CCI 10th anniversary

Douglas County's CCI Celebrates 10 Years
Posted on 02/14/2020

Leaders from the community and school system gathered on January 31 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the College and Career Institute, better known as the CCI. The CCI is a charter school that opened in August of 2009 as a partnership between the Douglas County School System, West Georgia Technical College and the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce, with support from the Douglas County Economic Development Authority. 

Students in high schools in Douglas County who choose to attend the CCI spend half their school day at their base high school and the other half at the CCI. At the CCI, students earn college credit by taking technical college classes, or they can earn high school credit and an opportunity to receive certifications in various career fields through Career, Technical, Agricultural and Engineering (CTAE) classes. 

In 2016, the CCI expanded to offer a full day program, known as the Academy at CCI. Through an application and lottery process, students in 8th grade are selected for the non-traditional high school. Students begin 9th grade as a full-time students at the Academy, where they take core classes along with CTAE and technical college electives. Students at the Academy at CCI may participate in sports and extracurricular activities at the high school for which they are zoned. 

“With the Academy at CCI, we are pleased to offer an option for students who want to experience high school in a smaller setting with a focus on developing career skills,” said CCI Director Gary Morris. “Students can accrue a significant number of college credits while still in high school, whether they are enrolled in the Academy or in the half day program.” 

The first graduates of the Academy at CCI in 2019 graduated with a combined total of 643 dual enrollment classes. They earned a total of 1,599 college credit hours and 90 technical college certificates from West Georgia Technical College. One student earned an associate degree in early childhood education, and five students earned diplomas in various technical college programs. The total amount of dollars the students saved in college tuition, fees, and books was $248,425. 

Gaining real-world experience through internships with industries that partner with the CCI is a significant advantage for students at the CCI. These strategic partnerships have allowed students to contribute to major real-world projects in a meaningful way. Among the industry partners are GreyStone Power Corporation and Denyse Companies, along with local dentists, hospitals and daycares. 

Last school year, a group of student interns from the CCI worked with DeNyse Companies to build signs for the Atlanta Braves Truist Park. "Not only did our students gain real world work experience, but they can actually point out their work to friends and family when visiting the park for a Braves game,” said Morris. “I enjoy coming to work each day because I know that we are truly making a difference in the lives of our students and preparing them to be productive citizens in the 21st century workforce."   

Students at the CCI gain knowledge about careers which can help them identify and refine their choice of a college major or can provide skills and certifications that students can use to step directly into a career after high school. 

Programs at the CCI include:

Audio Video Technology & Film Pathway

Automotive Technology

Cosmetology

Criminal Justice

Culinary Arts

Cybersecurity

Dental Assisting

Early Childhood

Game Development

Graphic Design Pathway

Nurse Aide

Welding

For photos from the CCI 10th anniversary celebration, please click here.

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