VALDOSTA, GA – Valdosta Mayor John Gayle stopped by the Valdosta Early College Academy (VECA) during Early College High School Week March 24-28, helping to honor the success of early college schools in aiding students who have been underrepresented in higher education beat the odds.

A partnership between the Valdosta City School System and Valdosta State University, VECA opened its doors in fall 2008 with a mission to ensure that each and every child realizes his or her academic potential.

Today, VECA has roughly 250 sixth-, seventh-, eighth-, ninth-, 10^th-, and 11^th-grade students, more than a dozen teachers, and a full-time principal, with a new class of 50 sixth graders added each year. VECA will expand to include high school seniors during the 2014-2015 academic year.

The United States boasts more than 280 early college schools, spread across 32 states, serving more than 80,000 students.

Source: City of Valdosta