Driver Education

Drivers Ed Contact at NWCCA is:

Megan Walter, Dean of Students

email: mwalter@wcpss.net

Office Phone (919) 694-8650 ext. 29092

Mobile Phone (919) 710-1604

Drivers Information for Parents

Wakefield High School Schedule & Application

DRIVER ELIGIBILITY CERTIFICATE (DEC) INFORMATION

 

Process for Obtaining a Driver’s Eligibility Certificate (Students and Families)

Please keep in mind that DECs are only valid for 30 days; to save time it is best to schedule an appointment with the DMV prior to receiving the DEC from the school.

Parents and/or students will email  Audrey Lee (anlee@wcpss.net) to schedule an appointment to receive the DEC.  You will receive the date/time you can come to the high school to receive the DEC via email using the email initially used by student/parent.

Once your appointment is confirmed with the high school, the following steps will be taken:

Step 1: Scan or take a photo of the completed Driver’s Education Certificate and email to the designated contact at the school.

This will limit the amount of paper that has to be exchanged by staff and students.  If you are unable to scan or take a photo of the document, then you will need to bring it with you to the appointment.

Step 2: Bring the following documents to the appointment: 

  • Student’s birth certificate or passport
  • Completed Driver’s Education Certificate (if it has not been emailed ahead of time)   
  • Proof of address if the current address is different than the one listed on the Driver’s Education Certificate or the address listed in PowerSchool.  Address must be verified for the NC Real ID.

Step 3: Receiving the DEC

Once you arrive for your appointment, staff will direct you to the location to receive the DEC.

It is important that we limit the amount of direct contact and maintain at least 6 feet of social distance.  For this reason, please limit the number of family members (preferably just the student and a parent or guardian) who attend the appointment.

Staff will check the student’s grades for adequate progress.  The student must have passed 70% of the courses taken in the prior semester in order to receive a DEC.

Once grades have been verified and all other documents are in place, the DEC can be issued to the student.

 

  • The goal of the Wake County Public School System and its driver education contractor, Jordan Driving School (JDS), is to provide a quality driver education program to all students in a safe and timely manner. The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires 30 hours of classroom instruction and six hours of behind-the-wheel training. The average time to complete the Driver Education class, from registration through the classroom and driving phases, is four months. Students wanting their permits by age 15 must register on or before the age of 14 years, eight months. Students with extracurricular activities or jobs may take longer due to conflicts with scheduling driver education.

    There are no academic requirements in order to take the driver education class. There are academic requirements in order to apply for a permit or license after finishing the driver education class.

    Students should complete and submit a registration form. Once students are assigned to a class, they will be notified to pay the $65.00 fee in order to finalize their registration. Students that are dismissed from driver education class due to behavior or attendance problems will not be allowed to take driver education a second time through the Wake County Public School System.

    Parents are highly encouraged to attend a parent-teen meeting, held on the last day of the classroom session for driver education students. This meeting will inform parents and students of behind-the-wheel procedures and provide best practices for parents teaching teens to drive.  Attending parents will receive a Parent-Teen Driver Training Manual and DVD designed to give parents proper driving techniques and lessons, to help themselves and their teen, during Phase 1 of graduated licensing.

    Registration information

    You must be 14½ years of age for the required 30-hour classroom portion. Driver Education is offered through a private contractor, Jordan Driving School, after school hours, Saturdays, holiday breaks and during summer months. Driver Education is offered to each eligible student residing within Wake County, who pays a $65 fee to register for a class. A lead teacher at each of the WCPSS high schools is assigned to administer the Driver Education program.

    Additional information

    For additional information, a message may be left for the lead teacher, who will return the call as soon as possible. You may also call Jordan Driving School, or visit their web site at www.jordandriving.com. On the website you will find general information, email addresses for the lead teachers, specific classroom dates and a list of additional classes that might be available. For Behind the Wheel questions or information specific to your school, contact your lead teacher.

Sign up for Driver Ed

Contact the lead Driver Education teacher at your school. Check the main office for registration forms.