.
**The Advanced Diploma requires students to
complete at least the level of Algebra II/Trig in math
and two years of the same foreign language.
There are currently 160 students (55%) pursuing
The Advanced Academic Diploma.
SCHOOL STAFF
The staff at North Sand Mountain High School
includes the following:
1: Principal
1: Assistant Principal
1.5: Counselors
1: Media Specialists
42: Classroom Teachers
22: Support Staff
66% of teachers, counselors, and administrators
have a Master’s Degree or higher.
Mission Statement
Preparing Our Students for Their Futures
School Vision
The North Sand Mountain partnership of staff,
parents, and community empowers students to
develop their unique potential, pursue excellence,
and become contributing, responsible members of
society.
North Sand
Mountain
High School
School Beliefs
1. All students have the ability to learn and deserve
the opportunity to receive a good education.
2. Teachers, administrators, parents, and the
community share the responsibility for providing a
safe and positive environment at home and school in
order for students to reach their full potential.
3. Teachers should maintain a positive and
professional attitude toward student development.
4. The commitment to continuous improvement is
imperative for our students to become confident,
self-directed, life-long learners.
5. Instructional leaders need to be aware of their
curriculum criteria and use differentiated instruction
to ensure that optimum learning takes place.
Principal
Mr. Chris Davis
Asst. Principal Mr. Kerry Wright
Counselors
Mrs. Angie Bain
Mrs. Danielle Maples
2014-2015
Profile
29333 Alabama Hwy 71
Higdon, Alabama 35979
(256) 597-2111
Fax (256) 597-2505
ACT/CEEB Code 011443
Book Keeper Mrs. Stephanie Reed
http://www.nsmbison.com