Admissions
Johnston County Early College Academy is a four- or five-year program (grades 9-13) located on the campus of Johnston Community College. Students are dual-enrolled in high school and college classes. Upon graduation from JCECA, students will have obtained their high school diploma and a two-year Associate's Degree. Students can choose from the following pathways: college transfer (earning an Associate of Arts, Science, or Engineering) or STEM (earning an Associate of Engineering or Associate of Science).
Student Spotlight
Each year as 8th graders and their families consider attending our school, we are asked, "What is it like to go to ECA?" In an attempt to answer the question and help applicants make their decision, we have asked a few of our current students to share why they decided to go to ECA, their favorite parts of our school, how they have grown while attending our school, and advice they would offer someone considering attending our school. We hope that by hearing directly from our ECA family you'll be better prepared to make your decision!
Learn more about the pathways:
The College Transfer pathway is for students who know they want to attend a four-year university, but don't yet know what they want to major in or what career they want to pursue. As you progress and prepare for graduation, you will be able to choose between earning an Associate of Arts or Science.
The STEM pathway is for students who know they want a career in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and/or math. The requirements for this pathway include more math and science classes, and the program sets students up to enter competitive STEM programs at four-year universities.
Learn more about the application:
Current JCPS students in 8th grade are invited to apply beginning January 1, 2026 for the 2026-2027 school year.
The application platform can be found at https://jcps.schoolmint.com. Parents must create an account before adding students interested in applying to any of our Choice Programs. Only students enrolled in JCPS will be able to access Choice Program Applications. Students not enrolled in JCPS currently should complete JCPS enrollment prior to applying for a Choice Program Application.
To access and submit a Choice Program application, follow the steps below:
Visit https://jcps.schoolmint.com to create your parent account.
Add students to the parent account. To do this, you will need your student's Infinite Campus ID number.
Once the student has been added to the parent account, parents may choose the program application(s) of interest.
The common portion of the application requests general information relevant to all programs, while each program has its own questions in a separate section.
Once each the selected program section has been completed, icons next to the program names will turn green.
Lastly, complete the electronic signatures and click on the submission button when ready to submit.
You can save the application at any time and access it later if necessary.
Application Timeline:
January 1, 2025: Application Window Opens
February 15, 2026: Application Window Closes
March: Interviews (Specific Dates TBD)
April 10: Decisions Communicated to Students
April 24: Students Accept/Decline Offers
School Contact: Principal Robert Daniels (robertdaniels@johnston.k12.nc.us)
Attend a Family Information Night:
JCPS will host a Family Information Night on January 8, 2026 from 5:45 pm - 8:30 pm at Smithfield-Selma High School. All choice programs will be on site to share information and answer questions.
ECA will host a Family Information Night specific to our school in either January or February. More details to come.
If you are unable to attend the JCPS District-Wide Family Information Night, watch the recorded presentation below: