Single Subject Acceleration

  • Single Subject Acceleration (SSA) is the practice of assigning a student to a higher-grade level than is typical, given the student's age, for the purpose of providing access to appropriately challenging learning opportunities in either math or english/language arts. ​SSA is an accelerative practice that allows students to show mastery of content of​ select elementary or middle school courses​ without having taken the course.
     
    ​During specified nomination windows parents or teachers can nominate students to skip a grade level of content in either English Language Arts ​OR​ Mathematics. ​Students may only be nominated and assessed for SSA in ONE subject area.
     
    ​Mark your calendars, as nominations will only be received by your child's school during the open Nomination Window for your child's calendar.
     
    Nomination Windows officially close at the end of the school day on March 22nd 2021.
     
    Is your child a good candidate for SSA?

    • Consider your child's social and emotional maturity. Your child will be taking classes with peers who may be older or they will be working on their own.

    • Consider your child's organizational skills and ability to focus.

    • Your child will be skipping an entire year's worth of content and background knowledge. The AIG teacher and homeroom teachers are not responsible for covering any content your child skipped as a result of receiving SSA services.

    • If your child qualifies for SSA in math or ELA in elementary or middle school, some courses take place online. During the school day, students participate in these courses. Though they are not self-paced, students work independently during their online lessons.

    • In order to ensure your child receives the classes in the area where SSA is taking place, it may result in schedule adjustments where recess, lunch and/or specials may be with different grade levels or classes than what is assigned.

    • If you have any school related questions or concerns, please communicate with the SSA Contact at your child's school to discuss this request.

    Single Subject Acceleration Website

    Contact Ms. Booker at mdbooker@wcpss.net  or 919-662-2359

  • Students meeting qualifying criteria in grades K-7 can take advanced academic content in mathematics or English Language Arts through Single Subject Acceleration (SSA). This ensures opportunities for appropriate levels of academic challenge. Only students who are currently enrolled and attending a WCPSS school during the open nomination and testing window are eligible to be considered for SSA.

    Test Request Deadlines

    Test Requests for the 2023-24 school year must be submitted during your school’s calendar request window.

    • Leadership Academies, Modified, and Year-Round Tracks 1 and 3:  February 21 - March 5, 2024
    • Year-Round Track 4: March 11 - March 22, 2024
    • Traditional Calendar and Year-Round Track 2: April 1 - April 12, 2024

    Testing Windows

    Students will test for SSA placement for the 2024-25 school year during the testing windows indicated below. Requests for testing outside these windows will not be accepted. 

    • Leadership Academies, Modified, and Year-Round Tracks 1 and 3:  April 1 - April 12, 2024
    • Traditional Calendar and Year-Round Tracks 2 and 4:  April 22 - May 6, 2024


    Your request for testing must be documented and provided to the SSA Coordinator at your school. The request must clearly indicate which one subject you wish for your student to be tested. Contact your school’s SSA Coordinator for more information regarding this process.

    2023-24 Test Request Form (ESP) - Available in January 2024.