The North Carolina curriculum for English Language Arts, grades 9-12, promotes growth in students' use of language within certain contexts crucial for responsible citizenship, for a fulfilling cultural life, and for economic productivity. By teaching specific skills that address oral language, written language, and media and technology, the curriculum strives to involve students as deeply as possible in the world beyond the classroom.

Students will learn about, and develop increasing control of, their language and its conventions as they read, write, speak, and listen; they will also become aware of how different language conventions are used in different contexts.