myFutureNC will host the State of Educational Attainment in North Carolina virtually on Monday, February 6, from 3:00 to 3:45 p.m.  All sectors (education, business, government, philanthropy, non-profit) and North Carolina citizens are invited to join us as we share the top findings from North Carolina's State of Educational Attainment Report and proposed solutions to address the state of emergency around workforce talent and the education pipeline in NC. We will highlight success stories among our K12 and higher education partners and forecast needs and clear solutions to help us achieve the state's educational attainment goal of 2 million degrees or industry-valued credentials by 2030 among North Carolinians ages 25-44.

To ensure North Carolina remains economically competitive now and into the future, it is critical that all citizens are aware of the state’s educational attainment goal – to have 2 million North Carolinians ages 25-44 hold an industry-valued credential or postsecondary degree by 2030.

CTE Month is Coming!

Did you know that February is CTE Month? CTE Month is a public awareness campaign that takes place each February to celebrate the value and achievements of CTE programs across the country. 

Career and technical education, or CTE, is education that directly prepares students for high-wage, high-demand careers. CTE covers many different fields, including health care, information technology, advanced manufacturing, hospitality and management, and many more. CTE encompasses many different types of education, from classroom learning to certification programs to work-based learning opportunities outside the classroom.

Be on the lookout for exciting news and activities that will take place in our middle schools and high schools during the month of February to highlight CTE Month!

Middle School Writing Contest

The Middle School Writing Contest (formerly the High School Writing Contest) application is now open!

The North Carolina Azalea Festival introduced a new contest in 2017, the High School Writing Contest, in an effort to reach out to more youth in the greater Wilmington area.  In 2022, the Festival decided to move the 2023 contest to the Middle School level in hopes to engage younger minds in participation and see what creative works come to life in this age group! 

Middle School students are invited to submit either a descriptive essay or poem.  Many thoughtful, interesting, and creative entries are received and judged by a local team of writers. Winners and finalists are selected from each category and receive various prizes from the Azalea Festival and outside the community.

The CCS Art teachers would like to thank the Twin Rivers Artist Association and the Craven Arts Council and Gallery, Inc. for sponsoring their Valentine fundraiser.  These community groups provide the card materials, feature the card displays, sponsor a reception for the artists, and manage the card sales.  Their efforts to support art in our schools are much appreciated.

Applications for the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Summer Accelerator Courses and Sessions are now open.  For more information, visit https://www.ncssm.edu/summer-programs/accelerator.

Local and National Scholarships are continuously being loaded into the MajorClarity Platform. When students log into their MajorClarity accounts they can access over 100 scholarships!

Register for the ACT and SAT Today!

FAFSA is Open!

The 2022-2023 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) cycle is open!

Completing the application is a necessary step for prospective college students to receive financial aid. Not only does it make you eligible for federal aid, such as Pell Grants or work-study programs, but North Carolina’s colleges and universities also use the form to divvy up state aid.

The form is open until June 30, 2023. Many North Carolina schools give out aid on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s best to fill it out as soon as possible, even if you haven’t finalized your plans.