The Newton-Conover Health Science High School, previously only offered to students of the Newton-Conover City Schools district, will be opening its doors to students across Catawba County this fall.

    The school, which focuses on concrete connections between classroom-learning and career-building, will be hosting an open house on Feb. 26 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Newton-Conover Civic and Performance Place.

    "The way I presented it to Catawba County Schools, is that 21st century schools are going to have the fit the needs of the kids," Jerry Willard, director of the school, said. "We've tried th one size fits all method for years. Now, let's try something else."

    He said that if the school gets beyond the 250 total students, the school will begin to use a lottery method to fill spots. Right now, the Newton School has an enrollment of about 65 students.

    He said that if the total number of students increase, then the student-to-teacher ratio would still cap off at under 1:20.

    "This is one of the things that the research from the (Bill and Melinda) Gates schools has determined," Willard said, explaining that some students learn better with a lower ratio. "There are many kids from all academic levels, some who could be brilliant, but they thrive in an enviroment where there's a lot of attention."

    Another school funded by the Gates Foundation is Challenger Early College High School, which helps students complete an associate's degree at Catawba Valley Community College while still attending high school at Challenger.

    "The analogy that I shared with that group (of principals), is that our school is really more on a slow tract there's is on a fast tract," Willard said. "(At the Newton School) you learn those courses more thorough than you would in a block schedule. That's our niche. We're here for kids that say 'Twenty-four units is enough. And i want to study those 24 units more thoroughly."

    Willard said the Newton School, which is in its third year, uses a health science theme to make "concrete connections between what they learn in the classroom and the adult world of college and careers. Students are encouraged to think for themselves, and the school uses frequent research projects as a key approach to learning. All academic classes at the school are taught at the honors level, with expectations set high for all students."

    Willard said applications can be found at http://www.nccs.k12.nc.us/hshs/publish/index.html.

    "The Newton-Conover City School's Board of Education has been quite forward thinking in its decision to support another positive public school choice for parents and students across Catawba County," Willard said in a written release. "Twenty-first century education must be about greater choice and fit for students if achievement levels are to be enhanced for all kids."