09/03/2026
Celebrating DECHS: A Year of Growth and Achievement
We are excited to share some wonderful news with our Durham Early College of Health Sciences community! Thanks to the hard work of our students, families, teachers, and staff, DECHS met its academic growth goal and has been recognized as a “B” School for the 2025–2026 school year by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
This is an accomplishment that we are proud to celebrate together!
During the 2025–2026 school year, our DECHS community achieved some incredible results:
🎓 DECHS was one of only three high schools in Durham Public Schools to achieve a 100% cohort graduation rate.
📈 NC Math 3 proficiency increased from 85.3% to 100%.
💙 Short-term suspensions decreased, while our use of restorative practices increased.
🏫 Overall student attendance was 95.2%, one of the highest attendance rates in Durham Public Schools.
📚 Most importantly, DECHS met its academic growth goal.
These numbers are more than statistics. They represent our students. They represent the hard work, perseverance, growth, and determination of the young people who come to DECHS every day ready to learn and prepare for their futures.
Understanding Our Recognition
Some people may look at the results and simply say, DECHS went from an A school to a B school. While that is technically true, there is much more to the story.
The way North Carolina measures school performance has changed significantly for DECHS. Under the previous Middle College model (grade 11-12), the school was evaluated using measures such as NC Math 3, ACT, ACT WorkKeys, Math Course Rigor, and Cohort Graduation Rate. As a growing early college now (9-12), DECHS is now evaluated using a broader collection of measures, including NC Math 1, English II, Biology, and English Learner Progress, along with the previously mentioned indicators.
That means our students are now being evaluated across a broader range of academic areas. And even with these changes, DECHS met academic growth. That is something our entire community should celebrate!
At DECHS, we believe every student can learn, grow, and achieve. We also believe that every student deserves the support and opportunities necessary to reach their goals.
⭐ We Are Proud of Our Mavericks!
Today, we encourage our students and families to pause and celebrate this accomplishment.
Celebrate our growth.
Celebrate our 100% cohort graduation rate.
Celebrate 100% NC Math 3 proficiency.
Celebrate our 95.2% attendance rate.
Celebrate the growth of our students.
Celebrate the dedication of our teachers and staff.
And most importantly, celebrate what we are building together at Durham Early College of Health Sciences.
Thank you to our students for your hard work, to our families for your partnership, and to our teachers and staff for your unwavering commitment to our Mavericks. We have much to be proud of—and even more to look forward to!
With appreciation and Maverick pride,
