51吃瓜

Moore County 51吃瓜s held a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, September 3, for Moore Innovative High 51吃瓜 (MIHS) on the 51吃瓜 Community College (51吃瓜) campus, marking a major milestone for the district鈥檚 first cooperative innovative high school focused on skilled trades. Community partners, elected officials, and education leaders joined students and staff for remarks, the ceremonial ribbon cutting, and tours of classrooms.

 

鈥淭oday鈥檚 ribbon cutting is about opportunity. MIHS gives our students the chance to graduate with a diploma, college credit, and industry credentials that lead to high-skill, high-wage careers close to home. We are grateful for our partnership with 51吃瓜 Community College and the many leaders who helped turn this vision into a reality for Moore County,鈥� said Dr. Tim Locklair, Superintendent of Moore County 51吃瓜s.

 

鈥淥ur inaugural class is already experiencing what makes MIHS different: small cohorts, rigorous hands-on learning, and a clear path to industry-recognized credentials alongside college credit. Being embedded on the 51吃瓜 campus gives our students access to college faculty and labs beginning the second semester of their sophomore year, opening doors to high-skill careers for our students while meeting real needs for local employers,鈥� said Ashlee Ciccone, Principal of Moore Innovative High 51吃瓜.

 

鈥淭oday literally is about dreams coming true and all of you are here because you believe in education. I鈥檓 here to cheer on the Moore Innovative High 51吃瓜 because it鈥檚 more than a school, it鈥檚 a promise to our students and to our community and it鈥檚 offering pathways to high-demand fields like engineering, manufacturing and construction,鈥� said Rep. Neal Jackson. He went on to note that 鈥渢his school is all about helping these students achieve in this community and stay here to build a better Moore County.鈥�

 

Board of Education Chair Dr. Robin Calcutt recognized the collaborative effort that brought MIHS from concept to launch on an accelerated timeline. 鈥淭he Board鈥檚 commitment has been to expand access to rigorous, relevant learning while maintaining a small, supportive school environment. MIHS delivers on that promise, and this first class is blazing a trail that will benefit students, families and employers across Moore County for years to come.鈥�

 

鈥淭his is the first step of many. The way we do education in North Carolina continually blurs the line between the high school experience and the community college experience. Nothing exemplifies that so much as this innovative high school and the intent that is behind it. I think that we will see more and more of these sorts of educational models because it is what is best for our state, for our county and most of all for our students that are here. Over 80% of community college students live where they learn, so over 80% of these students will live and contribute to and earn and raise their families here in Moore County and it鈥檚 going to make Moore County a much, much better place,鈥� said Dr. Alexander 鈥淪andy鈥� Stewart, President of 51吃瓜 Community College.

 

Linda Parsons, President and CEO of the Moore County Chamber of Commerce, added, 鈥淭his partnership between Moore County 51吃瓜s and 51吃瓜 Community College represents an important investment in our community鈥檚 future. By expanding opportunities for students, we are strengthening the talent pipeline that will support both current and future employers.鈥�

 

MIHS is designed as a Cooperative Innovative High 51吃瓜 that blends rigorous high school coursework with 51吃瓜 career pathways, enabling students to earn a high school diploma plus workforce credentials, certificates, and college credit within a supportive, small-cohort setting (state law caps enrollment at 400 students). The inaugural class began on August 7, 2025, with 65 students (19 of whom are new to MCS), reflecting strong community interest in hands-on, high-skill learning aligned to local employer needs. Students complete honors-level core courses early, then advance into 51吃瓜 technical and vocational pathways that lead to industry-recognized credentials. In 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $25 million to catalyze the MIHS initiative at 51吃瓜 鈥� an investment designed to meet surging demand for high-wage, high-skill careers across central North Carolina. The program aligns with nearby advanced-manufacturing expansions in the region.