Frequently Asked Questions

Gaston Early College High School (GECHS) is one of the twelve public high schools within Gaston County Schools.  As an early college, students who attend GECHS have the opportunity to graduate with their high school diploma and a free Associates Degree from Gaston College.  

Gaston Early College is located on the campus of Gaston College in Dallas, NC.  We are housed in the Lena Sue Beam building (near the Myers Center). 

GECHS offers a small, family atmosphere providing students with the tools necessary for college readiness, future careers, and beyond.  Students are placed in small classes with a great student-to-teacher ratio.  Small classes allow teachers to better meet the needs of their students.  All teachers act as mentors for students, building relationships that allow students to feel safe and accepted at school. We also offer a wide range of opportunities for students to get involved and become part of the culture that GECHS embodies.  On Fridays, we volunteer, participate in enrichment activities, and our seniors are involved in job shadowing experiences. 

Gaston Early College High School and other innovative high schools in NC are small public high schools, usually located on the campus of a university or community college, which expand students' opportunities for educational success through high-quality instructional programming.

Learn more about a Cooperative Innovative High School.

Students may choose from an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Engineering.  Degree pathways are usually decided at the end of the students’ sophomore year. 

If your child is selected to attend Gaston Early College High School (GECHS), you can count on saving money!  The average cost to attend a community college and receive an Associates Degree is $5,056.00 plus fees and books.  After graduating from a traditional high school and enrolling in a public North Carolina university, students would pay an average cost of up to $9,000+ a year on tuition and fees alone.  

GECHS students will take their first college class in the fall semester of their Freshman year. 

If you are a current 8th grader that resides in Gaston County, you can apply.  GECHS only accepts applications from prospective students during their 8th grade year.

Students are chosen in a lottery.  Incoming 9th grade classes are made up of a certain percentage of students from each GCS high school (excluding Highland School of Technology and Gaston Early College of Medical Sciences).  Scribbles Software, the company GCS uses for choice-school lotteries, will conduct the lottery and notify students of their initial acceptance into Gaston Early College High School.

Students may enter the building beginning at 8:15am. Classes begin at 9:00am. School dismisses each day at 3:45pm.

Gaston Early College High School (GECHS) creates its own school calendar based on the GCS and Gaston College calendars.  All GECHS students are required to follow the Gaston Early College High School calendar. 

Yes.  GECHS and Highland School of Technology (HST) manage their own fleet of GCS buses.  Students needing bus transportation will be picked up from their home and dropped off at their home each day.  Unique to GECHS and HST bus transportation is the fact that our drivers transport students to and from all feeder area schools, so bus transportation usually takes a bit longer in the mornings and afternoons than at the neighborhood schools that are only servicing one feeder area.

GECHS does not offer traditional, varsity or junior varsity sports.  There is, however, an active Sports Club that students can participate in.

Students are not eligible to play traditional, varsity or junior varsity sports or participate in extracurricular activities at their home high school.

Hot lunches are brought over each day from GCS Nutrition Services by GECHS's dedicated cafeteria staff. The lunch menu is the same as all other GCS high schools. In addition, your student is welcome to bring lunch if desired. Microwaves are available for use in the cafeteria area.