Credit By Exam

The State Board of Education has established procedures to allow elementary students to “skip” one grade level by taking a series of exams which assess the Texas Essential Knowledge/Skills (TEKS) established for that grade level. Parents interested in having their children screened for credit-by-exam should contact their school counselor. If the school is unable to answer a question, please email the Testing Office at [email protected].

Students in grades K-5 will have four opportunities during the school year to use “credit-by-exam” to accelerate to another grade level. Students will only have one opportunity to test for each grade level considered.

Summer testing

Testing will be conducted in a districtwide setting.
For fifth grade students who want to skip subjects in grade 6, follow the application procedures and timeline for middle school.

Fall and Spring Testing

Students will be tested at their campus during the first two weeks of school to accelerate for the current school year. Grade placement will be made by the end of the first two weeks. Testing after the first two week window has closed, will be for acceleration the following school year only.
Students may be tested at their campus in November/December or in February to accelerate for the upcoming school year. Grade placement will be made at the beginning of the following school year.
Testing will begin with mathematics, followed by reading/language arts and science, if required. 80% mastery on each test is required for advanced placement to occur.
Campus testing will be administered by campus personnel.

To skip Kindergarten:

To be eligible for Credit-by-Exam, kindergarten students must be 5 on or before September 1 and registered in CFISD. Additional criteria to be considered are noted below.

Completed kindergarten in a private school in Texas or public school out-of-state; or
Parent request

Note: To skip kindergarten, students' scores on the credit-by-exam tests will be examined to see if advanced placement criteria have been met. Students who meet the criteria - [score of 80% or better on each subtest of the exam] - may advance one grade level.

To skip Grade 1:

To be eligible for Credit-by-Exam, first grade students must be 6 on or before September 1 and enrolled in CFISD. Additional criteria to be considered are noted below.

Demonstrate above-level achievement on the end-of-year kindergarten benchmarks given in May; or
Be formally identified as Gifted/Talented [HORIZONS]; or
Parent request

To skip Grades 2-5:

Criteria to be considered are noted below.

Work on grade level with A’s in language arts/social studies, math, and science; or
Be formally identified as Gifted/Talented [HORIZONS]; or
Score at the 90%ile in both reading and math on any standardized test; or
Parent request

Note: To skip grades 1-5, students' scores on the credit-by-exam tests will be examined to see if advanced placement criteria have been met. Students who meet the criteria - [score of 80% or better on each subtest of the exam] - may advance one grade level.

ELEMENTARY Administrations

Please reach out to your campus counselor for more information regarding credit by exam.

November 30 – December 4, 2020 (registration closed)
February 1 – 12, 2021 (registration deadline January 25 to campus counselor)
June 9, 2021 (registration deadline May 28 to campus counselor)
July 20, 2021 (registration deadline May 28th to campus counselor)

Middle School & High School ADMINISTRATIONS

Students who wish to take a middle school or high school administration of credit by exam need to contact their campus counselor to review course requirements prior to signing up for a credit by exam.

Please visit the campus website for counselor contact information.

January 12, 2021 (registration due January 5 to campus counselor)
February 16, 2021 (registration due February 2 to campus counselor)
March 9, 2021 (registration due February 23 to campus counselor)
April 20, 2021 (registration due April 6 to campus counselor)
May 25, 2021 (registration due May 11 to campus counselor)