SEarCH

Scotland Early College High School

A Partnership of Scotland County Schools and Richmond Community College

 

When you enroll in SEarCH you earn your four year high school diploma and your two year Associate Degree in five years!

 

School of Choice:

SEarCH will only accept students who apply to attend and who have their parents' support to do so.

 

Location:

SEarCH is located on the Hamlet Campus of Richmond Community College (RCC). Students attend SEarCH for five years, beginning in their 9^th grade year. They graduate five years later with enough high school and college courses to earn their high school diplomas and associate degrees.

 

Cost:

There is no cost to SEarCH students for their high school or college courses. Textbooks and transportation will be provided as well.

 

Transportation:

SEarCH students are transported to and from the school each day on school buses. They are picked up at their homes and taken to Carver Middle School where they are transferred to the SEarCH buses. At the end of the day, the SEarCH buses deliver students to their homes. Once licensed, students may drive themselves to and from school.

 

Calendar:

The SEarCH calendar closely follows the Richmond Community College calendar, not the Scotland County Schools calendar.

 

Who Should Apply?

All eighth graders who are serious about earning a college degree, have no major attendance or discipline problems, and are interested in being part of something different should apply. Preference will be given to those who are first generation "college goers."

 

How to Apply:

Interested eighth grade students can find applications online or get one from their middle school guidance counselor. Application materials include basic information (name, address, etc.) and a 300-500 word statement form the student. A teacher recommendation is also required for each applicant. Applications can be found on the school homepage (http://sites.google.com/site/scotlandearlycollegehighschool/) and the Scotland County Schools web page (http://www.scsnc.org/).

 

Selection Process:

The Selection Committee will review all applications. Students with severe discipline infractions or attendance problems will not be considered. All others will be invited for interviews with their parents. Those students who, (1) have demonstrated a serious interest in SEarCH, (2) would benefit from attending SEarCH, and (3) would be a benefit to SEarCH will be advanced to the next step, which is a public lottery. At that time, eligible students from the three middle schools will have their names drawn until the freshman class has been selected. Students and parents will attend the lottery, and those whose names have been drawn and wish to accept the invitation to attend SEarCH will sign a Letter of Commitment at that time.

 

Student to Adult Ratio:

Small class sizes will be the norm, not the exception.

 

The Student Body:

The SEarCH family currently includes 29 juniors, 48 sophomores, and 30 freshmen. In subsequent years, the freshman classes will each have 30 students. When fully operational with five classes, SEarCH will have 160-180 students. It is anticipated that the SEarCH student body will reflect the racial, ethnic, gender, and socioeconomic composition of the students of Scotland County.

 

Power of the Site:

Studies show that high school students attending high schools on college campuses mature quickly and do very well academically, often surpassing the performance of the college students.

 

Learn & Earn:

SEarCH is one of many North Carolina Early College High Schools that are part of Governor Easley's Learn and Earn initiative. The governor's goal is to have at least one Early College High School accessible to students in all of the state's 115 school districts.

(www.newschoolsproject.org/early.html)

 

Support and Commitment:

Once accepted as a student of SEarCH, each student will have the full support of the staff. Study seminars, tutoring, and extra help will be available. However, each SEarCH student will be expected to make a full commitment to do his/her best in all endeavors.

 

Further Information:

For more information, contact your middle school counselor or a member of the SEarCH Team:

Billy Storms	Chris Gardner	Judy Causey
Principal	Guidance Counselor	College Liaison
(910) 410-1926	(910) 410-1926	(910) 410-1929
wstorms@scsnc.org	cgardner@scsnc.org	judyc@richmondcc.edu

 

Links:

SEarCH Website - http://sites.google.com/site/scotlandearlycollegehighschool/

SEarCH SGA Website - http://sites.google.com/site/searchsganews/