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Cary Tamil School (CTS) - Frequently Asked Questions
What are the school's hours of operation?
School hours for Tamil Language classes are from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, on Sundays except declared holidays by CTS. CTS welcomes everyone in the community. Our students come from all backgrounds, such as families from Tamilnadu, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore and many people who have no Tamil connection at all, but want to learn the language and culture.
How do I register my child?
Students are required to register each year. CTS is open to registration during the months of May / June; specific dates are announced on school website or via in-house communications. Registration during summer can be done by mail. Registration in May is for current students only, but some exceptions may apply. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information.
How much is the tuition?
Tuition for Tamil language classes is very reasonable and can be found on the registration form found on this page
Can my child start in the middle of the school year?
CTS do not recommend students start in the mid term. However, some exceptions may apply. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for details.
What is CTS Tuition Fee refund policy?
CTS allows for refunds each year. You may be eligible for a full or partial refund based on dates published in the school calendar.
On the registration form, there is a $50 service deposit, is it refundable?
CTS encourages and needs volunteer. CTS will refund the $50 service deposit if you could volunteer at school certain times( determined by the total students) per year.
Why did I not receive $50 service fee refund last year?
You did not receive the refund because (1) you did not sign up for volunteer duties, or (2) you did not fulfill your assigned duties. To ensure service fee refund, please see CTS Principal for volunteer assignments. Full refund will be given to those who have fulfilled their duties. Partial refund will not be considered.
How can I get involved as a volunteer at the school?
To volunteer or to learn about volunteer opportunities please contact the principal. Please click on the link Parent Volunteer Signup to sign up for volunteer services through Signup Genius.
What are the criteria for admission to CTS?
Applications will be considered for admission if an opening in a requested class is available. Current CTS students and their siblings are given priority for placement.
How do you determine placement?
Placement is usually determined by the students’ age and the level of fluency in Tamil language. CTS makes every effort to see that each student is in the best class for his/her situation.
Can my child be placed with a friend? Can I request a specific teacher?
CTS will do its best to accommodate these requests but cannot guarantee placement. Other factors must be considered.
Will my child automatically promote to the next level at the end of school year?
We want to ensure that each child is in the proper learning environment. Promotion to the next level is based on the teacher’s recommendations. Proficiency is the key determining factor.
How can I contact my child's classroom teacher?
The classroom teacher should provide their contact information on the first day of class.
Whom do I call to let someone know that my child will be absent from school?
You may call / email the teacher or the school Principal.
How do I find out about school closing/cancellations due to adverse weather conditions?
To learn about school closing please check the CTS website. CTS will follow WCPSS (Wake County Public School System) inclement weather policy. CTS will also let the parents know about school closing via email.
Avant Exam - Frequently Asked Questions
Updated on : 3/12/2022
1) What is Avant testing and why should the students take it?
Avant is a private organization that administers "standardized" language tests. Tamil is one of the languages that is tested by Avant.
Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) has offered to recognize Tamil Language curriculum offered by Cary Tamil School as a substitute for WCPSS' World Languages requirement - if the curriculum from Cary Tamil School is combined with an acceptable score in the test offered by Avant
2) What is the advantage of taking the test?
If students fulfill all the requirements (get the required score in Avant test, be in High school in WCPSS, and complete the required courses in Cary Tamil School) those students need not take any other foreign language courses in high school in WCPSS. The World Languages requirement to graduate from high school in WCPSS would be fulfilled by the combination of courses in Cary Tamil School and an acceptable score in the Avant test.
3) Who can take this test?
Current students of Cary Tamil School, who are in high school in WCPSS, and who have completed level 4A in Cary Tamil School can take this test
4) Is the test mandatory for 4A students?
No
5) Can this test be taken any time after 4A? If so, when should it be ideally taken?
The test can be taken if the following conditions are fulfilled:
a) The student is in high school in WCPSS
b) The student is a current student of Cary Tamil School
c) The student has completed level 4A in Cary Tamil School
Ideally, the test is taken after the student has completed grade 9 in WCPSS
6) Who will pay for the test?
If a child who fulfills the following three requirements wants to take the test, Cary Tamil School will pay for that child to take the test one time.
a) The student is in high school in WCPSS
b) The student is a current student of Cary Tamil School
c) The student has completed level 4A in Cary Tamil School
7) How much does it cost for the test?
Costs for the tests can be obtained from Avant's website
8) Is Tamil typing a must for taking the test?
Knowing how to type in Tamil is not mandatory for students to take this test. Students can also write their answers on paper.
9) Do we need to train the students to take this test?
Based on information available regarding the tests, it is the position of the Cary Tamil School that additional training will benefit the students intending to take this test.
10) How long does it take to take the test?
Even though there is no time limit imposed by Avant, Cary Tamil School expects a student to consume between three (3) and five (5) hours to take the test.
11) Is it a fixed duration test? If not, how long can we take to complete the test?
Even though there is no time limit imposed by Avant, Cary Tamil School expects a student to consume between three (3) and five (5) hours to take the test.
12) How many questions are asked?
Three questions for which answers should be typed or written; three additional questions for which answers should be said orally and recorded.
13) What is the passing score?
Novice Level II is the acceptable level for WCPSS to consider waiving the World Languages requirement for high school graduation
14) How many times can the test be taken?
Avant does not place a limitation on the number of times this test can be taken by a student.
15) Who will Proctor the test?
Cary Tamil School volunteers and/or teachers will Proctor the test
16) Is this an online only test?
The test is an online test. Answers can either be typed or written. Answers for the oral portion of the test need to be recorded and sent to Avant (online).
17) Will this test exempt you from fulfilling 2 years of foreign language requirement by NC State colleges?
Cary Tamil School has worked with WCPSS. Cary Tamil School has not had the same type of interactions with colleges in the state of North Carolina and thus is unable to answer this question.
18) If not, what should we do to get the exemption?
Cary Tamil School has worked with WCPSS. Cary Tamil School has not had the same type of interactions with colleges in the state of North Carolina and thus is unable to answer this question.
19) Is there an age limit to take the test?
There is no age limit to take the test
20) Is there a grade limit to take the test?
> 9th grade
21) Is there a practice test?
While Cary Tamil School is working to create a training curriculum to enable students to take this test well, there is no practice test at this time.