To apply to NCSSM, a student must be a legal North Carolina resident in the second year of high school, submit one application on CFNC.org by January 5, 2027, and complete residency, evaluations, transcripts, and (for residential applicants) the NCSSM Math Assessment. NCSSM does not use SAT or ACT scores. Reviewers score applications on a rubric, and each review team is assigned a congressional district.
This guide explains each part of the Class of 2029 application as the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) describes it, and how a family can prepare. For dates, see our NCSSM admissions timeline.
What NCSSM is
NCSSM is a public, two-year residential high school for 11th- and 12th-grade North Carolina students with an interest in STEM, part of the University of North Carolina System. It has two campuses, NCSSM-Durham and NCSSM-Morganton, and also runs NCSSM Online. NCSSM says there is no application fee and no cost for tuition, meals, room and board, or textbooks for its Residential, Online, and Summer Ventures programs.
Eligibility
Grade level
Applicants for the Residential and Online programs must be in their second year of high school. They apply in 10th grade and attend as juniors and seniors. NCSSM says a student can complete and submit an application to these programs only once during their academic career.
North Carolina residency
NCSSM says only bona fide legal residents (domiciliaries) of North Carolina are eligible to attend, and non-residents are ineligible for admission. Its policy is to enroll only students whose custodial parent or legal guardian has established permanent legal residency in North Carolina by December 1 of the school year in which the student applies. NCSSM also describes a path for a student whose parent is an active duty member of the armed services living in North Carolina because of that duty, provided the student shares the parent's home.
Every applicant to NCSSM-Durham, NCSSM-Morganton, or NCSSM Online must complete the North Carolina Residency Determination Service (RDS) process. The Class of 2029 deadline is January 30, 2027. NCSSM says that without an RDS number a student cannot complete the application on CFNC.org. Use the same CFNC login for RDS that you used for the NCSSM application.
Residency is where families get tripped up. NCSSM notes that property acquired only as a vacation home or rental does not count as a homeowner's primary domicile. If your situation is unusual, contact NCSSM through its admissions site instead of assuming.
Residential vs. Online
Residential. Students live on campus in Durham or Morganton for 11th and 12th grade. NCSSM says more than 980 students live and learn in the Residential program across both campuses. Students live in residence halls with support from full-time Community Coordinators, and all residence halls close about once each month for holidays and extended three-day weekends. You can apply to Durham, Morganton, or both.
Online. NCSSM describes NCSSM Online as a supplemental, two-year, sequenced honors program for students who remain enrolled at their local schools. Courses include a Saturday session at NCSSM-Durham or NCSSM-Morganton once per semester.
One application covers Residential, Online, and Summer Ventures. NCSSM also states that its UNC System guaranteed admission applies to Residential graduates who meet its conditions, and that NCSSM Online students are not eligible, so read that page before you weigh the programs.
Every part of the application
The CFNC application and essays
You apply through the NCSSM electronic application on CFNC.org, which requires a CFNC account. The application opens October 15, 2026, and every section must be complete by 11:59 PM on January 5, 2027. NCSSM says there are no exceptions.
NCSSM publishes essay questions as separate documents for Residential and Online applicants and for Summer Ventures applicants. We have not reproduced the prompts here. Read the current questions on NCSSM's admissions site. NCSSM says critical reading and writing ability can be demonstrated through your essay responses, and that enthusiasm for STEM, need for NCSSM, and work ethic can be shown through the application, essays, and academic record.
Testing
NCSSM says Class of 2029 applicants are not required to take the SAT or ACT, and standardized test scores will not be accepted or considered. Applicants to the residential campuses are required to take the NCSSM Math Assessment, formerly known as NCSSM Discovery Day. NCSSM describes the Mathematics Admissions Assessment as a 30-question, 40-minute assessment taken without a calculator. The questions measure pre-algebra, algebra, and geometry topics, and NCSSM says the material is usually taught in seventh grade, eighth grade, Math 1, and Algebra 1 courses across North Carolina.
