For Parents

Welcome to Early College High School

Early college high school is a bold approach, based on the principle that academic rigor, combined with the opportunity to save time and money, is a powerful motivator for students to work hard and meet serious intellectual challenges. Early college high schools blend high school and college in a rigorous yet supportive program, compressing the time it takes to complete a high school diploma and the first two years of college.

Since 2002, the partner organizations of the Early College High School Initiative have started or redesigned more than 200 schools in 24 states and the District of Columbia. The schools are designed so that low-income youth, first-generation college goers, English language learners, students of color, and other young people underrepresented in higher education can simultaneously earn a high school diploma and an Associate's degree or up to two years of credit toward a Bachelor's degree—tuition free.

Early College High School Achievements Stats

92% of early college students graduate
88% of early college graduates earn at least one college credit
40% of early college graduates who enter as 9th graders earn a least one year of college credit
11% of early college graduates earn both a high school diploma and an Associate's degree
81% of early college graduates enroll in a two of four year college

Early College Students Save Money When Going To College

$6,600 - the average savings to a student earning a free year of college credit (based on the cost of public higher education).
$13,100 - the average savings to a student earning two years of free college credit or an Associate’s degree (based on the cost of public higher education).

How to Apply

Applications are now being taken for the 2012-2013 school year! Complete the application in its entirety and send it to:

Mayland Early College High School

Attn: Elaine Wyatt

PO Box 547

Spruce Pine, NC 28777

Application (.pdf)

Letter from the Counselor (.pdf)

The Five Year Plan

MECHS has a curriculum designed to be completed in five years in which the student has the opportunity to earn both a high school diploma and an Associate in Arts degree from Mayland Community College.

(both require the FREE Adobe Reader, available for download here).

Nutrition Services

Child Nutrition Mission Statement:

The primary objective of the Child Nutrition Program is to make available to every student a nutritious, well-prepared and attractive breakfast & lunch every day. A complete breakfast is offered every morning in all elementary, middle schools, and high school.

School Meal Prices
Meal	Daily	Weekly
Paid Breakfast – all grades	$1.00	$5.00
Reduced Breakfast – all grades	$ .30	$1.50
Adult Breakfast	$1.25	$6.25
Adult Lunch	$3.25	$16.25
Paid Lunch - K-5	$1.75	$8.75
Paid Lunch - 6-12	$2.00	$10.00
Reduced Lunch	$ .40	$2.00

Lunch consists of: 2 oz. meat or meat alternate, 2 (1/2 c.) servings vegetable &/or fruit, 1 serving of bread or bread alternate, and 1/2 pint milk. Under the "Offer vs. Serve provision of the National School Lunch Program, the student may decline two of the items offered. However the price of the meal remains the same. If any student takes only one or two of the meal components, he must pay for these at posted prices (this includes those students who qualify for free or reduced price meals.)
Menus may be changed because of problems with deliveries, product availability or weather. Cafeteria managers will notify students in advance of changes if possible.
Students wishing to pay for meals in advance may do so at any time in the cafeteria manager's office.

Free & Reduced Applications

Free and reduced-price meals are available to students whose family income meets criteria established by the federal government. To qualify, the parent or adult household members must complete the appropriate forms. The new application should be turned in to be processed by the end of the ten days. Additional copies are available at the schools or at the Board of Education (828)766-2220. It is never "too late" to apply for free/reduced meals. If there are changes in your family's income whether loss of job, decrease in pay, or an increase in your household size, then by all means contact your school, or the child nutrition office, to get a current application. A new household application must be completed and processed each school year.

School Menu

Access the current school menus for Mitchell County Schools on this page.

Application for Free/Reduced Breakfast & Lunch [English] [Espanol]
Child Nutrition Link - www.mcsnc.org/departments/child_nut/
Nutrition Links:

Additional Parent Resources

Tips to Help Your Student: www.academicresources.org/learning.html
Tackling Rough Reading Assignments: life.familyeducation.com/teen/reading/48436.html?detoured=1
Internet Safety (coming soon)
College Foundation: www.cfnc.org
New Schools Initiative: www.newschoolsproject.org
ACT Parent Resources: http://www.act.org/path/parent/
Helping Your Child Become a First Generation College Student: http://www.act.org/path/parent/college/firstgeneration.html