Early Colleges

Wake Early College of Health and Science

Early College High Schools help students get a head start on college while they earn their high school diplomas. With a focus on preparing first-generation college-going students for post-secondary study, up to 70% of available seats are prioritized for qualified applicants who identify as first-generation college-going.

Early Colleges/Leadership Academies

North Wake College and Career Academy (9-12+)

This school is a collaborative endeavor with Wake Technical Community College and Wake County Public Schools. Students will be able to complete studies in one of five programs as part of their graduation credits. The school offers Culinary Arts, Business Administration, Information Technology Support, Early Childhood Education, and Emergency Medical Technology. Through an academic foundation paired with career-informed courses and work-based learning experiences, graduates of North Wake CCA may continue at a four-year university, or apply their earned credits towards an AAS degree, certificate, or diploma program at Wake Technical Community College.

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Read a testimonial from an alumnus
Vernon Malone College and Career Academy (9-12+)

Vernon Malone College and Career Academy is a collaborative endeavor between the Wake County Public School System, Wake Technical Community College, and Wake County Government. Students at Vernon Malone College and Career Academy complete studies in one of these Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs as part of their high school graduation credits. These include Biopharmaceutical Technology, Cosmetology, Facility Maintenance Technology, Nurse Aide, Simulation and Game Development and Welding.

Through an academic foundation, paired with career-focused courses and work-based learning experiences, graduates of Vernon Malone College and Career Academy will be prepared to enter the workforce, continue on to a four-year university, or apply their earned credits towards an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, certificate or diploma program at Wake Technical Community College in areas such as Biotechnology, Building, Engineering and Skilled Technologies, Business & Public Services, Health Sciences, or Information Technology.

Vernon Malone College and Career Academy es un esfuerzo de colaboración entre el sistema de escuelas públicas del condado de Wake, el Wake Technical Community College y el gobierno del condado de Wake. Los estudiantes de Vernon Malone College y Career Academy completan estudios en uno de estos programas de Educación Técnica y Profesional (CTE) como parte de sus créditos de graduación de la escuela secundaria. Estos incluyen tecnología biofarmacéutica, cosmetología, tecnología de mantenimiento de instalaciones, asistente de enfermería, simulación y desarrollo de juegos y soldadura.

A través de una base académica, combinada con cursos centrados en la carrera y experiencias de aprendizaje basadas en el trabajo, los graduados de Vernon Malone College and Career Academy estarán preparados para ingresar a la fuerza laboral, continuar en una universidad de cuatro años o aplicar sus créditos obtenidos hacia una carrera profesional. Programa de título, certificado o diploma de Asociado en Ciencias Aplicadas (AAS) en Wake Technical Community College en áreas como biotecnología, construcción, ingeniería y tecnologías especializadas, negocios y servicios públicos, ciencias de la salud o tecnología de la información.

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Read a testimonial from an alumnus
Wake Early College of Health and Sciences (9-12+)

Wake Early College of Health and Sciences (WECHS) is an application school focused on health and sciences. WECHS provides students opportunities to explore careers in the health and sciences through partnerships with Wake Tech and WakeMed Health and Hospitals. This up-to-five-year public high school program allows students to earn their high school diploma and an associate degree, college transfer credit, the prerequisite courses to prepare for a health sciences degree, and/or a health care certificate. College credits completed while enrolled at WECHS are tuition-free and are transferable to all sixteen of North Carolina's public universities. Students follow a rigorous high school program of honors classes for the first two years and attend classes on the Perry Health Sciences Campus of Wake Tech. For the remaining years, students are dually enrolled in Wake Tech courses and attend classes on the Northern Campus of Wake Tech.

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Read a testimonial from an alumna
Wake Early College of Information and Biotechnologies (9-12+)

The school is located on the Wake Technical Community College’s new RTP campus. Students will take a blend of high school courses and Wake Tech courses, with a focus on Information Technology and Biotechnology. Students will graduate with a high school diploma and credits towards their Associate in Applied Sciences degree, with the potential to earn enough credits to graduate with an Applied Sciences degree. The school partners with RTP businesses to provide students with real-world work experience. Graduates will take courses and attain skills that will make them job-ready in two high-demand areas. Program offerings include Network Management, Computer Programming, Cybersecurity, and Bioanalytical Laboratory Technology.

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Wake STEM Early College High School (9-12+)
The Wake STEM Early College High School is a small public school of choice; a joint project between the Wake County Public School System and North Carolina State University. STEM is the theme of the school’s program in addition to our identity as an early college. Early college means students take college courses at NCSU as well as the courses required to earn a high school diploma over a five-year period. STEM at our school does not just relate to four subject areas but instead permeates throughout the entire program as our students explore the "Grand Challenges for Engineering" through Project-Based Learning strategies.

STEM has two components that we explore:
1. The world is bigger than our community, state, country, and nation. It is our responsibility to 'reach beyond our limits to achieve our dreams, even those not yet imagined'.
2. We can only solve the world's problems and truly realize our potential if we think with an engineering mindset.
At Wake STEM, we follow the NCSU Engineering Design Process as our foundation to solve our problems and complete our projects.

