Institutions of higher learning in the Cape Fear region include Cape Fear Community College, Coastal Carolina Community College, Mount Olive College at Wilmington, Miller-Motte Technical College, Brunswick Community College, and UNC-Wilmington.
Children from Bald Head Island, Bolivia, Calabash, Carolina Shores, Holden Beach, Caswell Beach, Oak Island, Ocean Isle Beach, Shallote, Southport, St. James, Sunset Beach and more than 20 other small townships, attend Brunswick County School System (BCSS).
Brunswick County is the 37th fastest growing county in the country with a population of 103,000.
BCSS believes that “todays readers are tomorrow leaders” and have concentrated their efforts in basic but necessary skills of reading and math. The effort is paying off. “Brunswick County Schools is dedicated to continuous improvement,” said Dr. Edward Pruden, Superintendent of Brunswick County Schools. “We are proud of our overall increased proficiencies in both reading and math (grades 3-8) and our increased graduation rate of 79.23 percent which exceeds the 2010 state average. Reading is the gateway skill needed for success in all subjects including math, and we will focus like a laser on literacy.”
BCSS works in partnership with Brunswick Community College (BCC) and the Brunswick County Early College High School. Students, grades 9-12, attend high school classes at the Early College located on the campus of BCC, as well as earn college credit. Students earn the equivalent of an Associate’s Degree or enough college credit to enter a four-year institution as a junior.
Freshman entering Early College High School will be the first class to participate in a national initiative unique to Brunswick County and the region known as the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) initiative. Students will be given the opportunity to identify a global issue on a local scale and use an “engineering process” to develop solutions. The project will be ongoing throughout the school year and will integrate biotechnology and agriscience. The effort is lead by Principal Vicky Brady, Brunswick County Principal of the Year. BCSS is also home to the only elementary Spanish program in Eastern North Carolina.
Brunswick County Community College offers many programs, degrees and certificates for careers in today’s global economy. A degree program in aquaculture prepares students for a career as a commercial fish farm manager, or as an employee at a state or federal fish hatchery. An Aquarium Science degree is designed for the student interested in a career working at public and private aquariums, such as the North Carolina Aquariums.
In neighboring Onslow County, children from Half Moon, Holly Ridge, Jacksonville, North Topsail Beach, Piney Green, Pumpkin Center, Richlands, Sneads Ferry and Swansboro attend Onslow County School System (OCSS). The county seat is Jacksonville, home of Marine Corp Base Camp Lejeune. The county population is approximately 150,673.
The OCSS includes 20 elementary schools, eight middle schools, and seven high schools. Specific programs housed at a pre-school center and an alternative learning center site also serve the community. The student population is approximately 24,026. Onslow County was the first district in North Carolina to achieve district accreditation.
Specialized programs include: Academically/Intellectually Gifted Program, Arts programs, Career and Technical Education programs, English as a Second Language program, and others. North Carolina Global District International Education program establishes partnerships with schools in other countries.
The school system has a large military population stemming from Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville. To assist this population, the school system has a military transition counseling program that guides K-12 military students in transitioning into and out of the school system, dealing with the impact of deployment, and providing support to families. “We work closely with Camp LeJeune and New River Air Station,” said Kathy Hoskins, transition counselor for OCSS. “Our job is to help these students get on a level playing field and to make them aware of all available resources and services.”
To further their education student graduates attend Coastal Carolina Community College (CCCC) in Onslow County. The college has taken on greater role in the economic development of the community, helping to diversify the local labor market and pointing out the county’s best assets, including the community college, to businesses interested in relocating here.
CCCC, UNC-Wilmington, Onslow County Schools, and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune have developed a partnership to offer “two plus two” teacher training for elementary education. Military students can also take advantage of online courses and attend classes on base to accommodate their rigorous training schedules.
New Hanover County Schools (NHCS) is the 12th largest school system in North Carolina. NHCS currently operates 42 schools.
Wilmington Early College High School (WECHS) grew from a strong partnership between NHCS and Cape Fear Community College. The school focuses on preparing students for entry into high-skill careers, while fostering a love of lifelong learning. WECHS students graduate with a high school diploma and an Associate’s Degree that can be transferred to college.
Isaac Bear Early College High School also provides an accelerated education program to prepare students for the academic rigors of college and to provide them an early start on their degrees. This four-year program begins with students completing their required high school courses in the first two years, and taking courses at UNC-Wilmington in the final two years.
Other distinctive programs are the system’s Autism Program; a state model sought after by parents, and strong business-school and community partnerships that enhance academic achievement and provides mentoring in schools. The partnership between General Electric and Freeman Elementary School of Engineering is but one of several.
“Overall, NHCS is a great choice for students and families,” said Dr. Tim Markley, Superintendent of NHCS. “Like any school system, we have our challenges. We have solid action plans in place to meet those challenges such as improving our graduation rate and closing the achievement gap. The state’s new Core Curriculum and Essential Standards will help us advance in these areas. I have no doubt that NHCS is on its way to becoming one of the premiere school districts in the nation.”
As a part of the UNC system, UNC-Wilmington has a long history dating back to 1947 when it opened as Wilmington College with 238 students, many of whom were veterans returning from World War II. Today, approximately 13,000 students immerse themselves in the unique blend of teaching, research and service learning opportunities, a mix of classic and innovative approaches that gives graduates a competitive edge in a global economy.
For more on this story, click here to order our magazine.