Pender Early College High School
Encyclopedia
Pender Early College High School, also known as PEC or PECHS, is a school created by the Early College High School
Initiative, sponsored by the New Schools Project. Pender County Schools
and Cape Fear Community College
maintain the school, which is situated on the Burgaw Campus of Cape Fear Community College. It is currently in its fifth year of operation; it had its first graduating class in May 2010.
High school classes include English I, II, III, and IV; Journalism; Integrated Math I, II, III, and IV; Earth/Environmental Science; Biology; Chemistry; Civics & Economics; United States History; and World History. All classes offered at Cape Fear Community College are open to PECHS students which range from Boat Building to Multi-Variable Calculus. PECHS also hosts special classes and seminars that vary by semester. These include yoga, documentary film, project citizenship, and etiquette classes.
A unique characteristic of PECHS is the inclusion of academic advising, clubs, and civic engagement into the class schedule. Academic advising is meant to prepare and help transition students from a high school environment to a college one. During this time students will also prepare their schedules for next semester and receive assistance with fulfilling their graduations requirements.
While students are encouraged to volunteer in the community at any time, Wednesdays are officially half days for PECHS students so they can engage in community activities to fulfill their required 150 hours of civic engagement. Volunteer projects have ranged from tutoring elementary school students, volunteering at local hospitals, to painting community murals.
Clubs at PECHS are student run. Any student can form a school club with the approval of the dean and meet either during school club time during the week or after school. Examples of PECHS clubs include Student Government Association, Guitar Club, Chorus, Theater, Young Democrats, and Young Republicans. PECHS students are also allowed to participate in Cape Fear Community College sponsored clubs.
Early College High School
The Early College High School Initiative provides students the opportunity to receive a high school diploma and an Associate degree or up to two years of college credit...
Initiative, sponsored by the New Schools Project. Pender County Schools
Pender county schools
Pender County Schools is a public school system located in southeastern North Carolina, providing an education for 7,800 students in a rapidly growing coastal county . Pender County School District consists of 16 schools located in a diverse array of suburban and rural communities, and serves...
and Cape Fear Community College
Cape Fear Community College
Cape Fear Community College is a two year college located in Wilmington, North Carolina.CFCC is the fifth largest community college in the state with over 27,000 students taking classes every year...
maintain the school, which is situated on the Burgaw Campus of Cape Fear Community College. It is currently in its fifth year of operation; it had its first graduating class in May 2010.
Dual enrollment
Students who enroll in Pender Early College High School are also enrolled in Cape Fear Community College. The curriculum lasts four to five years, where students gradually take college classes in place of their high school classes, until their junior year, when students should be taking all college classes. Upon completion of the program, students will graduate with both a high school diploma and an Associate's Degree from Cape Fear Community College. Students are also required to complete 150 hours of civic engagement, 4 leadership development camps, a graduation project, an internship, and a cumulative portfolio before graduation.Classes
All classes offered at PECHS are either Honors or College level.High school classes include English I, II, III, and IV; Journalism; Integrated Math I, II, III, and IV; Earth/Environmental Science; Biology; Chemistry; Civics & Economics; United States History; and World History. All classes offered at Cape Fear Community College are open to PECHS students which range from Boat Building to Multi-Variable Calculus. PECHS also hosts special classes and seminars that vary by semester. These include yoga, documentary film, project citizenship, and etiquette classes.
A unique characteristic of PECHS is the inclusion of academic advising, clubs, and civic engagement into the class schedule. Academic advising is meant to prepare and help transition students from a high school environment to a college one. During this time students will also prepare their schedules for next semester and receive assistance with fulfilling their graduations requirements.
While students are encouraged to volunteer in the community at any time, Wednesdays are officially half days for PECHS students so they can engage in community activities to fulfill their required 150 hours of civic engagement. Volunteer projects have ranged from tutoring elementary school students, volunteering at local hospitals, to painting community murals.
Clubs at PECHS are student run. Any student can form a school club with the approval of the dean and meet either during school club time during the week or after school. Examples of PECHS clubs include Student Government Association, Guitar Club, Chorus, Theater, Young Democrats, and Young Republicans. PECHS students are also allowed to participate in Cape Fear Community College sponsored clubs.