Elijah Lowe is ECA’s April Student of the Month. Elijah is from Columbus originally, and plans to major in either Business Accounting or Business Management. He would like to own a business someday in automotive, engineering, or law. His advice to other students is “All you really have to do is stay on your work. Pay attention. Focus. It takes dedication. You have to ask yourself, do you really want it or not? I know from experience.”
 

Johnathon Charles is ECA’s May 2016 Student of the Month. Johnathon is originally from Brooklyn, NY and plans to major in Computer Science. He is interested in either becoming a chef or a tech innovator. His life goals are to own his own place, his own car, to live independently, and to live a comfortable life with his friends and family. Johnathon’s advice to other students is to “Never give up on yourself and never put yourself down to other people’s levels. Always have the mindset that you will become better through working hard.”
 

Thursday, May 27, 2016 was a day of great celebration as ECA honored the Class of 2016 at a lively ceremony at Columbus East High School. Students, Staff, parents, and guests experienced a stirring rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner" by senior Tamia Simmons, an inspirational speech by senior Morgan Lapinski, and an inspirational speech by School Board Vice President Eric Brandon. This year, 52 students graduated with 27 returning as transition students.

​Congratulations, Class of 2016.

Brook Elkins is ECA’s Student of the Month for March 2016. Brook is from Columbus,and plans to someday own her own salon/barber shop. Her main goal in life is to find happiness. Brook’s advice to other students is “You’re not doing this for anyone else; you’re doing this for you! Get focused and stay focused.”

Briana Edwards is ECA’s February 2016 Student of the Month. Briana is from Columbus originally, and plans to major in early childhood or elementary education. She would like to teach second grade and her main goal in life is to find happiness. Briana’s advice to other students is “Find a positive motivation.” Briana learned from watching her classmates graduate without her. Instead of giving up, she pushed herself forward to make a better life for herself and for her daughter. She has had to work hard to find creative solutions to real life challenges. Watching her friends graduate was bittersweet but she knows that her turn is next.
 

The 2014-2015 Report Cards for Dropout Recovery Schools were released recently and ECA received an overall rating of “Meets Standards.” According to the March 29, 2016 article “State Releases Report Cards for Dropout Recovery Schools” in The Hannah Report, out of 93 schools, seven exceeded standards, 46 met standards, and 40 did not meet standards. Schools are measured on  Test Passage Rate, Gap Closing, Progress, and Graduation Rates. The rating is a testament to ECA’s continued dedication to providing quality education for all students and creating opportunities for future academic and personal growth.
 
Click here to read The Hannah Report article
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Click here to see ECA’s 2014-2015 Report Card

Terrance Grace, Agricultural 1890 Land Grant Scholarship Recruiter at Central State University (1st left), and Jodi Ann Howell, State of the Community Director for Peace in the Streets (middle) visited ECA recently. They are pictured with our superintendent Mr. Stevens and Student Resource Specialist Mr. Cox. 

The next time you walk into ECA, you may notice something different.

During the weekend of February 27th and 28th, the Front Lobby went through an "extreme makeover."  The goal of the makeover, according to Superintendent Jonathan Stevens, is to "match the learning and teaching that is happening beyond those doors" and give the school a more collegiate look. Students and staff were surprised and amazed by the changes as they arrived today and received them positively. 

Here are pictures of the Front Lobby:

Skylar (Sky) Biggs is ECA’s January 2016 Student of the Month. Skylar is originally ​from Columbus and plans to major in pre-natal nursing. She would love to travel the world some day and is especially interested in Greece. Her advice to other students is to put forth effort. She says, “You can’t succeed without effort.”
 

Tyler Fisher plans to double major in Journalism and Psychology and has a career goal to be a parapsychologist. His main goal in life is to help provide for his family, which he is already accomplishing by maintaining two jobs while attending school full time. His advice to other students is “surround yourself with peers who are willing to build you up and not tear you down.”