Follow Alicia
Email Alicia Email
Education
Aug 17, 2021

FTCC’s High School Connections program expands offerings to younger students

Sponsored Content provided by Alicia Banks - Digital Content and Social Media Specialist, Fayetteville Technical Community College

Davin Gardner, a 16-year-old student at Village Christian Academy, earned college credit before his junior year. He took two courses offered at Fayetteville Technical Community College last school year at the private school. He passed both.

 

“I’ve learned how to write better than I did before, and I think it would help you excel while getting college credit as well,” Gardner said.

 

Gardner is one of hundreds of students in Cumberland County enrolled in High School Connections (HSC). The local branch of a state program, called Career and College Promise, allows high school students to take college courses and earn credit to obtain an associate degree, diploma, certificate and more from an institution in the North Carolina Community College system.

 

The program, originally geared toward junior and senior students, is now open to ninth and tenth graders attending public and private high schools in Cumberland County. Most students complete HSC requirements before or when they graduate. John Green, a career coach with FTCC’s HSC program, said the program provides students with more opportunities to determine what they want to do in college and later life before they graduate from high school.

 

“This is a supplement to their instruction to keep students engaged,” Green said. “With tenth graders, the way things are advancing, to be able to come out of high school with a certificate or the front end of classes before they start college, it’s much more appealing.”

 

HSC courses are offered in addition to standard, honors and AP courses at high schools in the county.

 

Village Christian Academy, in Fayetteville, is the first school in the county to offer HSC courses to its freshman and sophomore students. Gardner enrolled in HSC with the aim of earning an associate degree before going to college. He plans to study engineering at North Carolina State University. 

 

Ninth and tenth grade students take fewer HSC courses than eleventh and twelfth graders. For example, ninth graders can take only up to two courses, such as Writing and Inquiry (ENG 111) and Public Speaking (COM-231).

 

Last year, seven tenth graders from Village Christian Academy enrolled in the program. All earned As and Bs in the HSC courses.

 

“They loved the classes, they loved doing it,” VCA guidance counselor Deborah Bailey said. “They are taking high-level classes that challenge and help them with their GPA. I’ve been pleased with the support I get from the career coaches. It’s been a great partnership for us.”

 

Fourteen-year-old Isabella Rietkerk is taking HSC courses for the first time this year. “I think this year’s going to be really good,” she said. “I am excited to graduate with my associate degree [someday] and save money for college.”

 

High School Connections is currently offered in 33 public, private and homeschools throughout Cumberland County. The program has been around since before 2014. Learn more and apply for High School Connections here

 

 

Join The Discussion

Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
Ico insights

INSIGHTS

SPONSORS' CONTENT
north-carolina-military-business-center bill-simons headshott

Federal Food Series Webinars Will Connect North Carolina Food Businesses with Government Buyers

Bill Simons - Regional Program Manager, Goldsboro, North Carolina Military Business Center
arts-council-of-fayettevillecumberland-county josh-murray headshott

ArtScape 9 Brings New Public Art and Sponsorship Opportunities to Downtown Fayetteville

Josh Murray - Director of Development, Arts Council of Fayetteville|Cumberland County
fayetteville-state-university sambit-bhattacharya-phd headshott

FSU students and faculty make strides towards advancement in applied AI in the Intelligent Systems Laboratory

Sambit Bhattacharya, Ph.D. - Professor of Computer Science and Director of the Intelligent Systems Lab, Fayetteville State University

In The Current Issue

Wrapping up nicely: Major construction finishes up on new R & R Brewing location coming soon to downtown Clinton

Since announcing their intention to move into the historical Henry Vann building in 2023, the R & R team has been busy working with local and state historical preservation organizations to renovate the building.


Rich in memories: Rich Farm & Venue offers affordable space with modern amenities for customers to reserve for their special celebrations

Rich Farm & Venue is a 37-acre space with amenities suitable for any occasion such as weddings, birthday parties and more. Photos provided by Rich Farm & Venue. Rich Farm & Venue in the town of Roseboro combines affordable prices and


A novel concept: New bookstore and wine bar coming to downtown Fayetteville

Kellie Artis is the owner of Bound & Vine, a soon-to-open independent bookstore and wine bar. Photo by GFBJ. Bookworms and wine lovers are in for a treat as downtown’s newest tenant prepares to open later this year. Kellie Artis is the