WCPSS Families,

All high school students are strongly encouraged to take their exams and do their best. The exam is an opportunity to share what students have learned and to increase their final semester grades.  

We would like to share information regarding the scoring and administration of high school exams for the fall semester.  Currently, your high school student will take EOCs and CTE Post-Assessments in person at their respective school.  All teacher-made exams will be taken virtually. 

Scoring Flexibility on EOCs and CTE Post-Assessments

The state of North Carolina is allowing local school districts flexibility in grading structures for state exams, in light of the unprecedented challenges our students have faced.

Specifically, for End-of-Course (EOC) and CTE Post-Assessments, the WCPSS scoring plan will include: 

• Minimum Score of 60 on EOCs, CTE Post-Assessments. The grading scale for state assessments will include a minimum possible score of “60.” The goal of this is to ensure that each student’s work and the assessments by the teacher over the course of the semester as a whole will drive their final average in the course as opposed to a single assessment. As such, the lowest score that a student will receive in the gradebook so long as they at least sit for the test is a 60.
  
  

• Exam Score Will Only Serve to Improve - Not Lower - Course Average. If a student’s score on the state exam is lower than the combined average of Quarters 1 and 2, the student’s exam score will be curved to equal the student’s average grade for that particular course. For example, if a student has an “80” average for the course prior to the exam, then their lowest possible exam score would be an “80.” But any score higher than an “80” would be factored in, thereby improving the course average. So in that sense a student can only improve their grade by sitting for the test - it will not decrease in any case.
  
  The original, uncurved score and achievement level for the exam will be reflected on the high school transcript as it typically is.

Students who do not take state exams and have not submitted a medical exemption will receive an Incomplete (INC) for the course.  They will still have the opportunity to take the test through June 2021.

Medical Exemption Requests

When a student is unable to participate in a state assessment due to a significant medical emergency or health condition, the school may request a medical exception for the student. This may include a student with significant health concerns with taking their state exams in person at the school.  The state requires schools to submit supporting documentation along with the request. 

The state decision on medical exceptions (approved or denied) will have no bearing on the student’s grade.  Once a medical exception has been submitted, the grade will be determined by averaging the first- and second-quarter grades.

Please contact your child’s school with any questions regarding exam administration and scoring.