SSA is an acceleration option offered to all students who qualify. Per WCPSS and the district set guidelines, SSA participation requires testing
and specific qualifying criteria.
SSA Parent Information Presentation
***New Students to WCPSS
Beginning with the 2025-2026 academic year, NEWLY enrolled and NEWLY attending WCPSS students will have the opportunity to participate in Fall SSA Testing. This opportunity is only for students in first - seventh grades.
They must start this process within the first two weeks of enrollment/attendance. Fall testing is only available within the first two weeks of enrollment or before the end of the 1st quarter, whichever comes first. Students enrolling after the first quarter will have to wait until the Spring testing window
-Spring 2026 - Test Request Google Form Link- Activated in April
- NCDPI ELA Standard Course of Study
-NCDPI Math Standard Course of Study
Students will be tested for SSA placement for the 2026-2027 school year during the testing windows indicated below. No requests for testing outside these windows will be accepted.
Test Request Windows
March - NO EXCEPTIONS
Testing Windows:
Students who qualify will grade skip in either Math or ELA.
Students who are already SSA do not need to retest. Their current SSA services will follow them to the next grade level. Students who will be in grade 5 and who will be taking grade 6 classes will receive their instruction through an online class.
SSA instruction is provided by a 1st - 5th grade teacher or via an online module program for Six Plus/Seven Plus Math - North Carolina Virtual Public School
SSA testing only occurs once a year. The county sets all testing windows and testing criteria.
SSA is not AIG. SSA is an acceleration option provided by the county and is a separate and completely different program from AIG.
WGA is an acceleration option offered to all students who qualify. Per WCPSS and the district set guidelines,WGA participation requires meeting county criteria.
WGA Nomination is NOT intended to measure how your student is currently performing in their grade.
This option should be considered only if you believe your student is performing at the top of the next grade level—or even two grades above. Your student’s teacher can provide valuable data and insights regarding your child’s academic performance to help guide this decision
WGA students consistently perform 1-2 grade levels above his or her current grade level in all academic areas
Performance at this higher level is demonstrated both in rote skills (reading words, fluency and math calculation) and most importantly, in academic application (reading comprehension, retelling, written language, math application and problem solving).
There is a process to follow and required portfolio components that must be met in order to participate in WGA.
Visit the website linked below to access the most current information about EKE
Pay careful attention to the parent packet that is linked on the website. The first few pages review the timeline for EKE and the requirements.
In order for a child to be considered for Early Kindergarten Entry (EKE) a child must be 4 years old by April 16th of the current year.
Wake County Public School System considers EKE to be equivalent to Whole Grade Advancement or the skipping of a grade.
A candidate for EKE must show advanced development in intellectual, academic, social and emotional maturity in addition to an interest in learning.
A child must score at the 98th percentile or higher on a standardized intelligence battery administered by a licensed psychologist or licensed psychological associate in order to be considered for the EKE program.
The child must also perform at or above the 98th percentile on a standardized reading or math achievement battery. If the standardized scores do not rank at the 98th percentile or higher on the intelligence and either the reading or math achievement battery, the EKE packet will not be forwarded to the child’s base school for review and the child will not be considered a candidate for Early Kindergarten Entry.
WCPSS does not provide recommendations for psychologists or psychological associates who conduct intelligence and achievement evaluations. Your child’s pediatrician or health insurance representative may be able to recommend providers. Please ask the psychologist or psychological associate who will be working with your child to refer to the EKE Required Documents (included in this packet) to ensure that the necessary information is collected.
Parents are responsible for the cost of the evaluations.