Wake Early College of Health and Sciences Announced
Early College Resource Center
Find out more about the Wake Early College of Health and Sciences.
March 16, 2006 - In August, in addition to two new traditional high schools, the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) will open its first early college high school for the 2006-2007 school year. The Wake Early College of Health and Sciences (WECHS), a partnership of WCPSS, Wake Technical Community College, and WakeMed Health & Hospitals, will be a small, non-traditional high school offering students the opportunity to graduate in five years with a high school diploma and an associate degree or two years of college credits.
WECHS will open with 50 ninth graders and grow to no more than 400 students over the next four years. Students will follow an integrated curriculum of high school and college courses, allowing them to simultaneously fulfill the requirements for a high school diploma and a two-year degree from Wake Tech. WECHS will provide an individualized high school experience for each student that will include academic support, internships and job shadowing opportunities, career counseling, and community service activities. WECHS will prepare students for post-secondary study or for employment in healthcare, science and other emerging fields.
The Wake Early College of Health and Sciences reflects a national trend for high school re-design and is funded in part by the Governor's Learn and Earn program.
The school will be located on the Wake Technical Community College Health Sciences Campus, at 2901 Holston Lane, adjacent to WakeMed Health & Hospitals Raleigh Campus.
An Open House for prospective students and their parents is scheduled for March 20, in the Student Lounge on the Health Sciences Campus, from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Visit the Early College Resource Center for more information about WECHS, or contact Richard Murphy, Senior Director for High School Programs ( or 919-850-1793), or go to the school website at http://healthscienceec.wcpss.net.