Two local high school students have been accepted to the school of science and math, advancing their spectrum of educational and social opportunities.

Jay Jackson and Patrick Miller, both of whom are Washington High School sophomores, were recently accepted to the North Carolina School of Science and Math in Durham. The two-year school was created in 1980 to offer bright and capable students more opportunities and exposure to STEM-related curriculums, said Lisa Watts, communications director at NCSSM.

Watts said the majority of applicants apply after maxing out on the available opportunities in their local school systems. Last year, the school had 92 National Merit finalists, higher than any other school in the entire state, according to Watts. The National Merit Scholarship is a test that has been a longtime measure of students’ ability.

“They come here and are exposed to higher-level coursework in a community of capable students,” Watts said. “They have a community of others from across the state so, socially, that’s a huge benefit.”

The school also has a very well known reputation among colleges and universities, most of which are located throughout the state, Watts said. Accepted students are also exposed to a wide range of additional opportunities and resources, including mentorship, research, academic competitions, extracurricular sports and clubs, as well as additional resources to help them excel in the classroom, according to Watts. The opportunities are something both Miller and Jackson found appealing when applying to the school, they said. Miller is an avid soccer player, who played for WHS his freshmen year and Jackson is interested in band.

“They have more sports there than we have (at WHS),” Miller said. “I’m also excited because they have a lot of extra help — extra opportunities outside the classroom if you don’t understand something in class so it’s not a big deal if you don’t get something in class because they have those extra resources to help you.”

Jackson said though he and Miller haven’t registered for classes yet, they are both looking into courses of study they wish to pursue. Jackson aspires to be a neurosurgeon and Miller plans on going into some form of engineering. Jackson thinks the exposure they will have to an atmosphere that is arranged much like attending college will give them a jumpstart on other students that graduate from public school systems, he said.

“I think it will prepare me so when I get to college, I will get accustomed to what I have to do and what’s going on,” Jackson said. “It will also allow me to be more in-depth of the courses I will take towards the goals that I want to get to.”

Both Miller and Jackson will join their NCSSM counterparts in living and attending the school, which Watts claims is a good social experience that will prepare them for college life, she said.

“They will be living with other high school juniors and seniors so they will mature,” Watts said. “They are so hungry for that academic challenge that they are willing to try that college experience early.”

Both students deem their acceptance to the school a great opportunity, filled with new and interesting experiences, as well as challenges they are ready to undertake, Miller and Jackson both said.

“I’m excited,” Miller said. “I’ve heard from a lot of people and they say it’s one of the best things they’ve done with their life. I know it’s going to be a lot more work than it is here, but I’m excited because it’s really going to benefit in the long run. I think we’re really going to be challenged.”

“I’m very excited to be going somewhere different and having new experiences, but I am kind of nervous about leaving home and everything changing at once.”