Applicants register through a Blackbaud account, with login details emailed in mid-January. The event is for students only, lasts about 1.5 hours, and no longer includes a campus tour. NCSSM links a Math Test Preview and Math Assessment Examples for applicants. NCSSM's How to Apply page lists February 13 and February 20, 2027, while its Announcements page shows "TBD," so confirm the date on NCSSM's admissions site. We did not find a statement on whether Online-only applicants take the assessment, so ask NCSSM if that applies to you.
Evaluations (recommendations)
NCSSM requires evaluations by February 28 from three people: a 9th or 10th grade STEM teacher, a 9th or 10th grade English teacher, and your current 10th grade guidance counselor. These are not traditional letters. You give NCSSM their contact information, and NCSSM emails each one a link to a structured online form. NCSSM says students will not be penalized if an evaluation is submitted after the initial contact information has been provided.
Transcripts and report cards
The transcript window runs February 15 to February 28, 2027. NCSSM says an offer of enrollment is contingent on receiving a transcript from the applicant's home high school. Year-long courses also require a report card. NCSSM considers only grades from high school courses completed in ninth and 10th grade. High school-level courses taken in middle school are not factored in.
How selection works
NCSSM says selection committees of experienced educators from across North Carolina review applications. They work in teams of three, and each team is assigned to review applications from a specific congressional district. Each candidate is scored on a rubric against the criteria below.
- Academic rigor: challenging coursework and consistently strong performance.
- Community involvement and interaction: meaningful participation in groups, such as extracurriculars, sports, volunteering, or religious organizations.
- Critical reading and writing ability: assessed largely through the essays.
- Enthusiasm for STEM: curiosity and passion shown through the application, essays, and academic record.
- Need for NCSSM and enthusiasm for learning: whether NCSSM offers something unique and essential that your current school, no matter how good, might not be able to provide.
- Work ethic and initiative: diligence, responsibility, and persistence.
- The Math Assessment, along with the evaluations from a counselor, an English teacher, and a STEM teacher.
On grades, NCSSM says it is looking for students who consistently excel, earning mostly A's in their most challenging courses. NCSSM says all decisions are final and there is no appeals process. It does not review applications with students or families and does not share Math Assessment scores.
How families should prepare
- Build a strong 9th and 10th grade record. Only those years count. Take the most challenging courses your child can handle and do well in them.
- Show interest in STEM through activity. NCSSM suggests clubs, competitions, supplemental programs, leadership positions, and related activities, along with accelerated and challenging courses.
- Practice the math NCSSM names. Use the Math Test Preview and Math Assessment Examples on NCSSM's site, and practice without a calculator, since the assessment allows none.
- Write essays that answer "why NCSSM." Be specific about what the school offers that your current school cannot.
- Ask evaluators early. Pick a STEM teacher and an English teacher who know your child's work, and tell your counselor in the fall.
- Start RDS and the CFNC account early, and use an Apple or Google email address, since NCSSM reports other providers often block its messages.
Common mistakes
- Assuming SAT or ACT scores will help. NCSSM says it will not consider them.
- Counting middle school high-level courses as part of the grade record.
- Waiting until the last week of December to start the application.
- Forgetting RDS, which has a separate January 30 deadline.
- Writing generic essays that could be sent to any STEM school.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an application fee?
NCSSM says there is no application fee.
Can a student apply to both Durham and Morganton?
Yes. NCSSM says eligible applicants may apply to the Residential program (Durham and/or Morganton), Online, or Summer Ventures, or all three, using one application.
Does NCSSM have an interview?
NCSSM's admissions pages do not describe one.
Does NCSSM publish an acceptance rate?
We did not find one on the admissions pages we reviewed. Check NCSSM's admissions site.
How EduAvenues can help
Families who want structured preparation for the Math Assessment, essays, and application planning can see the programs page.
Sources
- NCSSM How to Apply
- NCSSM Admissions Criteria
- NCSSM Prepare to Apply
- NCSSM Residency Requirement
- NCSSM Prospective Student Resources
- NCSSM Admissions Announcements
- NCSSM Online
- NCSSM Residential Program
- NCSSM Campus Life
- NCSSM UNC System Guaranteed Admission
NCSSMPrep by EduAvenues is an independent service, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics.