Gaston Early College High School (GECHS) is an Innovative High School located on the Gaston College campus in Dallas, N.C.  The Early College High School is operated by Gaston County Schools and Gaston College through a joint partnership. 

Early College first began in the fall of 2008 as the Bessemer City Early College High School.  The Bessemer City Early College will move to the Gaston College campus next year (fall 2012) and students from across the county will have an opportunity to apply to attend the Early College. The state funds the program and requires that it be housed on a community college campus unless the county has no community college – then the school system may house the program at a local high school.  

Bessemer City High School students currently in the Early College will be given an opportunity to complete the five-year program and graduate – GCS will pay for student transportation to the Gaston College campus.  

The Early College allows high school students to take college courses at no additional cost and graduate from high school with a two-year college degree or certification in a career program in a five-year time frame. 

This exclusive, non-traditional high school offers Gaston County students a unique opportunity to receive a high school diploma while earning an Associate of Arts degree from the community college. 

After graduation from the Early College, students may transfer to a four-year college/university (with two years of college already completed) or enter the workforce with a recognized certification in one of several career areas.

A ground-breaking and ingenious public high school, Early College combines the knowledge, hard work and resources of Gaston College and Gaston County Schools.