Special to The Randolph Guide
Staff Writer
DURHAM —
Randolph Early College High School, one of North Carolina’s 70 early colleges, has been recognized as a finalist for the annual Innovator Award, presented by the North Carolina New Schools Project to innovative high schools demonstrating strong results in preparing all students for college, careers and life.
RECHS was one of six finalists selected from 106 schools that were partners with NCNSP during the 2009-10 school year. Howard Lee, executive director of the N.C. Education Cabinet, recognized each of the schools during the closing session of NCNSP’s Summer Institute, attended by 600 educators from innovative high schools across the state.
Lee said the field of contenders was so strong this year that the “six schools landed in a virtual photo finish.”
All the schools, he said, “have created a culture where supportive relationships allow teachers to grow and students to thrive. And all of these schools are going the extra distance to ensure that every student is well prepared for college, career and life.”
About Randolph specifically, Lee cited the high rate of success the school’s first graduating class this year in earning associate’s degrees in addition to their high school diplomas and also in their college acceptances.
All 56 of Randolph’s 59 inaugural graduates who applied to college were accepted.
“Talk about college ready,” Lee said.
Among the factors NCNSP cited in its selection of Randolph as an award finalist were these:
n Randolph has achieved high growth under the state ABCs accountability every year since the school opened.
n Minimal gap between students from low-income families and those from more affluent backgrounds.
n 35 of the 59 members of the class of 2010 earned associate’s degrees from Randolph Community College, all in four years. Three quarters of the students in the school are the first in their families to attend college.
The other finalists were Caldwell Early College High School, Howard Health & Life Sciences High School in Cumberland County, SandHoke Early College High School in Hoke County, the School of Inquiry and Life Sciences at Asheville and Stanly Early College High School, which was also selected for top honors as the 2010 Innovator Award recipient.
