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Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools and Elizabeth City State University announce aviation academy partnership

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Courtesy of Elizabeth City State University

Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools (ECPPS) and Elizabeth City State University (ECSU) recently announced a new aviation academy which will be housed at Northeastern High School beginning the 2026-27 academic year.

At a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 15, ECPPS and ECSU leaders signed a memorandum of understanding to officially begin the partnership.

This partnership is the first official dual enrollment collaboration between ECPPS and ECSU, per the release.

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During the ceremony, ECSU Chancellor Dr. S. Keith Hargrove said the partnership aligns with ECSU’s goal of fostering opportunities for students in northeastern North Carolina. 

“We do not want young people to believe they must leave northeastern North Carolina to find world-class opportunities,” Hargrove said. “We want them to see those opportunities right here at home.”   

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According to the announcement, under the agreement, ECPPS students in grades 11 and 12 will have the option to take dual enrollment courses in Aviation Science, Air Transportation, and Aviation Management, at no enrollment cost. 

ECSU will provide access to aviation faculty, flight training resources, desktop flight simulators, drones, virtual reality headsets, pilot ground school preparation kits, and other aviation-related technology and equipment, the announcement said.

Tony Johnson, a student at Northeastern High School who wants to be an aircraft mechanic, said he is most excited for the hands-on experience he’ll receive at the academy.

“You get to build little model airplanes. You actually get to sand it, and make sure you have the right aerodynamics to go further. So that’s what makes me most excited, is the hands-on part,” Johnson said.

As facilitators, the release says ECPPS will handle program implementation, staffing, student recruitment, and work-based learning experiences. Financially, the district will cover student fees for flight lab hours and instructional materials, per the press release.

Together, ECPPS and ECSU say they will connect students with internships, job shadowing opportunities, and workforce development experiences in the aviation industry.

Superintendent Dr. Keith Parker said the partnership represents a powerful investment in the community.

“We are not only preparing students to graduate from high school; we are helping them see a pathway into college, careers, and industries that can shape the future of our region,” Parker said in an email. “Partnering with ECSU allows us to connect local talent with local opportunity, while also strengthening the aviation and aerospace pipeline in North Carolina.”

Editor’s note: Keith Parker serves on EdNC’s Board of Directors.