School Profile 2008-09 - Cannon School

COLLEGE MATRICULATIONS
CLASSES OF 2004 - 2008
*Indicates 2008 college choice
*American University
*Appalachian State University
*Barton College
Belmont Abbey College
Bowdoin College
Bowie State University
Bucknell University
*Carleton College
*Case Western Reserve University
Catawba College
Catholic University
*Christopher Newport University
*Clemson University
Colgate University
*College of Charleston
College of Santa Fe
*College of William and Mary
*Columbia College
Converse College
Davidson College
Denison University
Dickinson College
Duke University
*East Carolina University
Eckerd College
*Elon University
*Emory and Henry College
Emory University
*Furman University
*Gardner-Webb University
*The George Washington University
*Georgetown University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Gettysburg College
*Greensboro College
Guilford College
Hamilton College
Harvard University
*High Point University
Hollins University
James Madison University
Johnson & Wales University
Kenyon College
Kettering University
King's College
Lenoir-Rhyne College
*Lesley University
*Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mercer University
Meredith College
Methodist College
*Miami University (Ohio)
New Mexico Inst. Of Technology
New York University
*North Carolina State University
Northeastern University
*Ohio Wesleyan University
Pennsylvania State University
*Pfeiffer University
*Presbyterian College
Princeton University
Rhodes College
*Rollins College
Savannah College of Art & Design
Skidmore College
*United States Naval Academy
*University of Central Florida
University of Dayton
*University of Georgia
University of Miami
*University of Mississippi
University of North Carolina - Asheville
*University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
*University of North Carolina - Charlotte
University of North Carolina - Greensboro
*University of North Carolina - Wilmington
University of Pennsylvania
University of Richmond
*University of South Carolina
University of Tampa
*University of Tennessee
University of Texas
University of Vermont
University of Virginia
Cannon School, established in 1969, is an independent, coed, nonsectarian, college preparatory institution
serving the greater Charlotte area. The Upper School was established in 1998. Cannon School serves 880
students in JrK - 12th grade, 342 of which are 9 - 12th. There are 88 students in the present senior class. The
school’s admission policy is non-discriminatory without regard to race, creed, sex, or national and ethnic origin.
Fifteen percent of students enrolled represent a minority ethnicity. Ten percent of students enrolled receive
financial assistance. Admission is selective and based on a student’s potential to perform college preparatory
work. The use of technology is an integral part of the education offered in a wireless environment; laptop
computers are provided for every Upper School student. The ethical and interpersonal growth of young people
is central to Cannon School’s mission. An active advising program, a traditional Honor Code, and a service
learning program instill high standards for making responsible decisions and acting with respect toward others.
C O N TA C T I N F O R M AT I O N
Matthew E. Gossage, Head of School
Shayne M. Cokerdem, Upper School Head
CEEB: 340879
A C A D E M I C
I N F O R M AT I O N
Anne Shandley
Alex Segura
Director of College Counseling Associate Director
ashandley@cannonschool.org asegura@cannonschool.org
704-721-7172 704-721-7176
5801 Poplar Tent Road, Concord, NC 28027
704-786-8171 | Fax: 704-721-7174 | www.cannonschool.org
A traditional, college preparatory curriculum is offered on a semester system. Students are required to complete 21
academic credits in the Upper School, including one credit each for computer proficiency and service learning, to
graduate. Students typically earn six credits each year, five of which must be from academic disciplines. Students
must also satisfy requirements for a senior project. NOTE: Prior to the 2008-09 school year – 7-period school day.
Beginning fall 2008 – 6-period school day.
C O U R S E O F F E R I N G S 2 0 0 8 - 0 9
ENGLISH – 4 CREDITS
English I, II
English III – U.S. Literature or AP English Language*
English IV – World Literature or AP English Literature
MATHEMATICS – 3 CREDITS
Algebra I
Geometry
Algebra II/Trigonometry
Advanced Functions and Modeling
Precalculus
AP: Calculus AB/BC; Statistics
SCIENCE – 3 CREDITS
Biology
Chemistry
Physics
Pre-AP: Chemistry, Physics
AP: Biology; Chemistry; Environmental Science; Physics
Marine Science (lab course)
SOCIAL STUDIES – 3 CREDITS
World History I, II
U.S. History
AP: European History*; U.S. History; U.S. Government &
Politics
FOREIGN LANGUAGE – 3 CREDITS
Chinese I, II*, III**
Latin III. IV
French I, II, III, IV, V, AP French Language
Spanish I, II, III, IV, V, AP Spanish Language
* New Course for 2007-08 (AP European History offered only
to 10th graders)
** New Course for 2008-09
School Profile 2008-09
FINE ARTS - 1 CREDIT
Visual Foundations
Graphic Design I
Drawing I (.5)
Advanced Drawing (.5)
Painting I (.5)
Advanced Painting (.5)
Sculpture I (.5)
Advanced Sculpture (.5)
AP Studio Art
Introduction to Theater (.5)
Acting I (.5)
Acting II: Shakespeare (.5)
Acting Techniques (.5)
Playwriting (.5)
Directing (.5)
Concert Chorus
Chamber Ensemble**
Jazz Band I, II (.5 each)
Dance (.5 or 1)
ACADEMIC ELECTIVES - 1 CREDIT
AP: Psychology; Computer Science
The Voice: Poetry Writing (.5)
The Voice: Fiction Writing (.5)
Art House Cinema (.5)
Film Genres (.5)
Discrete Math (.5)
Mathematics of Finance (.5)
U.S. Law and Legal System (.5)
The Supreme Court: Cases that Defined America (.5)
Yearbook I (.5)
Yearbook II
PHYSICAL EDUCATION – 1 CREDIT
Physical Conditioning (.5 or 1), Dance Fitness (.5 or 1) or
participation in athletics or an approved off-campus fitness activity.

