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Stanly Early College (SEC) is now taking applications through March 15.

All eighth grade students are encouraged to apply online through SEC’s Facebook page or website.

Only one application is required to be considered for both SEC and Stanly STEM Early College (SSEC).

Approximately 50 students will be admitted to both schools based on academics, location, siblings in the program and career interests.

Interviews for admission will begin March 1 and will be scheduled in order of submitted applications throughout March.

SEC will also host interest meetings via Google Meet throughout March for students and parents. Student Google Meets will be held during the school day. Parent Google Meets will be at 6:30 p.m. on the following dates based on their student’s middle school.

Albemarle parents met Feb. 9, North Stanly met Feb. 11, South Stanly and Oakboro STEM will meet Feb. 16 and West Stanly on Feb. 18.

However, parents are also welcome to join whatever meeting works best for them.

Interviews will be concluded before spring break and acceptance letters are planned to be mailed soon afterwards.

Admitted students will be held to high expectations in terms of academics, behavior, time management and all other qualities needed for success in the challenging program.

Students at both early colleges will be equally eligible to complete 23 degrees and programs through Stanly Community College (SCC), and will be eligible to play sports for Stanly County Schools (SCS) for four years.

The option of completing the program fully online remains open to interested students, while the school plans to continue to follow the same in-person schedule set by SCS.

So far in the application process, SEC has already received more than 100 applications and expects to excel beyond the interest of previous years.

SEC and SSEC Principal, Kevin Adams was disappointed that applying students will not get the chance to meet with current students during the application process. However, he took the chance to ask current seniors what has led to their success at SEC.

Interviewed seniors agreed that the support from SEC’s staff over the years, along with the high expectations set early on, have been two of the most important factors in their success.

All eighth graders are encouraged to apply and can be successful with the support system set in place at SEC.

Abby Furr is a senior at Stanly Early College.