Hardly anything is traditional anymore — including college degree journeys.
While Lenoir County Early College High School gives eighth graders a chance to earn a degree and diploma in five years, it doesn’t give its students a typical high school experience — like cheering for sports teams, because they don’t have any.
It still works for them.
“It’s a good experience,” junior Brian Washington, 17, said. “I was stuck between choosing North Lenoir and Early College, and I figured this would be easier since it’s a smaller environment.”
He said he worried about missing his friends from Contentnea-Savannah K-8 School, but the small population housed at Lenoir Community College opened a wide door of companionship.
“Gradually, I just started getting to know people,” Washington said. “Everyone is like a family now.”
During a recruiting open house Saturday, families will be able to peer into the Early College’s program and decide whether they want to send their eighth grader to the school.
Administration usually hosts two events each year to fill only 40 slots, using one for parents and the other to visit middle schools and gain interest.
“(Early College) is a more rigorous academic experience, it’s more writing intensive,” Principal Jason Miller said. “Students get the opportunity to, during their freshman year, start taking community college classes.”
He said some advantages of the school include a smaller class size, averaging 15 students per room, and waived tuition.
“It’s at no cost to the parents or students including books,” he said. “The purpose of this is not an alternative to traditional high school. It’s to receive a college education while in high school.”
Now in its sixth year, Early College’s first graduating class totaled 38 of the first 40 who enrolled, 23 with an associate’s degree. Some graduated early so they weren’t included in the 2012 class.
“It is possible to do it in four years,” Miller said.
Senior Riley Price will complete her Super Senior year — fifth year Early College students —and graduate in May 2014.
“The high school is close-knit,” she said, sporting an Early College sweatshirt this week. “Everyone is like a big family, and I really enjoy coming out here.”
Her classmate Brianna Grant, 15, said it’s just like any other school to her.
“We have proms and dances, so it’s the typical high school except better,” she said. “They help you get ready for university.”
Miller said students passed college classes in Early College more than traditional LCC students, with 100 percent of students who graduated with degrees accepted into a university.
“All students come here with a plan of going to a four-year university and just getting their first two general years of college here,” Miller said.
The application process for Early College is based on a scoring system made up of attendance, academic performance and teacher recommendations.
During Saturday’s open house, parents will meet the staff and get an overview of the five-year design and tour of the facilities used. Only eighth graders going to high school are considered.
“The whole purpose of early college is to gain an associates degree and a high school diploma,” Miller said. “Five years is how long it takes to do that.”
Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 or at jessika.morgan@kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.
BREAKOUT BOX:
Lenoir County Early College High School Open House
n Saturday from 10:30 a.m.–noon
n Lenoir Community College Administration Building Auditorium
For more information, contact Early College High School at 252-233-6870