Early College High Schools allow students to earn free college credits while earning their high school diplomas. The Wake County Public School System offers seven Early College programs, each with a unique focus and theme. At WYWLA, our specialty theme is leadership development.

Early College programs are designed to prepare students for postsecondary success and provide strong support for first-generation college-going students. Up to 70% of available seats across WCPSS are prioritized for qualified applicants whose immediate family has not graduated from college.

At WYWLA, students follow a powerful accelerated pathway, creating a strong foundation for success beyond high school. 

At WYWLA, students follow an accelerated pathway that combines high school and college coursework. With small class sizes, individualized advising, and a supportive community, students can earn up to 64 transferable college credits. With an emphasis on fulfilling general education college requirements, most students earn between 48 and 60 credit hours by the end of 12th grade. Our graduates are accepted to universities across North Carolina and the nation, many with significant scholarships. Examples of earned top scholarships include the UNC Chapel Hill Morehead-Cain, NC Agricultural & Technical University Cheatham-White, QuestBridge/Princeton University, UNC Charlotte Levine, ECU Scholars, and Meredith College’s Full-Ride Merit Scholarship.  The Class of 2025 earned $2.1 million in scholarships.  On average, 95% of our graduates attend a four-year university after graduation.  

Super Senior Year

Students may also be eligible for a 13th year, known as the “Super Senior” year, to take additional college courses at no cost. Each student works with the Dean of Students to develop a course plan tailored to their academic goals.

Partnership with Shaw University

Our Early College program is located on the campus of Shaw University, the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) in the American South, founded in 1865. Shaw has a long tradition of expanding access to higher education, including creating the first college for African American women in the United States. Shaw has long been a center for leadership and social change, and its historic mission, supportive community, and downtown Raleigh location provide WYWLA students with a unique and inspiring setting to learn and lead. Students from both Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy and Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy attend Shaw for junior and senior years of high school. With a building designated as  "home base" for both WYWLA and WYMLA, our early college students start and end their days with WYWLA faculty who teach courses that fulfill students’ remaining graduation requirements, such as American History and Economics/Personal Finance, and offer academic support with Seminar classes and through regular advisory meetings.

Why WYWLA & Early College?

The Early College program at WYWLA provides students with a proven advantage: rigorous academics, meaningful college experiences, and the opportunity to graduate with both a high school diploma and the confidence that comes with a strong, supported head start on higher education.