The Johnston County Career and Technical Leadership Academy (CTLA) has had a successful first year on the campus of Clayton High School. The school was launched by former Superintendent of Johnston County Schools Dr. Ed Croom as a unique high school to raise academic achievement while focusing on career and technical education such as health care and computer engineering.
Due to anticipated growth of the CTLA and Clayton High the academy is being forced to find a new home for its second year.
Johnston County Schools and Johnston Community College have partnered in a decision to move the CTLA to the JCC Smithfield campus at the end of this school year. CTLA will be merging with the existing Middle College High School.
A recent study completed of the enrollment and demographics of the student population at the Middle College revealed the initial mission of the school serving the first generation college students who were having difficulty in the traditional school setting had been lost. It was discovered that the school exists more as a Career and College Promise (CCP) site located on the JCC campus.
Chief Academic Officer Dr. Eddie Price said, “Although it has been very successful, we feel that these students can be equally served through our CCP offerings at our traditional high schools, through online JCC courses, or a hybrid of one class on the high school campus then other college courses at JCC.”
The name of the new school will be the Johnston County Career and Technical Leadership Early College, Dr. Price announced at the February school board meeting.
“This school will be an early college and will serve students in grades 9-13, provide transportation and lunch just as Early College Academy now does,” Price said. “Current Middle College juniors will continue on their journey to graduate high school as planned in May 2018.
Officials said current employees at each still will remain on staff. Additional students will be accepted each year beginning this spring under the CTLA guidelines.
Students will be able to take courses that lead to an associate’s degree in a career such as Medical Assisting, Nurse Aide, Information Technology, Early Childhood Education, and Industrial Systems.
In the 2017-18 school year the student body will consist of 9th, 10th and 12th grade students. With new students being accepted in the 9th and 10th grade only.
Currently, Johnston County Middle College has 123 students enrolled and the Career and Technical Leadership Academy 58 students enrolled.
