Wake Early College Opens its Doors

Students will have the opportunity to enroll in unique classes at both the high school and college level specifically designed for the Early College around the health and sciences theme.

THE SCHOOL
The Wake Early College of Health and Sciences (WECHS) serves students motivated by the opportunities offered by a college setting, curriculum, and career connections.

Students' studies may include classes, labs, PULSE, tutorial, academic advising, faculty-student meetings, and career counseling.

PULSE is an acronym designed to remind students to check their Participation, Understanding, Leadership, Scholarship, and Excellence and represents a course imbedded in every student's schedule. PULSE classes are small and are led by one member of the Wake Early College of Health and Sciences staff who will loop with students throughout their high school tenure. "Checking your PULSE" will be a daily event for students.

Students will have imbedded tutorial time, career counseling, educational advisement, and a personal learning environment where academic growth and excellence are common goals. The school will enrich learning by allowing students to be mentored and advised by one of the many professionals employed by WakeMed, the county's largest health care provider.

Students will eat an on-campus lunch provided by WCPSS Child Nutrition Services and local restaurants at a time convenient to their schedule. Transportation schedules may dictate the time of learning opportunities. Students may ride express buses from regional sites near their home to campus or provide their own transportation.

HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE CREDIT
The Early College is a magnet school focused on health and sciences. All students will follow the College/University Prep Course of Study and/or graduate with an Associate of Applied Science degree in a health discipline, providing them with skills and knowledge for employment in a health career.

Students will be able to graduate in five years with a high school diploma and an Associate of Arts (AA), Associate of Science (AS), or Associate of Applied Sciences (AAS) degree. College credits completed while enrolled in Early College will be tuition-free and may be transferable to a four-year institution. Students will be expected to make Progress toward a college degree.

THE PARTNERSHIPS
Two unique features of the Wake Early College of Health Sciences are the partnership it represents and its location. The Early College is a joint effort undertaken by the Wake County Public School System, Wake Technical Community College and WakeMed Health & Hospitals. The school is located on the Wake Technical Community College Health Sciences campus adjacent to the Raleigh campus of WakeMed Health & Hospitals. The facility is located at 2901 Holston Lane, Raleigh, N.C. 27610.

The Wake Early College of Health and Sciences is the natural outgrowth of Governor Easley's Learn and Earn Initiative, the New Schools Project, workforce development, and high school reform. Early College High Schools are small schools from which students can graduate with a high school diploma plus an associate degree. They offer personalized learning environments, a common and coherent focus, and they emphasize accelerated learning for students. Legislative actions over the last several years have lowered legal barriers and enabled these innovative approaches to learning.