This week the students and staff of Greene Early College (GEC) received some good news that made everyone feel a little better. For the past four years, GreatSchools.org has compiled a list of high schools that excel at ensuring students prepare for college, enroll in college, and succeed once they get there. This year, GEC made the list receiving the 2021 GreatSchool’s College Success-Gold award. In all, there are 1,838 schools across 25 states to receive this recognition this year. In our state, there is a total of 85 schools that were awarded. Of those schools, only 17 serve a student population that is greater than 40% free or reduced lunch, of which GEC is one. When asked about the award, GEC principal Dr. Rodney McNeill said, "This is an amazing honor for our school. Our mission is to prepare every student for college, careers, and life. This recognition shows that we are doing that."
GEC received a new distinction with the award this year. For the first year, GreatSchools added a “Gold” category. This gold designation is bestowed upon schools with a "multiyear track record of preparing students to enroll and succeed in college." There were 1,770 schools from 26 states to receive the inaugural gold distinction. Of the Gold-winning schools in North Carolina, only 13 serve a greater than 40% free or reduced lunch student population. "We have great kids and fantastic staff. We work hard to do the best job we can for kids. So being recognized in a positive way feels good," stated Dr. McNeill.
