Students who have failed a required course during a semester, must make up the credit in order to graduate. This can be done through a computer-based program which teaches and tests for the content that was taught during the class. Students must have earned at least a 50 in the course for the semester to qualify for credit recovery. If the semester grade was lower than a 50, the student must re-sit for the semester failed. For example, if a student earned a 45 in English II, fall semester, and passed English II in the spring, they would re-sit for the fall semester.

Credit recovery is $50 per semester course. If you are on free/reduced lunch, the fee can be waived.  Once the student has been signed up, and has paid, their school counselor will enter the course into the computer for credit recovery. This process can take up to 48 hours. Students may only take one class at a time.

TN Ready is an assessment for grades 3-11 core subject areas and measures student performance against specific state standards. This assessment is administered as three subparts, all administered in the spring semester. For high school, it is administered to all students enrolled in:

• English I
• English II
• Algebra I
• Geometry
• Algebra II
• Biology
• US History

and accounts for 15% of the 2nd semester grade.

SEMESTER EXAMS

District policy requires comprehensive exams at the end of each semester for all high school courses. All semester exams are constructed by teacher teams at the school level except for those courses that require either a state TCAP or district CCE for the final exam.

FHS ACT Prep  

ACT test prep

STAR

The state requires districts to universally screen students as part of its Response to Instruction and Intervention system, and WCS uses STAR assessments to meet that requirement. The purpose of STAR is to provide a data snapshot of a student’s current performance at three points during the school year and, in some cases, progress throughout the school year, in a variety of academic areas using national norms as comparison points without a large sacrifice of instructional time.

AAPPL

The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) produces a language assessment called AAPPL, or the ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages. Students in world language courses are expected to participate in AAPPL to assess modes of communication in their respective language. AAPPL is provided by the district.

ACCESS FOR ELs

WIDA’s ACCESS for ELs assessment is for English Language Learners (ELLs) in grades K-12. This assessment measures English language proficiency levels with respect to the WIDA ELP Standards and is used as one criterion to determine when ELLs have attained the language proficiency needed to participate meaningfully in content area.

ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENTS

TN Ready alternate assessments are for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities whom participation in the typical state assessment is inappropriate, even with the use of extensive accommodations. Students in high school must complete one assessment in each English, mathematics, and science course.

Course Offerings 2024-25

ACT

High School assessments include a school day state administration of the ACT in the spring for all 11th graders and the fall for 12th graders, free of charge. The ACT measures what students have learned throughout high school and is a WCS graduation requirement. The test also assesses post-secondary academic preparedness, and colleges and universities use results to make acceptance and placement decisions.  It is, however, just one factor in the admissions decision. Schools also consider your high school GPA, academic transcript, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, interviews, and personal essays. The weight placed on entrance exam scores varies from school to school.

WCS Students are encouraged to take the ACT/SAT multiple times.  (See below)

ACT National Test Dates and Registration

PSAT

The PSAT is the pre-SAT. It helps students determine how they would perform on the actual test. It tells the students how many and what type of questions they responded to correctly and incorrectly. The PSAT also qualifies students for National Merit status during the 11th grade year if students meet certain requirements. For more information visit the college board site.

SAT

Created by the College Board, the SAT is another entrance exam that can be used by colleges and universities to make admissions decisions. As with the ACT, it is just one factor in the admissions decision. Schools also consider your high school GPA, academic transcript, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, interviews, and personal essays. The weight placed on entrance exam scores varies from school to school.

SAT National Test Dates and Registration

The requirements to graduate with a WCS honors and distinction diploma can be found by reading the WCS Board policy 4.60511.

Students will graduate with distinction by attaining a B average and completing at least one of the following:

• Earn a nationally recognized industry certification
• Participate in at least one of the Governor's Schools
• Participate in one of the All-State Musical Organizations
• Be selected as a National Merit Finalist or Semi-Finalist   
• Attain a score of 31 or higher composite on the ACT
• Attain a 3 or higher on at least two advanced placement exams.
• Successfully complete the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program
• Earn 12 or more semester hours of transcript college credit. 

Students who score at or above all of their subject readiness benchmarks on the ACT will graduate with honors.  The benchmark set for each test is English-18, Math-22, Reading-21, and Science-24.

Advanced Placement (AP) [https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/] classes are high school classes in which a student may test for college credit. Tests are given in May after coursework completion. Scores range from 1-5 and each college has its own rules about which score provides college credit (e.g. – Columbia State may accept a 3 or higher to earn credit for the course, whereas UTK would only accept a 4 or higher). Students should challenge themselves to take, and succeed, in an AP class as it is an excellent opportunity to expand your knowledge AND get credit for a college class.

Dual Enrollment provides the opportunity for 11^th and 12^th grade students to earn college credit by attending a college class while still attending high school. In order to learn about dual enrollment, please visit the college’s website to learn how to apply. There are several common college links below.

Columbia State 

Austin Peay 

Important Dual Enrollment Information

Dual enrollment students are eligible for a grand via the Dual Enrollment Grant Program.  Please visit the link for more information about applying for the grant. **Please note that students must have been a Tennessee resident for 1 year prior to receiving the grant. Students must maintain a 2.75 GPA in their Dual Enrollment classes to retain eligibility for the grant.**

The grant is a “stand alone” program. Hours attempted and grades earned have no impact on the student’s TN HOPE eligibility.

Students taking any Dual Enrollment class should discuss with a College/University Admissions Counselor to find out whether the course will transfer to the College or University they plan to attend.