Credit by Demonstrated Mastery is the process approved by the North Carolina State Board of Education  by which Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools (WS/FCS) shall, based upon a body of evidence, award a student credit in a particular course without requiring the student to complete classroom instruction for a certain amount of seat time for the purpose of accelerating and moving into more advanced courses. “Mastery” is defined as a student’s command of course material at a level that demonstrates a deep understanding of the content standards and application of knowledge.

 Students will complete two phases for the application- Phase 1 is an examination; students who pass this exam can then move to Phase 2, which is completion of an artifact which demonstrates the student’s ability to apply the course knowledge through a real-world application.

Credit by Demonstrated Mastery is available to all North Carolina Public Schools students in grades 9-12 and to middle school students (6-8) for high school courses (e.g. Math I) that are offered in middle school.

Students shall demonstrate mastery through a two-phase assessment process.  

Phase 1 includes the completion of an assessment such as an End-of-Course (EOC) exam or a North Carolina Final Exam (NCFE). Students must score at Level 5 on an EOC or get 90% or more correct on an NCFE or CTE exam. Students then move to Phase 2 if they have successfully completed Phase 1.

Phase 2 includes the successful completion of an Artifact process that demonstrates a deep understanding of the content standards and the ability to apply their skills and knowledge related to these standards.

The application window for spring has now closed. The deadline for applying for Spring CDM is January 23, 2023. Please check back for upcoming dates for summer.

Please complete this Application Form to apply.

WSFCS students are able to seek CDM in 3 windows throughout the school year.  Please check back for upcoming dates for summer.

Yes, but only for those courses offered at other high schools/middle schools within WS/FCS.  CDM is not available for courses which are not available within the district.

Students may earn CDM credit for most regular level high school courses.  

The courses below are excluded from the CDM process:

• Career and Technical Education (CTE) work-based learning courses (co-op, internship, apprenticeship)
• CTE courses that have a clinical setting as a requirement of the course, such as ProStart, Early Childhood Education I/II and Nursing Fundamentals
• CTE Advanced Studies courses or any course without state technical standards
• English Language Learner (ELL) courses
• Healthful Living required courses
• AP/IB Courses

No. The CDM process can only be completed for regular level courses.  CDM credits are awarded as a pass/fail and therefore do not impact a student’s grade point average.

When courses are taught in a predetermined sequence, a student may only apply for CDM for the next course in the sequence.  For example, a student who has not taken NC Math 1 would not be permitted to receive CDM credit for NC Math 2.

CDM credits are awarded as CDM in the gradebook, essentially like a “pass”, and will appear as such on the student’s transcript. No course grade is received and the course is not included in the GPA calculation.

Students and parents are advised to seek guidance from their school counselor or teacher on courses available in CDM including advancing the curriculum, effects on GPA and quality points, effects on athletic and extra-curricular activities, high school Diploma Endorsements, opportunities for early graduation, and effects on college enrollment.

Your school counselor may answer questions about the CDM process or you can contact Penny Martin plmartin@wsfcs.k12.nc.us in the Advanced Learning Department.