About Us

 

East Mecklenburg High School is a 9–12 comprehensive high school proudly celebrating the 75th anniversary of its
first graduating class. Founded in 1950, East originally served grades 10–12, expanding to include 9th grade in
1997–98. For nearly four decades, it served all of eastern Mecklenburg County until Providence High School
opened in 1989.Since 1950, East has been led by only eight principals: D.K. Pittman, Leroy “Pop” Miller, Frank
Rozzelle, Gene Hawley, Ron Thompson, Mark Nixon, Rick Parker, and Steve Drye, now in his second year as
principal. Notable alumni include former mayors Jennifer Roberts and Richard Vinroot, WCNC anchor Sonya
Gantt, and MLB player Luke Little. East Meck has been a partial International Baccalaureate (IB) Magnet School
since 1998 when the IB Diploma Programme was established. The Middle Years Programme was added in 2008
followed by the Career Programme in 2017. Currently, East Meck is the largest IB Magnet in CMS.

Mission 

East Mecklenburg High School envisions a community where every student is inspired to discover their purpose,
embrace their identity, and pursue excellence with courage, curiosity, and compassion. Grounded in a legacy of
learning, leadership, and service, we empower students to become thoughtful leaders, resilient learners, and kind
global citizens—ready to shape a better world.

Vision

East Mecklenburg High School cultivates a safe, inclusive, and intellectually vibrant environment where every
student is empowered to thrive. Through rigorous academics, meaningful relationships, and intentional
mentorship, we nurture curious, compassionate, and resilient learners prepared to lead with integrity in a diverse
and dynamic world. In partnership with families, staff, and the broader community, we commit to developing the
whole individual—fostering intercultural understanding, critical thinking, and a lifelong passion for learning that
contributes to a more just and peaceful society.

Beliefs

● Every student has a right to a quality education.
● Faculty and staff have shared responsibility in achievement of school-wide goals by integrating 21st
   century technology into daily lessons.
● All students will be treated with mutual respect and dignity.

● Our school will foster a learning environment that is conducive to academic and personal success.

● Every student will graduate prepared to be a lifelong learner as they enter various segments of society with
   an intercultural understanding of diversity.
● Teachers will utilize multiple instructional strategies to accelerate learning and are committed to highly
    effective instruction daily.

Successes

• School Performance: Earned a School Performance Grade of B (71) with overall growth met or exceeded in
  multiple areas.
• Participation & Rigor: Achieved 100% participation in Reading, Math, and Science assessments; more
  than 95% of students completed higher-level math courses, reflecting strong rigor.
• Academic Growth: Student performance at East Mecklenburg shows steady improvement across key
  subjects, with overall proficiency and readiness continuing to rise. While progress is clear, there remains
  important work ahead to strengthen growth across all areas.
• Graduation: Four-year cohort graduation rate held steady at 85.7%.
• College & Career Readiness: East maintains strong pathways for postsecondary success—whether
  enrolled, enlisted, or employed—with ongoing ACT/WorkKeys preparation and senior support structures.
• School Climate: Students consistently report feeling safe and supported, and East continues to earn high
  district ratings for safety.
• Signature Programs: East has been an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School since 1998, offering
  the IB Middle Years Program (MYP) to 9th and 10th graders, and the Diploma Program (DP) and Career-
  related Program (CP) for the 11th and 12th graders. East was the first school in CMS to offer the three IB
  programs and is the largest IB magnet in CMS.
• College Success:
• Over the last five years, 71% of IB Diploma candidates have earned the full IB Diploma;
• Overall, 95% of graduates attend college, with seniors earning millions annually in scholarships

• Fine Arts & CTE Excellence: East’s fine arts programs—band, chorus, orchestra, theater, and visual arts—
  regularly earn superior ratings and prestigious awards, while students in CTE programs (culinary arts,
  engineering, technology, health sciences, and design) win recognition at local, state, and national levels.
• Legacy of Excellence: As East celebrates the 75th anniversary of its first graduating class, the school honors
  its history while embracing its future through equity-focused instruction, strong academic programs, and
  a tradition of leadership and service.

What Makes East Meck Special

As Principal Steve Drye shared in his 2025 Graduation Address, what makes East Meck special is not just its legacy
but its people:

“You have shown me what makes East Meck so special—your heart, your strength, and your unwavering spirit. What brought me here was the opportunity to serve in a place with deep roots. What has grounded me here—what has made this school home—is you.”

At East Meck, we believe in two simple but powerful guiding values: Be Nice. Work Hard. These values remind us
to lead with empathy, work with integrity, and embrace our responsibility to one another. They define who we are
as Eagles—forever part of a proud tradition, and forever committed to shaping the future.