About Our School

East Mecklenburg is a 9 - 12 high school that is celebrating its 60th year of excellence. Founded in 1950, East Mecklenburg had only grades 10, 11, and 12 until the school year 1997-1998 when 9th graders were incorporated. East Mecklenburg High served all of eastern Mecklenburg county until 1989 when Providence High School opened. Since 1950, the school has had seven principals: D.K. Pittman, Leroy "Pop" Miller, Frank Rozzelle, Gene Hawley, Ron Thompson, Mark Nixon, and presently, Rick Parker. Notable alumni include: former mayor Richard Vinroot, WCNC anchor Sonya Gantt, and Pittsburgh Steelers' kicker Jeff Reed.

OUR MISSION:  East Mecklenburg High School strives to create a safe, nurturing environment where students plan, prepare, and expect to be successful in the 21st century. Working together with the various school programs, communities, and supportive parent partnerships, we aim to improve the vision of the whole individual by developing inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect. Through leadership, effective teaching and mentorship, our staff encourages students to become active, compassionate, and lifelong learners who are open-minded and understand diversity.

East Mecklenburg has had an International Baccalaureate Program since 1998, offering both the Middle Years Program (grade 9 and 10) and the Diploma Program (grades 11 and 12). Additionally, since 2011, East Mecklenburg has offered the Academy of Engineering program.

Beliefs

• Every student will have a right to a quality education.
• Faculty and staff will have shared responsibility in achievement of school-wide goals by integrating 21st century technology into daily lessons.
• All students will be treated with mutual respect and dignity.
• Our school will foster a learning environment that is conducive to academic and personal success.
• Every student will graduate prepared to be a lifelong learner as they enter various segments of society with an intercultural understanding of diversity.  
• Teachers will utilize multiple instructional strategies to accelerate learning and are committed to highly effective instruction daily.

Successes

• East regularly earns top scores in district safety and cleanliness ratings.
• East leads high schools for students reporting that they feel comfortable and safe at school. 
• Among high schools in CMS, East boasts one of the lowest teacher turnover rates.
• Seventy-one percent of the students in the IB program have received the prestigious IB Diploma over the past ten years.
• Teachers at East Mecklenburg have earned certification by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; each year more teachers actively pursue certification.
• East Mecklenburg offers classes in culinary arts, health occupations, interior design, computer assisted drafting, clothing design, engineering, technology, and auto mechanics. Students win awards yearly in these areas at local, state and national competitions.
• Ninety-five percent of East’s graduates attend college.
• East seniors last year earned over $4.4 million in academic and athletic scholarships.
• The East fine arts program continues to earn honors.  The theater, visual arts and band programs have been awarded major grants, while the chorus, orchestra, and band have earned superior ratings at competitions and festivals.  Art students annually win Gold and Silver Key Scholastic Awards.
• The All-Star Teacher Initiative (ASTI) is exclusive to East Mecklenburg.  Funded by generous alumni gifts, ASTI’s mission is “to attract, reward, train, and retain excellent teachers for every classroom of East Mecklenburg High School.”  ASTI activities have included staff retreats, money for additional classroom supplies, grants for innovative teaching ideas, and funding for special workshops.