Frequently Asked Questions

There are approximately 644 students enrolled this school year in preschool-grade 12.

Students in the United States come from 44 communities in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. We also welcome a number of long-term international students from various countries.

Whitinsville Christian School has been fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) since 1993. We are currently in the process of reaccreditation, which should be completed by the end of 2023.

Although students at WCS do not participate in Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) testing, they do take standardized tests which vary according to their grade level. Students in grades K-5 take the STAR Reading and Math Assessments on a regular basis. Students in grades 6-8 participate in Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) testing. Eighth grade students also take the High School Placement Test (HSPT) at the end of 8th grade in place of the final MAP test.

Students in grades 10 and 11 are expected to take the PSAT; students in grades 11 and 12 take the SAT and/or ACT. Students enrolled in AP courses take the AP exams at the end of the academic year.

98-100% of graduating seniors attend college after their time at WCS. 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.

Our high school course levels include College-Prep, Honors, and AP. Typically, our regular courses are equivalent to most schools’ college prep or honors programs. We currently offer nine AP courses (Art Studio 2D, Art Studio 3D, English Language and Composition, English Literature, World History: Modern, Government and Politics, U.S. History, Calculus AB, and Biology) and additional Honors courses (Biology, Chemistry, Contemporary Literature,  English 9 and 10, Spanish 1 and 2, Geometry, Algebra 1 and 2, Anatomy and Physiology, Geometry, Algebra 1 and 2, and Precalculus) in our mainstream curriculum. We also offer Virtual High School (VHS) courses to our high school students which features every AP course offered by the College Board.

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 here.

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

A number of measures are taken to ensure the safety of students at WCS including recent upgrades of our security system with video cameras and electronic access. In addition, faculty, staff, and students regularly participate in safety drills coordinated by the School Resource Officer of the Northbridge Police Department. A detailed evacuation plan is in place which outlines specific steps to be taken in the event that the school building must be evacuated. WCS has a full-time school nurse on staff and many faculty and staff members are CPR certified, including training in the use of the AEDs on site. The playground is monitored at all times and any incident is reported immediately.

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 Social Thinking Curriculum promoting social and emotional learning several times each week. Details of the bullying/harassment policy can be found in the WCS Guidebook.

For students in grades K-12 school begins at 7:50 a.m. and ends at 2:40 p.m. Preschool has a morning only option for three-year olds from 8:30 - 11:30. A full day of preschool runs from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. with options for 2, 3, or 5 day programs. 

Click here for the school year calendar.

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. 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.

Busing is available for students who reside in the town of Northbridge. School families often make arrangements with each other to carpool, and the school can help new families make connections with current families in order to arrange carpools.

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. Service hours can be earned at many WCS functions, or with outside activities. High school students also participate in one or two days of service during the school day throughout the year.

Parent involvement is encouraged as an opportunity for parents to be involved in their child's education while serving the school, as well as a means for building community. The following are some opportunities for parent involvement, but there are many more: Apple Pie fundraiser, Auction, Booster Club, Classroom Helper, Field Trip Chaperone, Library, Lunch Ministry, and Treasures Upscale Thrift Store.

Tuition assistance is available through the Tuition Assistance Program (TAP). 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, home improvement centers, and more.