Granville Early College High School reported zero dropouts in 2010-11
Granville Early College High School, which is operated as a partnership between Granville County Schools and Vance-Granville Community College, was recently cited for its success in dropout prevention in reports from the North Carolina State Board of Education and the N.C. New Schools Project. In fact, the new data showed that GECHS lost no students to dropping out during the 2010-2011 academic year.
Not only GECHS but also similar schools across the state appear to be succeeding in their goals of keeping students engaged. At early college high schools, students simultaneously complete both a high school diploma and a two-year college degree (or up to two years of college-transferable credit) over a five-year period, tuition-free. The state’s 71 early college high schools in 2010-11 had a combined dropout rate of just 0.54 percent, with 32 of the schools (including GECHS) losing no students as dropouts. Among all North Carolina public high schools, the dropout rate for the same period was 3.43 percent. With a combined enrollment of 12,241 students, North Carolina early colleges last year lost just 66 students to dropping out.
“Having no dropouts is a testament to the level of commitment our staff, students, and parents have put into succeeding at our school. It truly takes everyone working together to keep all of our students engaged and focused on their future. It is this engagement and the sense of community amongst everyone that has helped us keep anyone from dropping out,” said Chris Ham, the principal of Granville Early College High School . “In our school, everyone stresses the importance of getting a high-quality education in order to be successful in the workplace. Our students know that in order to do this, they must stay in school.” The high school opened in 2009 and moved into its permanent facility across the street from VGCC’s South Campus in Creedmoor in 2011.
“Students drop out for many reasons, some of which are very challenging for schools to address,” said Tony Habit, president of the New Schools Project , which helps develop early college high schools across the state. “But these numbers show that schools that really engage students with relevant instruction and supportive relationships are key to dropout prevention. Students who want to be in school and see a reason for being there don’t quit. They stay.”
In addition to GECHS, VGCC operates three other schools in partnership with local school systems: Vance County Early College High School , Warren Early College High School and Franklin County Early College High School . The four high schools have approximately 600 students enrolled during the 2011-2012 year. When fully enrolled several years from now, the four will serve between 800 and 1,000 students.
