Wake Early College

As the situation with COVID-19 (coronavirus) continues to rapidly evolve, WakeMed Health and Hospitals, is working diligently to monitor developments and implement guidelines to prevent the spread of infection. Our top priority is to keep patients, visitors, team members, and the community at large safe. At this time, our Wake Early College programs are suspended until further notice. We will keep you updated about the status of our volunteer program, and we look forward to welcoming you back to our hospitals in this important capacity as soon as possible.

School for the Real World

The Wake Early College of Health and Sciences is a great new opportunity for rising ninth graders in the Wake County Public School System. Students can earn their high school diploma while earning free transferable college credit or an Associate of Arts, Science or Applied Arts Degree from Wake Technical Community College.

A first of its kind in the nation, the Wake Early College of Health and Sciences (WECHS) is a partnership of the Wake County Public School System, Wake Technical Community College (WakeTech) and WakeMed Health & Hospitals. Leaders from these organizations recognized the need for personalized, rigorous, innovative high school centered around health and science. Their collaboration resulted in a program that offers students a totally unique educational experience. The WECHS provides them with learning opportunities that begin in the classroom and extend to real-life laboratory environments. This is a school for the real world.

A Unique Learning Experience

The Wake Early College of Health and Sciences is a magnet school that integrates the theme of health and sciences throughout its curriculum. While enrolled in the WECHS, students participate in an academic program that fulfills North Carolina high school graduation requirements and allows them to complete college coursework as part of their high school career. Participating students have the opportunity to graduate in either four or five years and to earn an AS or an AAS degree, which is transferable to four-year institutions.

There are unique benefits to being a WECHS student:

• Classes are located on the Wake Tech Health Science campus adjacent to WakeMed Raleigh Campus as well as on Wake Tech's Northern Campus.
• The school accepts a very limited number of students. With a small number of students in the entire school at any given time, the WECHS promises to provide the most personal environment possible.
• In addition to classroom instruction, students will participate in job shadowing and internships at WakeMed. A successful experience offers potential for employment with the hospital system.
• Students will have the choice of graduating with an Associate of Arts or Science degree or enough college credits to enter a four-year college or university as a junior.

Who Should Apply and How?

The Wake Early College of Health and Sciences will attract the best and brightest students who have potential to be our future leaders, scientists and researchers. Applicants should

• be creative, curious and have high self-expectations
• desire a challenging and accelerated program
• be willing to take a positive risk and enjoy new and different ideas
• display leadership potential and the ability to be be self-directed
• be willing to try new methods of instruction, and
• be excited about a different learning environment that is surrounded by health and science professionals.

Any rising ninth grader who completes a declaration packet, including an Intent form, academic records (transcript, report card, attendance and disciplinary history) and parental support statement, will be considered for enrollment.