New details on the blending of Anson High School and Anson New Tech High School were released on Friday by the county school system.
This fall, the two high schools will both be housed in the Anson High building, separate schools sharing their resources for students.
The “Blended Services Model” will benefit students from both schools, affording to Michael Freeman, superintendent of Anson County Schools. “Realizing that each day will bring about rewards and challenges, the ACS-AHS–ANTHS (AAA) Team will cultivate a spirit of harmony as a new school blended family is created by housing the two schools in one location,” he said via email.
Students can cross-enroll between the schools to graduate high school and prepare for college or their career. They can also enroll in Career Technical Education Courses, Freeman said.
The model will mean that school counselors from both schools, plus part-time counselors from Anson Academy and Anson County Early College, will be available for students. Clerical staff, a full-time nurse and social worker, and one full-time and one part-time Student Resource Officer will also be shared between the schools, according to Freeman.
Students from both schools will share the Bearcats athletics program, media center, Focused Learning Lab, testing and assessment department, and driver’s education program. Both Anson High and New Tech students will be served free breakfasts and lunches in the same cafeteria, and will be able to eat “while on the go” through the school’s “second chance meal option,” Freeman said.
Administration from both schools will remain the same, but work together. “Both AHS Principal Chris Stinson and ANTHS Principal Dioynna Pratt will be advocating for students services to support all students on campus while both will be supported by Assistant Principal James Wall,” Freeman said.
Freeman said middle and high school students will still ride the same buses.
The superintendent expects the change to benefit both schools. “As you can see, students on campus will share much more than parking lots and hallways — they will share resources to enhance their educational opportunities,” Freeman said. “Perhaps, one of the most special positives is the chance for students to build lifelong friends with children they have known since kindergarten.”