Admissions FAQs

•  When was WCS founded?
WCS was founded in 1928.

•  How many students are enrolled?
There are approximately 550 students enrolled this school year in preschool-grade 12.

•  From where do students come?
Students in the United States come from 39 cities and towns in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, along with nine international students.

•  Is WCS accredited?
Whitinsville Christian School has been fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) since 1993.

•  Do students take standardized tests?
Although students at WCS do not participate in MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) testing they do take standardized tests which vary according to their grade level.  Students in grades K-5 take the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test in spring.  In grades 3-8, students take the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills in the fall.  Additionally, many students in grades 6-8 are eligible to take the SAT or ACT at these early grades through the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth (CTY). Of those students eligible, a number take the SATs or ACTs in grades 6-8 each year.  Grade 11 and some Grade 10 students take the PSAT; students in Grade 12 and some Grade 11 students take the SAT.

•  What texts are used and how are they chosen?
WCS attempts to procure the best curricula available to our teachers.  Teachers are our “living curriculum” and textbooks are part of that curriculum.  Teachers are trained in their specific curriculum and use textbooks as part of a wide range of curriculum sources.  Not all disciplines utilize curriculum produced by Christian publishers.  When choosing new texts the teacher(s) must present his/her/their ideas to a faculty panel first.  Following approval by the panel, the text is presented to the administration for approval.

•  To which colleges do WCS seniors receive acceptance?
Seniors are accepted at a wide variety of public and private colleges and universities throughout the country, representing a range of interests and career goals.  A representative listing of college acceptances from 2005-2009 can be found under High School in the Academics section of the website.

•  What college prep/AP course work is available in high school?
All of our high school courses are college prep.  Typically, our regular courses are equivalent to most schools’ college prep or honors programs.  We currently offer two AP courses in our mainstream curriculum (Calculus, Advanced Literature and Composition).  The goal of the Education Committee and high school faculty is to add two more AP courses to our curriculum within the next three years.  We also offer Virtual High School (VHS) to most high school students.  VHS features every AP course offered by the College Board.

•  Are honors courses available to middle school students?
Although there are no official honors courses in the middle school, Virtual High School courses for middle school students are available for those who are able to excel and work independently.  These courses vary from year to year and are studied independently by the students, most often at home or during a study hall if such time is available to the student.  Math Olympiad, a challenging international math program also available to middle school students, meets one day after school each week from November through March.  8th grade students who are advanced in math and who meet the requirements are able to either take an Algebra 8 class or join an Algebra 9 class in place of our usual pre Algebra 8 math class.  Students in grade 6–8, who meet the academic requirements set up by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth, are eligible to take early SATs or ACTs while at WCS.  Doing well on either of these tests allows the middle school students opportunities to take part in academically challenging camps and classes provided by universities across the country in a variety of subject areas.

•  What assistance is provided for students with learning needs and challenges?
In our elementary school, students can receive assistance in reading and mathematics through our Discovery Program.  Those students requiring assistance go to the Discovery Program classrooms during the normal reading or math time in their home classroom.  For students in middle school and high school who are eligible to have classroom accommodations, 504 Plans are written through our Discovery Program.  Teachers work with these students and adhere to the accommodations in our regular classrooms agreed upon with the parents of the children.  Specific tutoring may be required for students along with classroom instruction.  The tutoring can take place at school and during the school day, but there is an added tutor fee paid directly to the tutor by the parents since the school does not hire the tutors.  Parents may also arrange for tutors of their choice outside of the school building.  When scheduling allows, classroom teachers may also work with students in their subject area. This may take place before school, during a study hall, or after school.  The mutual availability of the student and teacher determines the day and time this takes place.

•  What co-curricular and extracurricular activities are available in academics, the arts, athletics, and other areas?
Students at Whitinsville Christian are encouraged to actively engage in their education both in the classroom and outside of it.  To promote this environment, there are a wide variety of activities available to students.  They can be found under the Academics, Arts, and Athletics sections of the website..

•  What are the opportunities for spiritual growth?
Opportunities for spiritual growth include Bible classes, devotions (including prayer and devotional time), spiritual mentoring by Christian teachers and coaches, Godly modeling by staff and coaching staff, chapel, the required service hours program in the high school, Crusader Outreach, Spiritual Emphasis week, and the integration of faith into every content area in our curriculum.

•  What measures are taken to help ensure student safety?
A number of measures are taken to ensure the safety of students at WCS.  During the summer of 2010, a security system with video cameras and electronic access was installed.  In addition, students regularly participate in lock-down and evacuation drills.  A detailed evacuation plan is in place which outlines specific steps to be taken in the event that the school building must be evacuated.  The playground is monitored at all times and any incident is reported immediately.

Parent/Student Handbook

•  Is there a policy on bullying?
Every student in the WCS community has the right to flourish in an environment of support, empathy, and sensitivity to our differences.  For this reason, bullying and harassment are not tolerated and an anti-bullying policy has been in place at WCS for several years.  As part of the elementary curriculum, students participate in the Open Circle social and emotional learning program several times each week.  Details of the bullying/harassment policy can be found on pages 17 and 18 of the .

Parent/Student Handbook

•  Do students wear uniforms?
Students are not required to wear uniforms.  WCS relies on the involvement of parents to see that their children appear at school wearing neat, clean, and modest apparel.  General guidelines that students must follow while on campus are outlined on pages 19 and 20 of the .

Preschool hours are M, W, F 8:30-11:30 a.m. for four year olds, and T, Th 8:30-11:30 a.m. for three year olds.  For students in grades K-12 school begins at 7:55 a.m. and ends at 2:35 p.m.

•  What are the school day hours?

School calendar

•  Where can I find the school calendar?
The is published online under the Resources section of the website.

Lunch menu

•  Is there a lunch program?
A five-day-a-week lunch program is available during the school year, usually beginning a few weeks after the first day of school and ending a week or two before the last day of school.  A is published on the school website.  The lunch program is optional, and a student may bring his or her own lunch on any day.  Students eat lunch in their classrooms, rather than in a cafeteria.

•  Do you have busing for students?
Busing is available for students who reside in the town of Northbridge, of which Whitinsville is a part – see Bus Information under the Resources section of the website.  Current school families make arrangements with each other to carpool, and the school can help new families make connections with current families in order to arrange carpools.

•  Are service hours required of students?
Students at Whitinsville Christian School are being prepared for lives of service to God and to others, and service is therefore a key component of their education.  While there are many opportunities for service at all grade levels, service hours are required only in grades 9-12 through the Helping Hands program.  Some examples of recent service activities at school are Operation Christmas Child, Pennies for Peace, Pink Ribbon Night, food pantry collections, and fundraising for a school in Leogane, Haiti, to be completely rebuilt.

•  Are there opportunities for parental involvement?
There are many opportunities for parent involvement so parents are encouraged to take an active role in the school community.  Parents can volunteer in the lunch program, at Trea$ures Upscale Thrift Shop, at the service auction, and in many more areas, and/or can serve on various committees.  In addition parents may be asked to serve as chaperones for school events under the guidance of the administration.

•  Is financial assistance available?
Tuition assistance is available through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP).  Last school year, approximately 15% of the student body received financial assistance, and the average award was $1,250.  In addition, families can participate in the Tuition Reduction Incentive Program (TRIP), which helps parents reduce their tuition obligation through the purchase of gift cards and certificates to a wide variety of restaurants, supermarkets, gas stations, clothing stores, and home improvement centers.