Mayland Early College High School (MECHS)

Early college high school is a bold approach, based on the principle that academic rigor, combined with the opportunity to save time and money, is a powerful motivator for students to work hard and meet serious intellectual challenges. Early college high schools blend high school and college in a rigorous yet supportive program, compressing the time it takes to complete a high school diploma and the first two years of college. Schools are designed so that low-income youth, first- generation college students, English language learners, students of color, and other young people underrepresented in higher education can simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an Associate's degree or up to two years of credit toward a Bachelor's degree—tuition free.

Established in 2011, the Mayland Early College High School (MECHS) provides a personalized learning environment to create a seamless curriculum between high school and college, and provides work-based experiences to students through rigorous, relevant, and responsive instruction emphasizing relationships and leadership development.

The Mayland Early College High School provides a personalized learning environment to create seamless curriculum between high school and college, and provides work-based experiences to students through rigorous, relevant, and responsive instruction emphasizing relationships and leadership development.

For more information, contact the MECHS Liaison at 828.765.1234 or the MECHS Principal at 828.766.2590.

Session Law 2011-145, the Appropriations Act of 2011, authorized the State Board of Education and the State Board of Community Colleges to establish the Career and College Promise program, effective January 1, 2012. The purpose of Career and College Promise is to offer structured opportunities for qualified high school students to dually enroll in community college courses that provide pathways that lead to a certificate, diploma, or degree as well as provide entry-level jobs skills.

Career and College Promise offers North Carolina high school students a clear path to success in college or in a career. The program is free to all students who maintain a “B” average and meet other eligibility requirements. Through a partnership of the Department of Public Instruction, the N.C. Community College System, the University of North Carolina system and many independent colleges and universities, North Carolina is helping eligible high school students to begin earning college credit at a community college campus at no cost to them or their families. The three pathways include:

1. College Transfer Pathways (CTP) requires the completion of at least 30 semester hours of transfer courses including English and mathematics.
2. Career and Technical Education Pathways (CTE) lead to a certificate or diploma aligned with a high school career cluster.
3. Cooperative Innovative High School Programs (CIHSP) are located on college campuses (unless a waiver was provided) and provide opportunities for students to complete an associate degree program or earn up to two years of college credit within five years. Examples include Early and Middle College High Schools.

For more information, contact the Mayland Community College High School Liaisons at 828.765.1234.

The Innovative Education Initiatives Act (SL 2003-277, Senate Bill 656) and the Cooperative Innovative High School Programs statute (§ 115C-238.50-.55) encourage Local Education Agencies (LEAs) to partner with their local postsecondary Institutes of Higher Education (IHEs) to provide cooperative programs jointly in high schools and colleges/universities that will expand students’ opportunities for education success through high quality instructional programming.

The Cooperative Innovative High School (CIHS) targets students who are at risk of dropping out of high school, first- generation college students, and/or students who would benefit from accelerated learning opportunities.

For more information, contact Avery County High School.