Early College sows seeds of success 

On Wednesday, I had the privilege of visiting Rowan County Early College (RCEC). RCEC is well known for its excellence; however, I was even more impressed when I learned of the program’s rigorous standards. Every eighth-grade student has equal opportunity to apply for the enrollment lottery. After the submission deadline, each applicant is interviewed to determine if he or she is willing and able to commit to the hefty academic demands. Successful completion of the high school/college “six-years in four years” program requires a 100 percent commitment by the student as well as their sacrifice of personal interests such as sports, band and chorus.

Some statistics that testify to RCEC’s success are:

• 100 percent high school graduation rates for two consecutive years.

• Over 74 percent with college grades of A and/or B for spring of this year.

• Over 94 percent passage rate for college courses.

• Of the 46 seniors graduating in 2015, 24 had a HS/college GPA above 4.0 while seven had a GPA above 4.5.

• 89 percent of 2014-2015 classes passed the Math III Exam.

• 83 percent of 2015 seniors graduated with an associate of arts degree while 11 others received both associate of arts and associate of science degrees.

• 2015 RCEC graduates went on to attend 18 different colleges.

• Of RCEC graduates entering college, over 80 percent were FIRST generation college enrollments.

The only down side to this program that I see is the number of RCEC applicants that are rejected, not because of ineligibility, but because of the limited space currently allocated to the program. Hopefully, this limitation will one day be addressed.

Without question, graduating from this program gives the college-bound student a two-year head start towards a full college degree.

— Chuck Hughes

Salisbury

Hughes is a member of the Rowan-Salisbury school board.

West marches on

This letter refers to a Community in Schools visit to West Rowan Middle School, where the writer teaches.

Today you will see our transformed spaces, a change we designed to accommodate the rigor of learning we achieve. The spaces are bright and colorful and useful! We put a need out to a local business and it was answered happily. We have leaned on each other and our resources to help make this possible. I think our students will see that these spaces were true labors of love for them!!

I read an article last night that Dr. Moody sent to us… There were two teams racing to reach the South Pole … One team walked 20 miles a day regardless of the weather, the other team walked 40-60 miles when weather permitted and rested warmly in their tents if the weather was treacherous. Which team reached the S. Pole first? The team that walked consistently 20 miles a day no matter the weather. The other team was found dead the next spring!

We have that consistent, march-on mentality here at West Middle .. good days or bad, we march on. We keep moving toward our goal. It would be very easy to sit back and say, “This new phase will pass,” “this new ‘learning style’ talk will go away” … or “the technology craze won’t last!” No, I don’t think so. We have to keep up, keep moving and changing, transforming to meet the needs of the 21st century learner! We embrace changes and get about the task of How To … every day!

Younger colleagues who are newer to our profession have graduated using all the latest technology. It is easier for them to grasp, but those of us veterans bring experience and the love of what we do each day! That is just as important. And when we put our talents together, we create winning teachers on teams transforming tomorrow’s leaders!! That is awesome, and what makes West Best!!

— Jane Current

West Rowan Middle School

 Illiteracy’s high cost

The reader is responding to an Oct. 13 editorial, “Literacy has high price in jobs, health care.”

While illiteracy poses a public health threat (as well as an economic threat) to our community, it is not terminal. Literacy is 100 percent curable. It’s about promoting and encouraging lifelong learning from cradle to grave. However, this idea is put in hock when conservatives demonize, disrespect and under-fund public education from the start.

— Michael Young

Salisbury