The Cabarrus County Early Colleges are unique learning environments on community college campuses where students can earn both their high school diploma and an associate degree.  As such, there are expectations for students wishing to enroll and continue at the Early College.

Admissions Criteria

There are no set criteria for grades or End of Grade scores in the admissions process.  Rather, a holistic approach is taken for the selection of applicants.  In keeping with the intent of SL115C-238.50 and the founding principle of North Carolina New Schools, priority is given to students who are first-generation college completing, low-income, at-risk for dropping out of high school, who may not yet see themselves as college completers, or could benefit from accelerated instruction.

Students in the 8^th grade must complete an application and participate with their parents in an interview process.  Student applications and interviews are scored and the total rubric score is provided to the selection committee who will make the final selection based on scores, as well as overall potential.

Continuation Criteria

Early College Program students are expected to be successful in their high school and college classes as well as maintain good behavior.  Students can be removed from the Early College Program for not making academic progress or for disciplinary actions.  Academic removals occur only after multiple course failures or being placed on academic suspension by RCCC under the RCCC guidelines.  Students on probation will have their academic progress reviewed at the end of the semester to determine their continuation status.

Disciplinary removals occur for serious and/or repeated offenses.  Students suspended by RCCC for disciplinary reasons will also be removed from the Early College.

Interventions

Students not meeting the continuation criteria for academics will be placed on academic probation by the Early College Program and/or RCCC. Students on probation will be assigned a teacher mentor that will meet with them on a regular basis and be required to attend Academic Lab on a daily basis.  Communication will be made with the parent and a plan put in place to help the student be successful.  While progress reports for high school classes will be sent home, RCCC instructors are not required to communicate with the Early College and do not communicate with parents.