Moore County Schools held a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday for Moore Innovative High School (MIHS) on the Sandhills Community College (SCC) campus, marking a major milestone for the district’s 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.
“Today’s ribbon cutting is about opportunity,” said Dr. Tim Locklair, superintendent of Moore County Schools, in a press release. “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 Sandhills Community College and the many leaders who helped turn this vision into a reality for Moore County.”
MIHS is designed as a cooperative innovative high school that blends rigorous high school coursework with SCC 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 Aug. 7 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 and then advance into SCC’s technical and vocational pathways, which lead to industry-recognized credentials.
“Our 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,” said Ashlee Ciccone, principal of Moore Innovative High School. “Being embedded on the SCC 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.
In 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly appropriated $25 million to catalyze the MIHS initiative at SCC – 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.
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