Alexander County Schools offers multiple pathways to student success

By ANGELA FARR KING

There was once a time when students had more limited options when enrolling in Alexander County Schools. They could choose either a college path or a career path and those paths did not overlap or cross very often.

As 2026 approaches, a team of school leaders recently sat down to discuss the many options available to Alexander County students. Superintendent Dr. Bill Griffin said, “We have school choice within our school system.” It is very important for students and parents to be aware of these options as early as middle school because making choices early will impact the course selections they make entering high school and throughout their high school careers.

The leaders present in this meeting were Dr. Amy Bowles, the Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Megan Calhoun, High School Counselor and Representative from the AP Academy, Mary Brown, Principal of the Alexander Early College (AEC), Crystal Hoke, Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Secondary Education, and Superintendent Dr. Bill Griffin. All of these leaders, along with Brian Lewis, Principal of Alexander Central High School, make up a leadership team that strives to work together to develop and revise pathways for students to succeed after high school graduation.

Those pathways can be very individualized for each student and they can even overlap. For example, Crystal Hoke explained that there are now Honors and AP courses within the CTE department. She also said that she was recently in communication with Mary Brown from AEC discussing a student who may need more CTE courses so they are working together to discern the best path for this student.

All in the meeting agreed on a singular goal and that is to promote the success of all students. Megan Calhoun stressed the importance for students to consult with their counselors regularly to stay on track with their courses in order to meet their goals. Crystal Hoke chimed in on the importance of this because they are continually adding or revising new or existing programs.

The leadership team explained the three main pathways for students to achieve their goals beyond high school. Number one is ACHS AP Pathways (Advanced Placement). Included in this pathway are the AP Academy, individual AP classes, and can include a Capstone certificate or Capstone diploma. These classes take place primarily on the ACHS campus. Students can take college level courses and if they pass the exams, they can receive college transferable credits to most state four year universities. Some private colleges may not accept these credits.

The next two pathways both fall under the umbrella of College and Career Promise (CCP). The first is the Alexander Early College. This is a tuition free dual enrollment program in partnership with Catawba Valley Community College and students attend high school at the CVCC Taylorsville campus. They have the opportunity to earn an Associates Degree and a high school diploma in four years. Some students work hard enough to earn more than one Associates Degree along with their high school diploma during this program. They must simply pay a $120 activities fee, but there is no cost for tuition or books for these college level classes.

The third pathway is the CCP/CVCC Cohort. This is a dual enrollment program between ACHS and CVCC that is also tuition free, but it takes place on the campus of ACHS, CVCC Alexander Campus, and virtually. Students do not earn a full Associates Degree with this pathway, but they can earn 13-27 college transfer credits if they choose this option.

Mrs. Hoke added that there are also several programs at ACHS where students can earn certificates through the Career and Technical Department (CTE) that lead to employment after high school, including Electrical Systems, Welding, and Cosmetology to name a few. Some of these are earned on the campus of the high school and some are earned through CVCC. Hoke noted the importance of the partnership between CVCC and Alexander County Schools to make so many of these opportunities possible for students.

Mrs. Hoke said that advisors are key in these endeavors. She said that CVCC provides individual Scholar Advisors to students at ACHS and AEC that meet with students to help them register for the correct classes. They also help these students stay on track by checking their grades and following up with them. Students need to take advantage of the advice offered by these counselors and the counseling department at ACHS continually.

There are many success stories to be shared about students coming out of the Alexander County School System. There are students who have received full scholarships to prestigious schools around the country, including Benny Heath, who was the first ever ACHS student to be named a UNC Charlotte Levine Scholar not long ago. Griffin Duncan recently received a Chancellor’s Scholarship (full ride) to Appalachian State. Jessica Herrera-Salinas received a full ride to Carolina–Covenant Scholarship, a $10,000 Woods Family Scholarship, and a full ride to Duke University in last year’s graduating class. Nathaniel Dahlstrom, a recent ACHS graduate, fulfilled his dream of attending Columbia University in New York.

There are meetings coming up at AEC that students and parents can attend to get necessary information to help in the decision making process about pathway selections. The Alexander Early College is hosting an AEC Interested Family Night on Monday, January 26, from 6 to 7 p.m., in the ATEC Building.