Charlotte Area Independent Admissions Testing
CAIS Admissions Testing Schedule Update
All available 2027–2028 CAIS admissions testing appointments with Dr. Lisa Pennington have now been reserved. Families seeking an appointment may refer to the CAIS Brochure available on this website for a list of other participating psychologists. This update applies only to CAIS admissions testing. Carolina Minds continues to accept inquiries for other services.
Dr. Lisa Pennington is a member of the Charlotte Area Independent Admissions (CAIS) assessment team and specializes in administering cognitive assessments for admissions.
Testing Information: Standardized cognitive assessments are administered to evaluate each child's readiness and potential for success in school programs.
Applicants to JK/TK, Kindergarten, or 1st Grade: The Wechsler Preschool & Primary Scale of Intelligence—Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV) will be individually administered. Appointments generally last 45 to 60 minutes.
*Families may schedule an appointment before a child turns four; however, testing must occur on or after the child’s fourth birthday.Applicants to 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Grade: The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children—Fifth Edition (WISC-V) will be individually administered. Appointments typically last 60 to 90 minutes.
*Note: not all psychologists schedule the WISC-V.
Application and Testing Deadlines
TK/JK/Kindergarten:
Application Deadline: January 2, 2027
Testing Deadline: February 1, 2027
Grades 1 - 4:
Application Deadline: January 15, 2027
Testing Deadline: February 26, 2027
Testing may occur after the applicable application deadline but must be completed by the applicable CAIS testing deadline unless CAIS authorizes an extension.
Previous Testing
At least 12 months must have elapsed between a previous administration of the WISC-V or WPPSI-IV and the new testing date. The interval is calculated from the date the previous assessment was administered, not the report date.
Families should provide the psychologist with the date and type of any previous cognitive assessment before scheduling.
Initial Scheduling Week: Due to the high volume of appointments expected when the scheduling calendar opens, families who reserve an appointment between September 8 and September 14, 2026, will have seven days from the date of scheduling to complete all required forms and payment. This temporary extension allows our office time to process each Prospective Patient Form and send the required CAIS documents and MYIO portal instructions. Your child’s appointment will remain reserved during this seven-day period. If we do not receive the required forms and payment within seven days, we may release the appointment.
Standard Fees and Payment: The fee for CAIS admission testing is $300.00. This fee includes test administration, preparation of the standard CAIS documentation, and electronic delivery of results to the child’s parent(s)/guardian(s) and the CAIS schools authorized to receive them.
Payment is required within 24 hours after scheduling.
Families who prefer to pay by check should make arrangements with the psychologist in advance. A one-week payment period may be provided for check payments.
Payments for appointments scheduled after January 1, 2027 are nonrefundable.
Families seeking financial assistance with testing fees should contact the admissions staff at the CAIS schools to which the child is applying.
Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy
Emergencies & Illness:
If a family emergency or illness arises, please contact our office as soon as possible. We are happy to reschedule your appointment under these circumstances, and no fee will be charged.Rescheduling with Notice:
If you need to change your appointment for any other reason, please notify our office at least 72 hours in advance. We will gladly reschedule your appointment at no additional cost.For Monday appointments, notice must be given by the preceding Wednesday.
Cancellations & Refunds:
Once payment is made, a nonrefundable $100 fee applies to all cancellations.Per CAIS guidelines, cancellations made within 72 hours of your appointment are not eligible for a refund.
Unforeseen Circumstances:
If an unexpected situation arises within 72 hours of your appointment, please contact our office immediately to discuss possible rescheduling options.
Additional Information:
An optional parent feedback session is available if you would like further insight into your child’s performance and assessment results. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We look forward to assisting you through this process.