Visit their website

Read a testimonial from an alumna
Wake Young Men's / Wake Young Women's Leadership Academies (6-12+)

The Wake Young Men's and Women's Leadership Academies were established in 2012 to provide educational opportunities for young men and women in a rigorous single-gender academic program. The Wake Leadership Academy is a 6-13, single-gender, early college, leadership academy within the Wake County Public School System. Grades 6-10 for the Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy are held in the Thompson School Building in downtown Raleigh. Grades 6-10 for the Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy is held on the Governor Morehead School for the Blind campus. Grades 11-13 are at Shaw University, the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the American South, located in downtown Raleigh near Memorial Auditorium. The schools emphasize leadership development, entrepreneurship, and community service. Each school serves approximately 50 students per grade level in grades 6 through 13.

Staffed by a team of educators who are dedicated to the academic and social progress of all children, they support, enrich, and empower each young man and woman to become learners and leaders in local and global environments. They prepare young men and women for life-long learning through rigorous instruction. They collaborate with students, parents, community members, and each other to create successful schools.

Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy website
Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy website

Read a testimonial from two alumni

Wake Early College of Information and Biotechnologies (9-12+)

The school will be housed at Wake Technical Community College’s new RTP campus. Students will take a blend of high school courses and Wake Tech courses, with a focus on Information Technology and Biotechnology. Students will graduate with a high school diploma and credits towards their Associate in Applied Sciences degree, with the potential to earn enough credits to graduate with an Applied Sciences degree. The school will also partner with RTP businesses to provide students with real-world work experience. Graduates will take courses and attain skills that will make them job-ready in two high-demand areas. Program offerings include Network Management, Computer Programming, Cybersecurity, and Biotechnology: Bioanalytical Lab Technology.

North Wake College and Career Academy (9-12+)

This school is a collaborative endeavor with Wake Technical Community College and Wake County Government. Students will be able to complete studies in one of five programs as part of their graduation credits. The school offers Culinary, Business Administration, IT/Tech Support, Early Childhood Education, and Emergency Medical Science. Through an academic foundation paired with career-informed courses and work-based learning experiences, graduates of North Wake CCA may continue to a four-year university, or apply their earned credits towards an AAS degree, certificate, or diploma program at Wake Technical Community College.

Vernon Malone College and Career Academy (9-12+)

Vernon Malone College and Career Academy is a collaborative endeavor between the Wake County Public School System, Wake Technical Community College, and Wake County Government. Students at Vernon Malone College and Career Academy complete studies in one of these Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs as part of their high school graduation credits. These include Biopharmaceutical Technology, Cosmetology, Multi-Trades Technology, Nurse Aide, Simulation and Game Development and Welding.

Through an academic foundation, paired with career-focused courses and work-based learning experiences, graduates of Vernon Malone College and Career Academy will be prepared to enter the workforce, continue on to a four-year university, or apply their earned credits towards an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, certificate or diploma program at Wake Technical Community College in areas such as Applied Engineering, Business & Public Services, Computer Technologies, Skilled Trades, or Transportation.

Wake Early College of Health and Sciences (9-12+)

This school provides opportunities to explore careers in the health and sciences through partnerships with Wake Tech, and WakeMed Health and Hospital. This four to five-year high school program allows students to earn their high school diploma and an Associate degree, college transfer credit, prerequisite courses to prepare for a health sciences degree, or certificate tuition-free. Students follow a rigorous high school program of honors classes for the first two years and are dual-enrolled in Wake Tech courses for the remaining years.

Wake STEM Early College High School (9-12+)

The Wake STEM Early College High School is a small public school of choice; a joint project between the Wake County Public School System and North Carolina State University. STEM is the theme of the school’s program in addition to our identity as an early college. Early college means students take college courses at NCSU as well as the courses required to earn a high school diploma over a five-year period. STEM at our school does not just relate to four subject areas but instead permeates throughout the entire program as our students explore the "Grand Challenges for Engineering"

STEM has two components that we explore:

The world is bigger than our community, state, country, and nation. It is our responsibility to 'reach beyond our limits to achieve our dreams, even those not yet imagined'.

We can only solve the world's problems and truly realize our potential if we think with an engineering mindset.

At Wake STEM we follow the NCSU Engineering Design Process as our foundation to solve our problems and complete our projects.

Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy (6-12+)
Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy (6-12+)

The Wake Young Men's and Women's Leadership Academies were established in 2012 to provide educational opportunities for young men and women in a rigorous single-gender academic program. The Wake Leadership Academy is a 6-13, single-gender, early college, leadership academy within the Wake County Public School System. Grades 6-10 for the Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy are held in the Thompson School Building in downtown Raleigh. Grades 6-10 for the Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy is held on the Governor Morehead School for the Blind campus. Grades 11-13 are at Shaw University, the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the American South which is located in downtown Raleigh near Memorial Auditorium. The schools emphasize leadership development, entrepreneurship, and community service. Each school serves approximately 50 students per grade level in grades 6 through 13.

Staffed by a team of educators who are dedicated to the academic and social progress of all children, they support, enrich, and empower each young man and woman to become learners and leaders in local and global environments. They prepare young men and women for life-long learning through rigorous instruction. They collaborate with students, parents, community members, and each other to create successful schools.