Video: Early College High School Now Accepting Applications, Set To Open This Fall

[syndicaster id=’5646574′]

GOLDEN TRIANGLE, Miss. (WCBI) – Plans are unfolding for the state’s first Early College High School, which is set to open this fall with a class of 50 9th graders.
The public school offers students the opportunity to earn a high school diploma along with an associate degree by the time they graduate, opening doors of endless opportunities for students.
Educators involved with the school have been out in the community informing students about the concept of the new school and its application process.
“Whether they want to tackle the academic end or whether they want to tackle the career-technical end and go to work, we’ve got a program for them,” said Jill Savely, Principal of the Early College High School.

The goal of the Early College High School is simple..to  create successful academic outcomes for students.

Open to students in Oktibbeha, Clay and Lowndes and Noxubee counties, the school targets first-generation college students and those from low-income families.

Officials who represent the school say it will not only improve graduation rates but also save at-risk students.

“The perspective that Early College High School takes is not how to improve a school, but how to help individual students succeed,” said Executive Vice-President, Dr. Paul Miller.

The school has an intensive application process that involves students and parents.

It’s first class will be 50 9th graders and will grow with an additional grade added every year.

The big draw for the school is that students who stick through the program will not only graduate with a high school diploma, but also an associate degree from East Mississippi Community College.

“They’re going to be ready for anything and even if they don’t earn an associate degree, they’ve got a lot of college course work under their belt and they’re ready to go to a 4-year college. We’re going to have another group of kids who leave here at 18 and they’re ready to go to work and make good money,” said Savely.

Although the school wont have extra-curricular programs like football, band, and ROTC, it will offer activities that tie in with students studies.

“For instance, we might look at a quiz bowl team, a rocketry team, photography club, those types of things, so that students have something to be apart of and something they can belong to,” said Savely.

Another aspect that will make the school successful is it’s smaller, more intimate classroom setting.

“When the environment is small, teachers are going to know students, they’re going to know their strengths, their going to know their weaknesses and they’re going to be able to build relationships and one of the most important parts of student success is building relationships,” added Savely.

The school will offer transportation to class and start with a counselor and three teachers, along with EMCC’s computer labs and other facilities.

The school is accepting applications for the 2015-2016 school year, the deadline to apply is March 31st. The application is listed on www.eastms.edu

Information sessions will be held at middle schools in the participating counties.

For additional information, parents and students can stop at the following locations from noon to 5 during the week of March 9th-13th for additional information about the school:

Monday, March 9
Columbus/Lowndes LINK, downstairs boardroom
1102 Main St., Columbus

Tuesday, March 10
Mississippi State University
Research and Curriculum Unit, Magnolia Room
103 Russell St., Starkville

Wednesday, March 11
West Point/Clay Growth Alliance, boardroom
520 East Broad St., West Point

Thursday, March 12
Noxubee Civic Center
16291 Hwy 45 North, Macon