FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Dr. Carl Harris, Associate Superintendent Instructional Services, 560-3716
Early College high school students making great gains
DURHAM— First semester results from the Josephine Dobbs Clement Early College High School indicate that nine in 10 students are performing at or above grade level in reading.
According to results of English I end-of-course tests from the first semester of the 2004-05 school year, 91.6 percent of students scored a Level III or IV. Principal Nicholas King attributes these results to establishing high expectations for student performance; exposing students to a rigorous course of study in English; and excellent collaborative efforts among teachers in the other disciplines.
The Clement Early College High School opened last August. It is a partnership among Durham Public Schools, North Carolina Central University, and SECME, Inc., a non-profit whose mission is to increase minority participation in the fields of science and engineering. It has also received funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation through the New Schools Project. The program, focusing on science, technology and math, allows students to earn a high school diploma and up to two years of college credit within four years.
“We are extremely excited that these initial scores suggest that, given the appropriate support and the appropriate challenge, students from every socioeconomic or ethnic group can achieve at high levels,” said Dr. King. “We are grateful to our teachers and parents, and also for the support of North Carolina Central University and Durham Public Schools.”
“What a fantastic beginning for such an innovative and groundbreaking school,” said Durham Public Schools Superintendent Ann T. Denlinger. “Congratulations to Dr. King, his staff members, the students, NCCU and the wonderfully supportive community members who are dedicated to ensuring the success of the Clement Early College High School.”
“We are proud of this achievement, and we are experiencing this success because we have the resources, talent and the right partnership in place,” said NCCU Chancellor James H. Ammons. “We are making a positive impact on the lives of these students through this pioneering concept.”
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