By Jason Forrister, Guest Columnist
Peachtree – Tri-County Early College, housed in the new Cherokee County Schools of Innovation & Technology, proudly celebrates a tremendous accolade: An “A” on the N.C. School Report Card for the 2022-23 school year.
At Tri-County Early College, students, teachers, staff, administrators, families and community supporters place a premium on excellence and endeavor daily to live into our vision: equipping students to thrive in an ever-changing world. This “A” on the N.C. School Report Card validates the passionate commitment of faculty and staff to students and their bright futures.
Being student-centered, globally-minded, and growth-focused, the educational program at TCEC exposes students to project-based learning techniques and other rigorous, high-yield learning experiences that promote depth of knowledge and retention. One crucial practice that teachers implemented last year that helped bring TCEC from a B to an A involved writing for learning across the curriculum, now an integral component of teaching and learning at TCEC.
The grades on the school report cards reflect students’ academic achievement and growth on End-of-Course exams and, at the high school level, include data from graduation rate and ACT composite scores among other factors. According to the performance data review, Tri-County Early College met the expected growth indicators for the 2022-2023 school year.
To put TCEC’s achievement in perspective, of the 2,714 North Carolina schools receiving a grade on the NC School Report Card, TCEC is one of 180 schools to receive an “A,” placing TCEC in the top 6 percent of schools in the state.
In the western region of North Carolina, 10 schools earned this distinction. Tri-County Early College is the only school west of Jackson County to earn an A for the past school year.
When asked, “What qualities of TCEC make your experience here outstanding?” students supply several answers. Many indicate the dedication of the teachers, who hold high expectations and build meaningful working relationships with them.
Trinity Mickens, TCEC senior, says, “Student-teacher relationships are foundational at TCEC. Students work one-on-one with teachers to improve critical thinking, public speaking, and leadership skills.”
Many students praise the school-wide culture of care and challenge the students and faculty, staff, and administration invest in daily.
Victoria Ratnikova, a TCEC sophomore, adds her insights: “Empathetic people. Empathy to me is the most important human quality. The student body is diverse, and everyone feels welcome. Being from a different culture, this learning environment is great for me.”
Senior Jonah Hardin voices another of the students’ praises for TCEC’s culture: “The competitive environment at TCEC is supportive. The environment helps students grow into their potential academically and personally.”
The students who attend TCEC choose to participate in an accelerated program of study through which they can earn their high school diploma and an associates degree in four or five years. Along with the support and investment that come from the Tri-County Community College community, TCEC’s students benefit from a cultural exchange partnership with a high school in Denmark. Students from that school visit our campus in October while students from TCEC visit Denmark in the spring.
TCEC’s student-athletes continue to build a legacy of excellence in a growing sports program. As a school, we are honored to be recognized by other teams and fans of other teams for our student-athletes commitment to sportsmanship and encouragement for all on the field of competition.
Moreover, TCEC’s students commit to volunteerism as part of their educational experience. They typically complete 100 hours our more of service before graduating.
While this “A” is a noteworthy accomplishment, it motivates the TCEC family to continue the quest for excellence. The team at TCEC work united in the effort to provide the best possible educational experience and the firmest foundation for future successes to the students.
Please check the school website to learn more about TCEC, who we are as a school community and what we do to invest in students.
If you’re interested in more information about TCEC’s N.C. School Report Card or N.C. School Report Card in general, please visit the N.C. School Report Card website at tcec.cherokee.k12.nc.us. All of us at TCEC thank our community of supporters who value and contribute to the work of helping students excel.
The writer is principal of Tri-County Early College.