*Virginia Military Institute
*Virginia Tech
*Wake Forest University
*Washington College
*Washington and Lee University
Wesleyan University
Western Carolina University
*West Virginia University
Williams College
*Wingate University
Wofford College
Yale University
OTHER NOTABLE ACCEPTANCES
CLASSES OF 2004 - 2008
Agnes Scott College
Auburn University
Babson College
Boston University
Brigham Young University
Bryn Mawr College
California Polytechnic State University
Carnegie Mellon University
Centre College
Clark University
Colby College
College of Wooster
Colorado College
Columbia University
Cornell University
Dartmouth University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Emerson College
Franklin & Marshall College
Howard University
Johns Hopkins University
Lafayette College
Lewis and Clark College
McGill University (CA)
Middlebury College
Northwestern University
Ohio University
Queens University
Richmond American (UK)
Rochester Institute of Technology
Rutgers University
Santa Clara University
Sarah Lawrence College
Scripps College
Swarthmore College
Sweet Briar College
Temple University
Tufts University
United States Military Academy
University of California-Berkeley
University of California-Santa Cruz
University of Chicago
University of Colorado
University of Florida
University of Minnesota
University of Notre Dame
University of Southern California
University of The South (Sewanee)
Vanderbilt University
Villanova University
Washington University in St. Louis
Service Learning
Each student in the Upper School is required to obtain ten (10) hours of service learning activities during the
academic school year for a minimum total of forty (40) hours of service upon graduation. These service activities
are selected by the students, approved by the service learning coordinator, and performed outside of school hours.
G R A D I N G
S Y S T E M
A cumulative grade point average is calculated annually on the basis of grades earned in classes completed at Cannon
School during a student’s Upper School career. Physical education, service learning, and computer proficiency
requirements are not calculated. Advanced Placement courses are awarded additional weight (+1.0) in calculating
the GPA. Since students receive extra quality points for AP courses only, GPAs remain more in line with the 4.0 scale.
A 93-100 4.00
A- 90-92 3.67
B+ 87-89 3.33
B 83-86 3.00
B - 80-82 2.67
C+ 77-79 2.33
G R A D I N G
S C A L E
Due to the overall high quality of each graduating class, Cannon School does not individually rank its seniors.
At Cannon School, 95% of the Class of 2008 enrolled in four-year institutions.
CLASS OF 2009 – GPA DISTRIBUTION
Cumulative for Grades 9-11 (87 Seniors - this does
not include one senior year transfer student)
A 4.00+ 16%
A- 3.67 – 3.99 22%
B+ 3.33 – 3.66 18%
B 3.00 – 3.32 17%
B- 2.67 – 2.99 17%
C+ 2.33 – 2.66 8%
C 2.00 – 2.32 2%
2 0 0 8 A D V A N C E D P L A C E M E N T S C O R E S
C 73-76 2.00
C- 70-72 1.67
D+ 67-69 1.33
D 63-66 1.00
D- 60-62 0.67
F 59-0 0
CLASS OF 2009 – SAT REASONING TEST
The Middle 50% range is reported for the 85
students from the Class of 2009 who took the SAT
Reasoning Test through June 2008:
Critical Reading 560-680
Math 580-680
Writing 560-670
Total (2400) 1730-2010
Total (1600) 1160-1340
In 2007-08, Cannon School offered 17 year-long Advanced Placement courses. Of the 342 students enrolled in the Upper
School at the time, 51% (174 students) completed 319 AP exams in May.
Scores of 3 or higher: 73%
Scores of 4 or higher: 48%
Students must receive administrative approval to take more than one (1) AP course in sophomore year, two (2) AP courses in
junior year, or more than three (3) AP courses in senior year. Refer to Course Offerings for a list of the 2008-09 AP Courses.
R E P O R T I N G P O L I C Y F O R A C A D E M I C O R B E H A V I O R A L M I S C O N D U C T
When asked by a college, serious misconduct in grades 9-12 that results in out-of-school suspension or expulsion is reported.
Class of 2008
National Merit and
Achievement Competition
Merit Finalists 5
Merit Semifinalists 5
Merit Commended 3
Achievement Finalists 1
Achievement Semifinalists 1
Achievement Referred 1
Total High Scorers 10
Percent of Class 15%
A C C R E D I TAT I O N A N D M E M B E R S H I P S
Cannon School is the first independent school in North Carolina to achieve dual accreditation by the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS).
The School is a member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), National Association for College
Admission Counseling (NACAC), Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC), and College Board.
Senior Project
During the spring semester, seniors explore an area of personal interest to them. Their projects can involve a need
in their community, a career area that intrigues them, or an idea/philosophy that they would like to explore further.
Seniors research their areas of interest and submit a proposal of how they will conduct their independent learning.
The culmination of their learning is a presentation to the school community about their projects.