While classes don’t start at UNC Charlotte until Aug. 24, there’s already a buzz of activity in the classrooms and hallways at the Charlotte Engineering Early College (CEEC) high school.
Distinct from its peers in one of the state’s largest public school districts, CEEC welcomed its second class of ninth-graders on Aug. 6, along with a handful of sophomore transfers from across Mecklenburg County.
The school’s enrollment now stands at 200 students, which is about 40 percent of what it will be when it has a full slate of five classes. Perhaps the most impressive fact about CEEC is its waiting list of approximately 350 students.
“It’s very exciting,” said Principal Will Leach. “With so many students on our waitlist, we can only think about how we could do even more.”
Program leaders envision the school as a blueprint for the future of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education in the region, state and perhaps even the nation. High on the list of goals is to discover ways to bring in more female students, minorities and first-generation college students.
Leach, who completed a master’s degree in school administration from the University, described the school’s first year as a success, even though he and his staff initially had to face a number of obstacles that had nothing to do with the faculty, students or curriculum.
For one, the building on the UNC Charlotte campus was brand new and construction delays and other last-minute issues kept them from opening on time, as it did this year. Instead, the school year coincided with the regular CMS school calendar.
According to Leach, the inaugural class exceeded expectations by most measures, even though the curriculum is demanding and the learning pace is quick. Even when some students struggled at times, they benefited from their peers, teachers and staff and a serene learning environment.
“There’s really not a lot of disruptions,” he said. “And they are coming to a school where the principal and every one of their teachers know them by name. We know most of them can do this. They can succeed if they show up and do the work. It makes a difference when your teachers and your principal knows your name.”
Located in the shadow of the sprawling Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC), the early-college high school is the first of its kind for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS). Students follow a curriculum that focuses on STEM courses, with a special emphasis on energy and engineering.
Students will take three years of high school courses, followed by two more years of college coursework at no charge. For his part, Leach said the prospect of two years of free tuition is a major factor behind the strong interest in the school.
“Still, the word is out that this is a different kind of school,” he said. “A lot of students and parents see it as a safe and intimate learning environment.”
Eventually, there will be 500 students in the school. By their fifth year, the students will be enrolled in only college-level courses. Students earn 24 high school credits and 60 or more college-level credits that can be transferred to the college they decide to attend.
Administrators and faculty also learned some valuable lessons during CEEC’s first year, Leach said.
“We learned that it’s vital that we intervene as early as possible if we identify a student who is starting to struggle with the academics,” he said. “We are not waiting for the first report card to come out to jump in and offer to help.”