• Category 1

    Selected in 2019

  • Grades: 9 - 12
    School Setting: suburban
    Town Population: 0
    Student Enrollment: 315
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 32%
    White/Caucasian: 33%
    Hispanic: 30%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 2%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 3%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:18
    % Reduced Lunch: 100%
    % ELL Learners: 0%
    Founded: 2015
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Wynn Whittington
  • CONTACT:
    2065 Warren Drive
    Winterville, NC 28590
    252-493-7821
    wynn.whittington@pitt.k12.nc.us
Pitt County Schools - Early College High School
Winterville, NC
Relationships with our students does not cost a thing and the value is immeasurable.
Describe specific programs in place to ensure that families are involved in the success of your school and students.
Our relationships extend to families to ensure student growth and achievement. We spend time in conversation with families as needed in order to remove or eliminate obstacles that stand in the student’s way. We have taken parents to doctor appointments during their battle with terminal illness and transport students when they miss the bus. We provide opportunities for students to share what’s going on outside of school that is having an impact on their learning. This helps relieve a burden on the student and the parent while fostering the relationship with the family unit. We also employ a clinical social worker who assists students with needs beyond our expertise.We foster and facilitate community and parental support through a variety of avenues including our Student Government Association (SGA), Family Night programs, Social Media, and other forms of communication. Parents, students, and teachers participate in academic conferences that students lead with the support of a script .
Describe the most successful activity your school has initiated to strengthen ties to your community.
Relationships drive what we do here. We strive to meet the social, emotional, and physical needs of students first. Once we meet these needs, students can focus better on learning. Often these have to be done simultaneously. Students here know that their teachers love and care for them, and they feel a connection with them. When asked what makes our school different from others they have attended, one student responded, “You care about us as individuals and allow us to be independent”.
Our relationships extend to families to ensure student growth and achievement. We spend time in conversation with families as needed in order to remove or circumnavigate obstacles that stand in the student’s way. We provide opportunities for students to share what’s going on outside of school that is having an impact on their learning. This helps relieve a burden on the student and the parent while fostering the relationship with the family unit.
Describe your philosophy of school change or improvement.
A change imposed is typically opposed unless the need for change is communicated and recognized. In our school we consistently evaluate our operations and approach to teaching and learning. All staff members have input in what we do or decide. Change initiatives can and are brought to light by any staff member at any time.
What are your school’s top two goals for the next year?
1. Continue to Change Students Lives Every Day.

2. Meet the Social, Emotional, and Physical Needs of students in order to be able to focus on their academic needs.
What is the single most important factor in the success of your school that others could replicate?
Student success cannot be attributed to just one of strategy, initiative, or program. It is the combined implementation of all of these initiatives with the supportive relationships fostered between faculty and staff, students, families, Pitt Community College, and the community at large. All students are on track to graduate on time with their high school diploma and their Associate Degree. For the last four years, PCSECHS has exceeded growth as measured by the State of North Carolina and is designated as an “A” school. PCSECHS intends to sustain the notable growth in achievement through reflective and strategic planning, shared decision-making among all stakeholders, and the continued focus on every student, every day, in any way. Relationships with our students does not cost a thing and the value is immeasurable.
Describe the program or initiative that has had the greatest positive effect on student achievement, including closing achievement or opportunity gaps, if applicable.
PCSECHS teachers have the autonomy to decide how lesson plans and instruction are developed and delivered. Teachers are considered content experts, treated as such, and have the flexibility to plan lessons, deliver instruction, and create a classroom environment that best meets the needs of students. PCSECHS utilizes project-based learning, cooperative learning, inquiry based learning, and direct instruction based on the content and learning preferences of the students. These teaching methods are a strategic effort to provide a different learning experience - one that is engaging, rigorous, and supports high expectations for students. Learning for mastery is also a focus in all classrooms as our students are expected to be successful in college coursework earlier than traditional high school students.
Explain how ESEA federal funds are used to support your improvement efforts.
For the last three years. PCSECHS utilized Title1 funds to hire an additional teacher. With the additional staff, class size average has dropped from 27 to 21 students. Title 1 funds are also used to support parental involvement and to implement a one-to-one technology initiative. Through Title I funds, each student has access to a laptop as well as access to a portable internet hotspot through the Sprint 1Million Project and the Mobile Beacon Connect for Success grant. We have been able to purchase additional hotspots this year through a local grant from the Pitt County Development Commission. Students have 100% access to their laptops throughout the day and 100% of those with a need have utilized the hotspots. This availability of technology allows teachers to use their knowledge of digital learning best practices to provide the high quality instruction and learning activities integrating technology and other resources.
Identify the critical professional development activities you use to improve teaching and student learning.
Professional Development opportunities are driven by state/district initiatives, individual teacher professional development plans, and the desire to take a different approach to teaching and learning. Teachers and support staff decided on professional development topics based on the needs of our students as a result of teacher observations, lesson reflection, and a commitment to maximizing resources provided. Early Dismissal on Friday of each week provides teachers with two and a half hours of time to participate in Professional Learning Communities. Teachers use this time to collaborate and develop project-based learning opportunities across curriculums and grade levels. Small dose faculty-community outreach opportunities allow teachers to learn more about employment opportunities and skills needed by local employers.
Describe your school culture and explain changes you’ve taken to improve it.
Our school culture is one where all stakeholders have an “open door” policy where we provide guidance, resources, and solutions to ensure student success and achievement. Our culture welcomes input from all stakeholders and decisions are made collaboratively and supported collectively. Our faculty and staff are committed to ensuring that daily guidance and instruction are designed to increase student achievement with a focus on growth and mastery. Students developed the Mission Statement, Vision, selected the school mascot and school colors. This embodies our approach of having the voices of all stakeholders being valued. Through their participation in this process, our students have a vested interest in creating a lasting legacy of this school. Our approach to teaching and learning and commitment to growing economically disadvantaged students is unparalleled.
Stats
  • Category 1

    Selected in 2019

  • Grades: 9 - 12
    School Setting: suburban
    Town Population: 0
    Student Enrollment: 315
    Student Demographics:

    Black/African American: 32%
    White/Caucasian: 33%
    Hispanic: 30%
    Hawaiian/Pacific Islander: 0%
    Asian: 2%
    Native American: 0%
    Other: 3%

    Teacher/Student Ratio: 1:18
    % Reduced Lunch: 100%
    % ELL Learners: 0%
    Founded: 2015
  • PRINCIPAL:
    Wynn Whittington
  • CONTACT:
    2065 Warren Drive
    Winterville, NC 28590
    252-493-7821
    wynn.whittington@pitt.k12.nc.us