Challenge Test Information

First Steps: Are You Eligible to Apply?

Before you can think about which course to choose, we need to make sure you are eligible to apply. Think of this as the essential first checkpoint. Answer the two questions below to see if you can proceed.

Question 1: Are you currently enrolled in the course being requested?This means you cannot be sitting in the class you are challenging. If your answer to Question 1 is Yes, I am enrolled in the course, your application will not be approved. You do not need to proceed further.

Question 2: Have you already passed this class or received credit from an accredited school or district that uses proctored finals?

This means you have already earned a passing grade (D or higher) from a school that CUSD recognizes as equivalent—specifically, an accredited institution that uses supervised, proctored final exams. If your answer to Question 2 is Yes, your application will not be approved.

However, if you answered "No" to both questions, congratulations! You have cleared the first step. Now, it is time to figure out the correct path.

Finding Your Path: What's Your Reason for Taking the Test?

The next step is to identify your goal. There are three main reasons, or "paths," for taking a Challenge Test, and the rules for each are very different.

Acceleration: For students who want to earn credit for a course they have never taken before.

Content Knowledge (Pass/Fail): For students transferring credit from a Non-CUSD Online School, a Non-Accredited Institution, or a Home School program.

Grade Replacement/Credit Recovery: For students who have previously failed a core class and need to earn the credit.

Who this is for

This path is for students who have studied a subject on their own and want to earn both the grade and credit without sitting through the class. Remember, you cannot have a previous grade from this course on your transcript.

How It Works and What's at Stake

• The Grade is Permanent: Whatever grade you earn on the test (from an 'A' to an 'F'), will be placed on your official transcript.  
• Improving Your Grade: You can only take the test once. As a result, the only way to replace or improve a grade earned on an Acceleration Challenge Test is by re-taking the entire course.

Key Takeaway for Acceleration: This is a high-stakes path. Your test score becomes your permanent class grade, so be certain you have mastered the material.

Who this is for

This path is for students who have already taken a course through a non-traditional school (i.e., a non-CUSD online school, a non-accredited school, or through homeschooling). This test is used to validate the non-traditional credit for CUSD. It is important to note that for this path, the grade from the challenge test is not placed on your transcript.

How It Works: Validating Your Grade

This test is Pass/Fail only. The number score you get on the test itself does not go on your transcript. The test simply acts as a key to unlock the credit you already earned elsewhere. Passing is defined as a score of 60% or higher.

The table below uses the example of a student who earned an 'A' in Algebra I from an online school like Primavera.

Key Takeaway for Content Knowledge: This test isn't about getting a new grade; it's about proving you know the material so that your grade from another school can count as a core credit at CUSD.

Who this is for

This path is exclusively for students who have previously failed a core class and want a second chance to earn the credit without retaking the entire course.

A Critical Distinction: Who is NOT Eligible

You cannot use this path to improve a passing grade. If you already have a passing grade (like a "D") and received credit, you are not eligible for this option.

Key Takeaway for Grade Replacement: This is a lifeline for credit recovery after failing a class. This is not a tool for improving a grade you are not satisfied with.

Step 1: Once you've determined your eligibility and your path, the last step is to complete the application form with your counselor.Step 2: The application will require a Parent/Guardian Signature.Step 3: Counselors will submit the application for high school administration approval (required signatures). Your counselor will also sign the application.Step 4: Once the required signatures are obtained, the application is submitted to the CUSD Assessment Office for final approval. Step 5: If the application is approved, the CUSD Assessment Office will inform your counselor.Step 6: You will be notified by your counselor for approval, denial, and scheduling the Challenge Test.