Who Are We?

The Durham Early College of Health Sciences (DECHS) is one of four early colleges within the Durham Public Schools district. We offer students the opportunity to take free classes at Durham Technical Community College while in high school. Students will select one of the Durham Tech pathways below; and they will have the opportunity to finish a high school diploma and a college degree at the same time.

  • Clinical Trials Research*

  • Medical Assisting (Requires a social security number for

    career licensure)

  • Nursing* (Requires a social security number for

    career licensure)

  • Surgical Technology* (Requires a social security number for

    career licensure)

*Though all students have the option to graduate from high school upon finishing all high school graduation requirements, students who wish to finish the entire degree in Clinical Trials Research, Nursing, or Surgical Technology must remain in high school for one additional year. Medical Assisting may be completed by the end of grade twelve. Durham Tech tuition, fees, and textbooks will continue to be free for students in all grade levels.

All high school classes are taught at the honors level. Our students will also complete internships with Duke Health. Students with a social security number will be paid during these internships. Duke Health has also promised to hire 60% of our graduates who finish one of the DTCC degrees above. Additionally, those hired by Duke Health will be eligible for tuition reimbursement if they elect to further their education while employed.

If your student is academically motivated, values independence, and is ready to tackle college-level courses while in a small high school learning environment, DECHS may be for you!

Tours & Information Sessions

Want to see us in person and learn more? Come check us out during a tour and information session! Please budget one hour for this experience. You must register in advance. We hope to see you here!

How to Apply

Any eighth grader who resides in Durham County is eligible to apply. Ninth grade is our only entry point. Students must apply via the district's magnet lottery which typically opens and closes in January of each year.

Transportation

DPS offers hub stop transportation for our school. This means that families are responsible to getting students to their traditional high school in the mornings. A bus will then bring them to DECHS. In the afternoons, a bus will return them to their traditional high school and families are responsible for getting students home from there.

Parents may bring students to school and pick them up. Students may also drive to and from school.