For the second year in a row, Robeson Early College High School has landed itself on Newsweek’s annual “Beating the Odds” list that recognizes schools that prepare at-risk students for college.

The school was the highest ranked North Carolina school on the list — an achievement noted Tuesday at the Public Schools of Robeson County’s monthly Board of Education meeting.

“They were 27th in the nation,” said Linda Emanuel, assistant superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. “In a report from last year, they were 47th.”

According to newsweek.com, the “Beating the Odds” list recognizes schools that “do an excellent job of preparing their students for college while also overcoming the obstacles posed by students at an economic disadvantage.”

The school has a student poverty rate of 77.4 percent, the list says.

According to the list of 500 schools, Robeson Early College prepared 92.9 percent of students for success in college.

“I just give all the credit to the students and the staff because they are the ones that do all of the hard work,” said Sheila Gasque, principal of Robeson Early College High School. “I am privileged to be with them and I consider it an honor to be at Early College High School.”

Tommy Lowry, superintendent of the Public Schools of Robeson County, said that he and the school system “are very proud at what’s taking place there, from our students to our teachers to the administration.”

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