Skip To Main Content

Default Menu Image

Mobile Utility

Mobile Main Nav

Header Top

Header Bottom

Schools

Schools Navigation

Landing Nav

Breadcrumb

JCEC Welcome Letter

Jackson County Early College

404 College Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
Phone: (828) 354-0343

To Parents/Guardians of Jackson County Early College High School students:

Jackson County Early College is an innovative, collaborative high school that enables students to earn a high school diploma and an associate degree or college credential in five years. JCEC offers a mature learning environment where students delve into rigorous honors level curriculum with project-based learning, seminar style discussions, group work and cross-curricular projects.  

Small class size gives JCEC the ability to personalize academic planning to meet student goals, help students develop leadership potential and prepare for their futures. Developing supportive relationships with peers, staff and instructors, forming community connections during service learning opportunities, and finding ways to help students see the relevance of choices today in relationship to their future life goals are cornerstones of JCEC’s philosophy. Regardless of the changing external environment of education, the four principles guiding all decisions, planning and curriculum design at JCEC are education, leadership, service and community. JCEC strongly believes that we are building the community leaders of tomorrow. 

As part of our partnership with Southwestern Community College, JCEC students have access to a college campus rich with resources. Students can take advantage of the many computer labs, the community college library system, specialized program equipment, and rich academic supports including the Learning Assistance Center and online, group and individual tutoring. Developing skills that will set them apart from their peers, JCEC students learn early to balance their busy workload, manage their time according to their unique high school and college schedules and develop self-advocacy skills and the resourcefulness to be successful in their next steps. 

Most Early College students work towards an Associate in Arts degree or Associate in Science degree in College Transfer. After completing this degree, students are able to transfer credits from SCC to any of the 16 North Carolina public universities, meeting all general education requirements. Students who are interested in certificates, diplomas and Associate of Applied Science degrees graduate from Jackson County Early College High School with a college credential that will make them more marketable directly after graduation. 

Through powerful teaching and learning, meaningful relationships between students and teachers, and a culture of collaboration and professionalism among teachers and school leaders, Jackson County Early College High School is preparing students for the demands of college and career – and helping to create the workforce of tomorrow, today.  

Our school improvement process is reflective of a continuous improvement model and involves input from both teachers and students. Therefore, we are continually collecting and analyzing data to address any area where improvement is needed. Through powerful teaching and learning combined with purposeful design, our school provides innovative instructional approaches and strategies to meet the needs of all learners at JCEC with the intent to ensure all students are ready for college, careers, and life.