CamTech Students in class, 2009-2010 - Photo Courtesy of 2010 Yearbook
In 2004 there was an idea of starting a new school, CamTech High School. This school was only an idea, or a possibility, maybe even a “what if”. The North Carolina New schools Project (NCNSP) partnered with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to open several redesigned schools in North Carolina. Model schools from across America visited North Carolina; and administrators and teachers from Camden County decided to replicate a new school after the New Tech High School in Napa, California.
CamTech seniors hearing about this new idea had to make a big decision being only in middle school. They had to decide whether or not they wanted to go with the flow and attend Camden High School or try something completely new, CamTech. The only thing they knew about the school was either what rumors they heard or the information they were being given on how the school was suppose to work. CamTech set its goals to use the 3 R’s: rigor, relevance, and relationships. No one knew if it was going to be successful or not. Student Rachel Linton said, “When I was making my decision I wanted to think positive and how going to this new school would help me in the future.” Another student, Kevin Curtis, stated, “CamTech helped me develop my computer skills and the ability to work well with others. In the future with technology being used more and more I think I have a leg up on the competition.”
Well, Camden needed money to start a school like this. After hearing what CamTech was going to be based on project-based learning, collaboration, and a default honors curriculum. The Gates Foundation agreed to provide a three-year grant of approximately $380,000 to support the school. That was not all; CamTech needed a little more help. Since the school was a technology high school, the students needed technology hardware and software. The North Carolina New Schools Project worked with Cisco and Lenovo to donate a $26,000 sever and 70 computers valued at $70,000. This provided each student with a computer in every classroom.
CamTech started with 60 freshmen. It gained some students and lost some, and now, in 2010, there are forty-eight students who stuck to become the first graduating class of CamTech.